Accelerated Learning Opportunities

UAB offers several options for high-achieving undergraduates to accelerate the time and cost necessary to complete both their undergraduate and graduate degrees. These include Accelerated Bachelors/Masters (ABM) programs, Fast-Track programs, and Early Acceptance to graduate school. For more information, visit: https://www.uab.edu/graduate/programs/accelerated-learning-opportunities.

The Accelerated Bachelors/Masters (ABM) program allows undergraduate students to share credits that count simultaneously toward both an undergraduate and graduate degree. Once admitted, an ABM student can take up to 12 hours of approved 500/600-level graduate courses. This can significantly shorten the time it takes to earn a master’s degree. 

Requirements

UAB undergraduate degree-seeking students may start the ABM program once they have earned 60 or more undergraduate hours, at least 36 of which must be earned at UAB. Students admitted to UAB as transfer students are eligible to apply to an ABM program after earning 60 or more undergraduate hours, at least 24 of which must be earned at UAB.* ABM differs from traditional Fast-Track programs in that, at the time of application and enrollment, eligible students must have a UAB undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.5 (or higher if required by their program). Programs may require a higher GPA for admission and/or not permit the full 12 hours to be shared between programs. Post-baccalaureate students are not eligible to apply to an ABM or Fast-Track program.

Permission to take graduate courses will be granted by the Graduate School if the student has met the criteria above, as well as other minimum requirements for graduate admission. Upon admission to the Graduate School, an ABM student will begin a program of study leading to the master’s degree, as approved by his or her department and by the Graduate School. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in all graduate and undergraduate coursework. Programs may set higher requirements or require specific grades in individual courses.

In addition to any graduate-level coursework taken in a given term, undergraduate students enrolled in an ABM program must enroll in a minimum of 6 undergraduate hours. ABM hours approved as shared credit count toward this minimum. Students enrolled in a summer term OR in the final semester of their undergraduate program who have less than 6 hours remaining are exempt from this requirement. ABM students must submit an application for degree and graduate in the term in which undergraduate degree requirements are met, at which point they will transition to graduate student status. Other exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Graduate School.

* All UAB undergraduate students must adhere to the residency requirement outlined in the undergraduate catalog.

How to Apply

Students who meet the above requirements are eligible to apply to an ABM program after completing the following steps:

• Meet with Accelerated Learning Opportunities Advisor to confirm eligibility and review application requirements.
• Meet with Undergraduate Advisor and the relevant Graduate Program Director(s) to discuss program requirements.
• Complete the ABM Form (including all approvals) and return it to the Graduate School.*
• Submit departmental application materials (as required by program).

* Once an ABM Form has been submitted and approved, a student can adjust future shared credit courses only. Students are not permitted to alter their ABM Form to exclude courses that have already been shared between their degrees. Other exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Graduate School.

Program Completion

Upon completing an undergraduate degree, students will be recertified as graduate-level degree-seeking students and charged the graduate tuition rate.

Fast-Track Programs

Fast-Track programs allow students to apply to a master’s degree program before finishing their undergraduate degree. Beginning graduate coursework while enrolled as an undergraduate allows students to pay undergraduate tuition rates and accelerate the time needed to complete their master’s degree. While hours cannot be shared between the two programs, certain masters programs allow students to waive equivalent course content covered while enrolled in their undergraduate degree.

Requirements

Requirements vary by program, but typically require at least 60 undergraduate hours, at least 36 of which must be earned at UAB, and a 3.0 GPA to enroll in master’s courses. Students admitted to UAB as transfer students are eligible to apply to a Fast-Track program after earning 60 or more undergraduate hours, at least 24 of which must be earned at UAB.* 

Additionally, individual programs may specify required prerequisite courses, only be available to certain undergraduate majors, or require the completion of the bachelor’s degree prior to admission.

In addition to any graduate-level coursework taken in a given term, undergraduate students enrolled in a Fast-Track program must enroll in a minimum of 6 undergraduate hours. Students enrolled in a summer term OR in the final semester of their undergraduate program who have less than 6 hours remaining are exempt from this requirement. Fast-Track students must submit an application for degree and graduate in the term in which undergraduate degree requirements are met, at which point they will transition to graduate student status. Other exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Graduate School.

* All UAB undergraduate students must adhere to the residency requirement outlined in the undergraduate catalog.

Program Completion

Upon completing an undergraduate degree, students will be recertified as graduate-level degree-seeking students and charged the graduate tuition rate.

Early Acceptance to Graduate School

Early Acceptance programs are designed for academically superior high-school students. Early Acceptance Programs allow high achieving students to be conditionally admitted to the UAB Graduate School at the same time they are admitted to an undergraduate program.

Requirements

Eligible students will be notified of admission into the Early Acceptance to Graduate School program at the time of matriculation into their undergraduate degree program. In order to maintain eligibility for the Early Acceptance program, students must earn a 3.5 UAB undergraduate GPA, meet all relevant pre-requisites of the program they wish to pursue, and maintain continuous enrollment while at UAB. Early Acceptance students are required to submit an online application in order to enroll in one of the participating masters level programs. 

Eligible Early Acceptance students will be automatically admitted once their prerequisites are confirmed, and their application has been submitted.