All content © 2013 - 2020 Arizona Board of Regents.
The Accelerated MA Program (AMP) in Communication is designed to enable outstanding University of Arizona undergraduates to compete both the BA and MA in Communication in five years of study. This program is intended for students interested in enhancing their skill set and competitiveness on the job market and/or in admission to other graduate programs (PhD in Communication, law school, etc.).
The Department of Communication faculty examine ways in which human beings exchange messages with one another, the content of those messages, and the effects they have for individuals and society. The Department's strong commitment to quality teaching and research has earned its faculty and graduate students numerous teaching awards and a ranking as one of the top Communication programs in the nation.
1. Completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of application; a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of entry into the AMP. If the student’s GPA falls below 3.3 at the time they have completed 90 units, the student will not be admitted into the program. Courses taken for audit may not be included in the total number of units counted for eligibility or admission. (Note: Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in graduate coursework).
2. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a minimum of 12 units of undergraduate UA.
3. Completion of at least 12 earned undergraduate credits in their major at the University of Arizona’s main campus. Units still graded Incomplete, units graded Pass/Fail or units taken as audit will not count toward the requirement of the 12 undergraduate units.
4. Completion or near completion of general education requirements.
5. Submission of a graduate application and payment of a graduate application fee.
6. Demonstration of the maturity necessary for success in an accelerated, highly competitive program.
7. Expectation to complete the undergraduate degree within four years. The undergraduate degree requirements must be completed before the student is eligible to have the Master’s degree awarded.
Required test(s): None
June 15 after Spring term of junior year as undergraduate
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AMP Degree & Tuition Policies
1. Students will be considered undergraduates until they complete their undergraduate requirements, which should be no later than the end of the fourth year.
2. Students entering with Advanced Placement Credit and/or who attend summer school may complete their Bachelor’s degree in the Junior year.
3. Students must complete at least 12 of their graduate credits while in graduate status.
4. During years 1-3 (or approximately 0-90 credits) students will be taking undergraduate coursework and charged at the undergraduate rate.
5. Once admitted to AMP, during the senior (or transition year), students may take up to 12 units of graduate coursework which may apply toward both the Bachelor’s and the Master’s degrees. Students will be charged at the undergraduate rate and retain eligibility for undergraduate scholarships.
6. Students classified as seniors who have not yet completed a bachelor's degree may enroll in 500-level courses following the Graduate Credit for Seniors Policy. Courses numbered at the 600, 700 and 900 levels are not open to undergraduates.
7. After completion of all Bachelors’ requirements, students will be granted graduate status, be charged at the graduate rate, and be eligible for graduate assistantships. The student won’t be eligible to graduate nor will they be eligible for assistantships until all Bachelors’ requirements are completed. While an undergraduate, students are required to keep their graduate coursework cumulative GPA at 3.0, or higher if required by the graduate degree offering unit, to be admitted to the Master’s program.
8. Should a student have completed 12 graduate credits, but not yet completed the undergraduate degree, they will be considered graduate for financial aid and tuition purposes and coded as ‘graduate’ in UAccess. They will no longer be eligible for undergraduate scholarships, nor will they be eligible for graduate assistantships.
9. At least 12 graduate credits must be taken while in graduate status, after completing all degree requirements for the Bachelor’s.
10. Students should be encouraged to complete their undergraduate requirements as soon as possible, but not later than one semester before receiving their Master’s degree. Students finishing their undergraduate requirements later than one semester before receiving their Master’s degree will no longer be eligible for undergraduate scholarships, nor will they be eligible for graduate assistantships. Neither degree will be awarded until the undergraduate requirements are completed along with the Master's requirements.