DePaul offers a number of opportunities for students to have graduate or professional credit apply to both the undergraduate and graduate or professional degree. The information below details the specific opportunities and related policies. A full list of programs can be viewed by visiting the Programs page in the catalog and filtering by combined degree programs.
1. Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Programs
DePaul offers a number of approved Combined Bachelor's/Master's degree programs. These programs allow undergraduate students to take courses in select graduate programs while completing their undergraduate program. These approved programs are offered in two formats.
A. Combined programs open to students in specific undergraduate majors: Students in specific undergraduate majors may apply to the combined bachelor's/advanced degree program in a designated graduate program. See the current University Catalog's Degree Requirement page for the major for a list of eligible programs. Information about admission to, and the requirements of, the combined bachelor’s/advanced degree program is included in the University Catalog in the undergraduate major field section.
B. Combined graduate programs available to students in all undergraduate majors: Students in any undergraduate major may apply to the combined bachelor's/advanced degree program in select graduate programs. To view these opportunities, see the current University Catalog’s Degree Requirement page under Graduate Programs. Graduate Programs marked with a caret indicate the availability of a combined bachelor's/advanced degree program. Information about admission to, and the requirements of, the combined bachelor’s/advanced program is included in the University Catalog in the graduate program section.
Admission
Admission requirements and procedures for a combined bachelor’s/advanced degree program vary among graduate programs. Students must apply and be officially admitted into a combined degree program to have courses apply toward both degrees and to be assessed the correct tuition. In addition, undergraduate students must maintain good standing as determined by the combined program in order to be officially admitted to the graduate program.
Students should consult the specific combined bachelor’s/advanced degree information listed in the Degree Requirement section of the University Catalog for program-specific requirements.
Credit Limits
In general, undergraduate students accepted into a combined bachelor’s/advanced degree program may apply up to 12 graduate credit hours taken as part of their undergraduate degree to their graduate program. Exceptions to that limit are detailed in the degree requirement section of the University Catalog.
Degree Conferral
Students must officially apply for their undergraduate degree conferral. Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, the graduate program admissions staff reviews the student record to determine final acceptance into the graduate program. Students who meet the necessary requirements will be formally admitted into the graduate program. If the requirements are not met, admission to the graduate program will be denied.
Students accepted into an approved DePaul combined bachelor's/advanced degree program will restart their GPA at the beginning of their graduate career.
Advising
Undergraduate students admitted into the combined bachelor’s/advanced degree program will be assigned an advisor in the graduate program. In collaboration with the undergraduate advisor, the graduate program advisor will assist students in choosing graduate classes which will apply to both the undergraduate and graduate degree. Advisors will also assist the student in selecting any additional undergraduate prerequisite requirements for the corresponding graduate program.
Combined bachelor’s/advanced degree students will have their graduate degree requirements locked based on the term they started their graduate requirements as an undergraduate. Students who remain actively enrolled at DePaul and are making progress toward the degree will retain this requirement term. Students not enrolled for three consecutive terms at either the undergraduate or graduate levels will be required to apply for readmission and will be subject to the degree requirements in place in the enrollment term of readmission.
Please note that changes in graduate admission criteria or program availability may impact a student’s ability to be readmitted into the graduate program. Students are responsible for following all graduate regulations including the limit on the time required to complete the degree and/or the applicability of how a course may apply to the graduate degree. Students interested in pursuing this option should consult with the appropriate college or school as soon as possible.
2. Combined Bachelor’s/Juris Doctorate (JD) Degree Programs
A number of DePaul undergraduate programs and DePaul’s College of Law offer 3+3 Bachelor’s/Juris Doctorate degrees for high-achieving first-year undergraduate students. These approved 3+3 bachelor’s/JD programs pair specific undergraduate majors with the Juris Doctorate degree.
Qualified students are admitted simultaneously to the DePaul undergraduate program’s college and the College of Law. Students complete their first three years in the undergraduate college and their final three years in the College of Law. Throughout the program, bachelor’s degree/JD students meet regularly with advisors in both colleges and have access to a variety of resources to ensure their success.
In order to maintain status in the program, students must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward completing their undergraduate coursework in three years, including the successful completion of:
- the Modern Language Requirement (if required by the college and/or program)
- the Liberal Studies Program or Honors Program requirements
- the required major field courses
- the designated prelaw courses taught by College of Law faculty prior to matriculation in the College of Law
- a minimum of 150 quarter hours of credit
Students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.350 by the end of their second year of study and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.350 in their third and final year of undergraduate study.
In order to matriculate in the College of Law, students will be required to:
- register with the Law School Admissions Council
- submit the College of Law’s online application
- comply with all character and fitness requirements for admission
- submit an LSAT score which will only be used for consideration of merit scholarships—it will not be a factor in the admission of the participant to the program
These activities should be completed no later than the end of the autumn quarter of the participant’s third undergraduate year.
Credits earned during the first year of law school are applied toward the undergraduate bachelor’s degree.
Students must apply for bachelor’s degree conferral during the first year in the College of Law. Students successfully completing the undergraduate degree requirements will have their undergraduate degree conferred upon successful completion of the first year of Law.
Students may opt out of the College of Law segment of the program and continue in the undergraduate college during their fourth year. If students withdraw after the first semester in the College of Law, they return to the undergraduate college for the winter quarter.
Graduation with honors for the undergraduate degree is based solely on the courses taken while an undergraduate student (the classes taken during the first year in the College of Law are not considered in the honors calculation).
Once a student is matriculated and begins taking classes in the College of Law, the student is no longer considered an undergraduate student and therefore is no longer eligible for undergraduate financial aid; however, the student may be considered for aid as a College of Law student.