Salve Regina's popular combined programs allow undergraduate students to begin a master's degree program in their senior (fourth) year. These pathways are designed for academically qualified students who meet certain criteria, maintain a specific GPA and are conditionally accepted into a graduate program.

We offer two options: a five-year pathway that allows students to complete a master's degree program within one year of graduation from their undergraduate program, and an accelerated pathway that allows students to begin a graduate program in their senior (fourth) year but complete their master's degree at their own pace.

Undergraduate students complete the application process by Feb. 15 of their junior (third) year.

Questions? Contact the Office of Admissions at (401) 341-2385 or graduate_studies@salve.edu.

Five-Year Pathway

Students in the five-year pathway complete four graduate courses during their senior (fourth) year, two of which may count toward credit requirements for the undergraduate program. This pathway offers flat-rate tuition for the fifth year and allows students to retain the services they had as undergraduate students.

Students in the five-year pathway matriculate into their master's degree program upon graduation from their undergraduate program and are required to take four courses in each semester of their fifth year. Students who elect to discontinue the five-year pathway revert to traditional graduate student status for the remainder of their enrollment.

Five-year programs are:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• M.S. in administration of justice and homeland security
• M.S. in healthcare administration
• M.A. in international relations

These programs may also be taken in the accelerated pathway, but there is no continuation of undergraduate services and students are billed at the traditional graduate rate upon matriculation.

In addition to flat-rate tuition, students admitted to the five-year pathway enjoy continued access to many of the benefits and services available to undergraduates, including:

• Access to athletic and recreational facilities
• Ability to remain active in student clubs and organizations
• Access to health care and counseling services
• Specialized career services
• Access to the Academic Center for Excellence, including academic support services for students with diagnosed learning differences
• Access to campus employment opportunities

Accelerated Pathway

Students in the accelerated pathway complete a minimum of two graduate courses during their senior (fourth) year. They matriculate into their master's degree program upon graduation from their undergraduate program and pay standard tuition rates for the specified graduate degree.

Accelerated programs are:

• M.S. in behavior analysis
• M.A. in clinical counseling
• MFA in creative writing

Direct-Entry Option for Incoming Students

Incoming first-year students may declare the five-year or accelerated pathway for a number of programs. Students should select their desired combined program on the Common Application for admission to their undergraduate degree and conditional admission for their graduate degree. Students are expected to maintain a 3.30 GPA to begin this sequence in their senior year. Programs with this direct-entry option include:

• Business administration (B.S.) and Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Creative writing and publishing (B.A.) and creative writing (MFA)
• Criminal justice and criminology (B.A.) and administration of justice and homeland security (M.S.)
• History or political science (B.A.) and international relations (M.A.)
• Psychology (B.A.) and behavior analysis (M.S.)
• Psychology (B.A.) or social work (B.S.) and clinical counseling (M.A.)

Program Requirements

• Students must maintain a 3.3 or higher GPA to be admitted into either program.
• Once they are conditionally accepted, students are advised on the courses to take in their senior year by their faculty advisor and graduate program director.
• Students must take the number of courses required for the specified program (four courses for the five-year pathway, a minimum of two courses for the accelerated pathway).
• Students must maintain the appropriate GPA and earn a grade of B or better in their graduate courses to matriculate into the master's program after completion of the undergraduate degree.