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Bachelor's/Master's Combined Degree

Academically strong, motivated students in certain undergraduate school programs can pursue a concurrent, combined bachelor’s degree program. This program is restricted to Northwestern University undergraduates and is limited to certain degree programs within the University. 

The Graduate School offers combined degree programs in the following disciplines: chemistry, comparative literary studies, economics, French, linguistics, plant biology and conservation, public health, statistics, and all departments in the McCormick School of Engineering except Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences.

Admission

To be considered for admission into the combined program, applicants must submit a completed combined degree application to their admitting program. In addition, most programs require the submission of two letters of recommendation and official transcripts. 

Applicants should check with their admitting program for specific application requirement details. In all cases, applicants must have at least one quarter of undergraduate study remaining at the time of their enrollment in the combined degree program. 

Requirements and registration

Degree completion

Students receive two degrees as part of this combined course of study, one from their undergraduate school and one from TGS.

Students may pursue this course of study once they are within four courses of completing their undergraduate degree. Some students may complete the combined degree program concurrently, that is, by completing the degree requirements for the bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the same time. Other students may complete the undergraduate degree first and then complete the master’s degree after having graduated from their undergraduate college. Students in this program may not receive their master’s degree ahead of their bachelor’s degree. 

Student status 

Students who finish their undergraduate degree concurrently with their master’s degree will remain categorized as “undergraduate” for their entire term of study (no more than twelve quarters, typically). Students who receive their undergraduate degree (after twelve quarters) but have remaining graduate course work to complete will be given "graduate" status upon graduation from their undergraduate school. 

Course counting 

TGS allows a maximum of three courses to count towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, certain programs may have more strict requirements. Students should speak with the undergraduate and graduate programs about double counting potential of their course work.

Financial aid 

Students interested in this program must be aware of certain financial aid information and implications: