Five-Year Bachelor’s and Master’s Program

The five-year approach to completing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are accelerated programs that allow a student to begin taking graduate courses during their junior and senior years, applying those credits to both their undergraduate major and the graduate degree. The student is then able to complete the remainder of the graduate program in the following 12 to 18 months, thus eliminating approximately one year of college tuition.

Students will have the opportunity to complete up to 18 graduate level credits as part of this program. Depending on individual graduate program requirements, students may be limited to completion of 12 graduate credits as an undergraduate. In addition, students will be limited to 6 graduate credits each semester.

In order to be prepared for graduate level work, students will need to have previously demonstrated a high level of academic capacity. Due to differences in delivery models, students will need to work closely with their undergraduate academic advisor and the graduate program to select courses and ensure degree requirements are satisfied.

Program Offerings

The following graduate programs will be available for students to choose from:

College of Business: Master of Business Administration

College of Education: Master of Education or Master in Teaching (with approved endorsement-related bachelor’s degrees: Biology, English, Environmental Science, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Mathematics, Music, Music Ministry, Pastoral Ministries, Psychology)

College of Ministry: Master of Arts in Bible and Theology, Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership, or Master in Ministry

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences: Master of Arts in International Community Development

• A minimum of 12 elective credits within an undergraduate degree is typically necessary for completing bachelor’s and master’s degrees within five years.
• Undergraduate students are limited to one online course each semester.
• Students transferring credit will require individual evaluation based on credits completed and degrees pursued.

Requirements

The requirements and expectations for students include (please also see specific program application):

• Apply to the program at the end of sophomore year or beginning of junior year with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 or above. Application includes an essay describing interest in program.
• Applicants will be required to meet the eligibility requirements for the graduate program.
• Generally students will take 3-6 graduate level credits and 6-9 undergraduate credits each semester (second semester junior, fall and spring senior years). The junior and senior year credits are charged at the undergraduate tuition rate. All remaining undergraduate credits must be completed at Northwest.
• No more than 18 graduate level credits may be taken while still an undergraduate.
• No more than 6 graduate level credits may be taken during one semester.
• Once students complete all undergraduate courses, they will be charged at the graduate tuition rate for their program.
• Maintain 3.3 GPA during junior and senior year.
• Students take all required courses for graduate program.
• This program is not available to students enrolled in CAPS programs.
• Students will need to replace undergraduate requirements or elective credits with graduate course work. Students can substitute courses for their undergraduate major by taking equivalent graduate level courses listed in the following equivalency tables below.
• Transfer students must complete one semester at NU before applying to this program.

Overview of Degree Requirements

The following reflect how graduate level courses will be applied to undergraduate courses.

College of Business: MBA

Master of Business Administration: 12

Students who are not pursuing a Business degree will be required to take BUSM 5001 – Introduction to Finance and Accounting or tutorial.

College of Education: M.Ed; MIT

Master of Education; Master in Teaching: 12

Students who are pursuing the Master of Education will be required to participate in relevant work or volunteer activities during their fifth year.

College of Ministry: MA; MIM

MA in Bible and Theology; MA in Ministry Leadership; Master in Ministry: 18

Students who complete the undergraduate BIBL 2553 – Biblical Interpretation course with a B+ or higher will be allowed to take a BIBL Elective in place of the graduate course, BIBL 5553 – Reading the Bible.

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences: MAICD

MA in International Community Development: 12

See applicable Graduate Catalog for details