Graduate Double Counting Dual Degree Policy

Policy Type: Academic Policy
Date Adopted: March 11, 2025
Version: 1.0
Review Cycle: Every three years
Next Review Date: March 11, 2028
Office Responsible: Office of the Graduate Programs
Contact: Director of Graduate Programs

Purpose

This policy exists for the purpose of computing the double counting of credit hours for University of Michigan-Flint graduate students pursuing dual degrees outside of a Rackham-approved program.

Definitions

Dual Degree: The University of Michigan-Flint provides arrangements for students to pursue two graduate degrees. Dual degree programs lead to two different degree citations on the transcript and two separate diplomas. The purpose of a dual degree program is to allow students to undertake complementary programs of graduate study through streamlined curricular arrangements that allow double-counting of courses (see below for details).

UM-Flint offers some pre-approved dual degree programs and also provides opportunities for students to initiate dual degree programs on their own. Students should contact the graduate program(s) directly for more detailed information and additional program-specific requirements. For more information, visit Dual Degree Programs.

Dual Degree Policy

Students in an Approved Dual Degree Program

Students in dual degree programs may double-count a limited number of credit hours toward the requirements of both degrees.

To preserve the integrity of each degree, at least half of the minimum required credit hours for each degree must be earned in the program under a UM-Flint registration and counted solely for that degree. For example, a student enrolled in a 36-hour master’s degree program may not apply more than a combination of 18 transfer and/or double-counted credit hours toward the UM-Flint program.

Students in a Self-Initiated Dual Degree Program

Students may pursue a dual degree arrangement with two master’s programs that are not among those dual degree programs already approved. Students are required to complete both programs’ requirements, allowing for double counting of coursework as approved. To request double counting in a self-initiated Dual Degree program, a student must complete a Dual Degree Course Election Form no later than one term prior to completing the second degree.

Students pursuing at least one Rackham program use the Rackham Dual Degree Course Form; students pursuing two non-Rackham programs use the Dual Degree Course Election Form.

When considering a self-initiated dual degree program the following general guidelines apply:

A degree program may overlap with only one other program for the purpose of double-counting credit hours. In other words, credit hours may never be counted for three or more purposes. If a student seeks a third certificate or program, it must stand alone.
Graduate certificate programs may be taken separately or in conjunction with another graduate degree program, with credits from the certificate eligible to be used in the graduate degree program. Departments can determine which certificate credits, if any, can be used within a graduate degree program; such certificate credits can be used if the student has been admitted to the graduate degree program within seven years or corresponding to the time to degree requirements of the program when of completing said courses. When double-counting with a certificate program:
- If certificate is a part of a built-in or stackable Masters degree combination, there are no limits.
- If the certificate is from a non-related field, one sixth (⅙) of the minimum required hours for the Master’s/Professional degree alone can be double-counted.
- Similarly, graduate courses taken as a degree-seeking student may be used within a graduate certificate program if the student is admitted to the certificate program and courses are completed within seven years or corresponding to the time to degree requirements of the program.
Departments and programs may limit the double-counting of credit hours below the maximum, but may not allow double-counting above the limit. Some programs may not allow double-counting of credit hours.
For students pursuing a doctoral degree who wish to create a student initiated Dual Degree program toward a master’s degree in another field, faculty in the master’s program will review the credits earned for the doctoral program to decide how many may apply toward the master’s degree. No course with “doctoral,” “dissertation,” or “preliminary” in the title may be counted toward a master’s degree.

Calculating Maximum Double-Counted Credits

The maximum number of credit hours that may be double-counted for a student initiated Dual Degree program may be determined by adding the minimum number of hours required for each program and dividing by six. For example:

Minimum credit hours required for Degree A	30
Minimum credit hours required for Degree B	36
Total	66
Maximum number of credits that may be double-counted	11

Any fraction resulting from these calculations must be rounded down to the nearest whole number of credit hours. Credit hours for a single course may not be split; a course must be double-counted in its entirety or not at all. Students initiating a Dual Degree should work with an advisor within their academic area to determine the best course of action.

Departments looking to develop new dual degree programs must follow the above calculation to determine the maximum number of credits allowable for double counting.

Sequential Completion

Double counting is allowed in cases where a student graduates from one degree program before completing the second degree. In these cases, the courses to be double counted must have been taken no more than five years prior to the completion of the second program. Appropriate signatures from both programs must be obtained on the Dual Degree Course Election Form.

Version History

Date of Change	Version	Description of Change
March 6, 2025	2.0	Adopted

For questions about graduate dual degree programs, please contact the Director of Graduate Programs in the Office of the Graduate Programs.

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