Developing Joint Degree Programs Policy

Policy Type: Academic Policy
Date Adopted: November 1, 2020
Version: 2.0
Review Cycle: Every three years
Date Last Reviewed: March 6, 2025
Office Responsible: Office of the Provost
Contact: Associate Provosts, Graduate and Undergraduate

Purpose

This policy exists for the purpose of providing guidance to academic units for the development of joint-degree programs.

Joint-Degree Programs

A joint-degree program creates an opportunity for exceptional undergraduate students to obtain both their undergraduate and graduate degrees by completing some undergraduate course requirements at the graduate level leading to a substantial savings in time and money. The graduate credit hours that satisfy undergraduate degree requirements also reduce the credit hours needed for the graduate degree and are typically referred to as double counting or credit sharing. Joint-degree programs that rely on double counting to reduce time-to-degree are often referred to as “4+1, 3+2 or 3+3 accelerated programs.”

Double Counting

The maximum number of graduate level credits that can be counted toward an undergraduate degree are outlined below. Joint-degree program proposals must specify which courses in the graduate curriculum can be double counted with the undergraduate requirements and how they fit into the undergraduate program of study. This can be done by specifying which specific graduate courses replace required undergraduate courses, as well as which courses from the graduate program may replace undergraduate 300+ level elective courses.

Typically, graduate programs designate graduate courses with similar subject-matter to undergraduate degree requirements (i.e. allowing joint-degree program students to take the 500-level course corresponding to a similar 400 level undergraduate requirement). Graduate level double counted courses must be designed for graduate work, delivered at a higher level of rigor, and must not be taken until students are officially admitted into the joint-degree program.

Maximum Number of Graduate Level Credits

Maximum number of graduate level credits taken as an undergraduate that can be counted toward a graduate degree:

A maximum of 50% of the graduate degree can be taken as an undergraduate. These credits must be in courses designed for graduate work.

Admission

Undergraduate students can be considered for admission into a joint-degree program after they have earned 60 credit hours, typically in the junior year. If admitted, their graduate program will be their secondary curriculum in the student information system. Given the condensed nature of the program, a higher GPA is expected for admission. Individual programs can set their own admission requirements to ensure student success in the joint-degree program.

Student Status (U/G)

Joint-degree students remain classified as continuing undergraduate students until they complete their undergraduate degree requirements and apply for and are granted their bachelor’s degree. In addition, they will not be classified as new graduate students or be factored into a graduate cohort for retention calculation purposes. They will only come in as continuing graduate students for headcount.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Joint-degree students taking graduate courses to complete the requirements of their undergraduate degree are eligible for financial aid as undergraduate students. When these students obtain their undergraduate degree and their graduate program changes from secondary to primary curriculum, they are viewed as graduate students for financial aid purposes (i.e. domestic students are restricted to only loans). To maximize their financial aid benefits, students should be advised not to proceed with additional graduate courses before they complete the approved double-counted graduate courses along with all other undergraduate degree requirements.

Tuition

Undergraduate students electing graduate courses (level 500 and above) will be assessed tuition at undergraduate rates.

Graduate students electing undergraduate course(s) will be assessed the graduate tuition rate. However, after 10th day, a query is run to locate graduate students taking undergraduate courses. If it is to the students’ advantage, then a manual adjustment is done to remove the graduate tuition rate for the specific course and add the undergraduate tuition rate.

Graduation Timing

Joint-degree program students can apply for each degree credential as soon as the respective degree requirements have been completed. Students who are unable to complete their graduate degree, are still eligible to complete the requirements of the undergraduate degree and apply for their bachelor’s degree.

Minimum Grade Requirements

Students must meet the minimum grade requirements of their graduate program and respective joint-degree program option.

Version History

Date of Change	Version	Description of Change
November 1, 2020	1.0	Adopted
March 11, 2025	2.0	Updated

For questions about developing joint degree programs, please contact the Associate Provosts for Graduate and Undergraduate programs in the Office of the Provost
at umflintprovost@umich.edu.