4+1 Combined B.A./M.A. Program
The 4+1 program is available to current Vanderbilt undergraduate students majoring in MHS or related disciplines. Accepted students receive registration priority their senior year in order to complete their B.A. and begin M.A. requirements.
To earn a 4+1 degree, students must satisfy the requirements for both the B.A. and the M.A., as determined by the department. In the College of Arts and Science, the B.A. degree requires 120 credit hours to complete and the MHS M.A. requires an additional 30 credit hours. Credits cannot be double-counted between the two degrees.
The distinction between the 4+1 program and the standard graduate program is twofold:
- Students are allowed to take master’s-level courses while completing the bachelor’s degree
- Students are able to complete both degrees within five years instead of six
Learn more about the College of Arts and Science 4+1 Program.
4+1 Eligibility
Current Vanderbilt undergraduates meeting the following criteria are eligible to apply to the MHS M.A. 4+1 program:
- Vanderbilt students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Major in MHS or related disciplines
- No GRE scores are required
4+1 Application Process
Applications are accepted in two phases for the 4+1 program. To begin taking graduate courses in the spring of their 4th year, students should apply by the September priority deadline. For students planning to begin graduate classes in the following summer or fall, applications are due by the February deadline.
Spring starting 4+1 applicants are required to complete the Petition to Apply to the Combined B.A./M.A. (4+1) Degree Program and submit it to mhs-ma@vanderbilt.edu by the September priority deadline. The petition to apply is not required for summer or fall admits who have completed their bachelor’s degree.
All deadlines for the current application cycle are posted on the MHS M.A. admissions page.
4+1 students will submit applications through the Graduate School application portal.
4+1 Application Materials
Application requirements are the same for all prospective students:
- Completed and submitted online application
- Three academic letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Writing sample
- Transcript
4+1 students planning to start in Spring must submit at least one of their three required letters of recommendation by the priority deadline in September. The remaining two letters will be solicited later.
Unofficial transcripts should be submitted with the application. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to the first day of classes in the fall semester.
Additional details on the application components are available on the MHS M.A. admissions page.
Admitted 4+1 Students – Spring Planning
4+1 students admitted to the program to enroll in Spring courses will work closely with MHS MA faculty. During the fall semester, they will review that the requirements are being met for B.A. degree and plan graduate level courses for the spring semester.
Students enrolling in greater than 15 credit hours and/or taking more than one graduate level course in the spring of their final year are required to petition the A&S Administrative Committee. The MHS M.A. program coordinator will help students through the petition process.
Petitioning the committee is not required for admitted students taking a single graduate level course and 15 or less total credit hours in Spring, or for 4+1 students beginning courses in the summer or fall after earning their bachelor’s degree.