Overview
Graduate programs can create a sequential combined undergraduate/graduate degree program according to the following guidelines. Proposals for such degree programs must be submitted and approved by the Provost’s Office for each degree combination.
Intent & Process for Approval
The intent of the undergraduate/graduate degree program is to allow undergraduate students at The Evergreen State College an opportunity for seamless transition from undergraduate to graduate education at the College. The undergraduate/graduate degree allows students to identify and plan their graduate course of study as an undergraduate in consultation with a corresponding graduate program that offers an undergraduate/graduate degree program.
As part of an approved undergraduate/graduate degree program, each graduate program may allow a defined amount of graduate-level coursework that a student completes as an undergraduate to count toward a graduate degree, as detailed in the graduate studies standards below.
Admissions
Each graduate program at Evergreen has the option to create a sequential combined undergraduate/graduate degree program admissions process. Admission will occur no earlier than when a student has junior standing. The graduate program to which the student is applying will outline the specific timeline and undergraduate/graduate admissions criteria. Applications to the undergraduate/graduate degree program will be open to all students meeting the published undergraduate/graduate degree program admissions criteria. The qualifications for admission to the undergraduate/graduate degree program must ensure that students have the appropriate background to successfully complete the program.
The student is responsible for applying to the graduate program and meeting its minimum admissions requirements before enrolling as a graduate student.
The graduate program may design different admissions criteria to the graduate program for the combined undergraduate/graduate degree students.
No more than one year may elapse between undergraduate degree completion and enrolling in the graduate program. The graduate program may set a policy with a shorter limit. The program director may choose to waive this requirement on a case by case basis.
Enrollment
Students will NOT be registered simultaneously as both an undergraduate and a graduate student. Until the undergraduate degree is awarded, students are considered undergraduates with regard to all policy and tuition considerations.
Undergraduate degree and credit requirements must be fully satisfied, at which point the bachelor’s degree will be awarded and the student will officially enter the graduate program. The graduate program will create a clear set of minimum requirements for combined undergraduate/graduate continuation.
Credit Applied Toward The Graduate Degree
The graduate program will define a policy regarding the amount and type of previously approved upper division undergraduate and graduate-level coursework taken as an undergraduate that can apply toward the graduate degree, with a maximum of up to 25% of the total credits for the program allowed. These credits must be earned after admission to the combined undergraduate/graduate combined degree program and must fulfill the specified graduate degree requirements. The graduate director may choose to accept qualifying credits earned as an undergraduate prior to admission to the combined program on a case by case basis.
Undergraduate students may not enroll in graduate-level student teaching, independent research, capstone work or Master’s Thesis before enrolling as a graduate student.
Time Limits
Students must comply with the regular time limits for completion of their graduate degree, beginning from their time of entry to the graduate program.
Program Entrance
Upon the student’s acceptance to the undergraduate/graduate combined degree program, the specific graduate program is responsible for providing coordinated advising and creating clear documentation about the plan of study. Both the student and the program director or designee must sign off on a written plan to be included in the student’s record (kept on file by the program).