Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs

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Programs

The College of Arts and Sciences has created an accelerated pathway for current, high achieving Fairfield University undergraduate students who are interested in transitioning directly into one of our master's programs. Each accelerated bachelor’s/master’s program gives qualified undergraduate students the opportunity to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in as few as five years, depending on the program. This accelerated pathway allows students to transition directly into one of the following master’s programs and earn a graduate degree in less time and at potentially less cost than when done separately.

Students choosing one of these options will work with their undergraduate advisors to follow a specific sequence of undergraduate study before matriculating as a graduate student to complete their master’s degree. Each program has certain prerequisites, and all programs require the permission of the program director for entry. 

For more information, contact Fran Yadre, assistant to the dean, at fyadre@fairfield.edu.

BA/MA in Communication

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BA/MA in Communication

Eligibility Requirements

  • Full-time, matriculated students of any College of Arts and Sciences major may apply to the MA in Communication Program
  • GPA of 3.2 or higher
  • Completion of at least 96 credits prior to the start of fall senior year

Admission Requirements

  • Online application available at fairfield.edu/applynow
  • $60 admission fee (waived for current students)
  • Fairfield University transcript (obtained by the Office of Graduate Admission)
  • A letter of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • Copy of resume

Timeline

  • Students apply during their Spring semester of junior year
  • Upon acceptance, students will remain an undergraduate, but are allowed to register for two (2) graduate classes during their senior year. One class should be CO 420, which will replace CO 309. Accelerated students are expected to enroll in a  communication elective as needed to assure 10 undergraduate Communication courses are taken to complete major.
    • These classes will be covered through full-time tuition payment
    • These classes cannot count towards fulfillment of the undergraduate degree
    • During the final semester, typically in the spring, students will need to apply to the program officially to become a matriculated graduate student upon completion of their undergraduate degree. 

For more information, contact:

Kristina Ruiz-Mesa, PhD
Program Director, MA in Communication
kruiz-mesa@fairfield.edu

Dawn DeBiase
Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs CAS
ddebiase1@fairfield.edu
203-254-4000, ext. 3720

BA/MFA in Creative Writing

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BA/MFA in Creative Writing

Eligibility Requirements

  • Full-time, matriculated students of any Fairfield major and school may apply to the  MFA in Creative Writing Program
  • GPA of 3.2 or higher
  • Completion of at least 96 credits prior to the start of fall senior year

Admission Requirements

  • Online application available at fairfield.edu/applynow
  • $60 admission fee (waived for current students)
  • Fairfield University transcript (obtained by the Office of Graduate Admission)
  • A letter of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • Copy of resume
  • Writing sample

Timeline

  • Students apply during fall semester of senior year 
  • Upon acceptance, students will remain an undergraduate, but are allowed to register for two (2 graduate classes during their senior year
    • These classes will be covered through full-time tuition payment (with the exception of the MFA Winter Residency which is an additional tuition charge)
    • These classes cannot count towards fulfillment of the undergraduate degree
    • During the final semester, typically spring, students will need to apply to the program officially to become a matriculated graduate student upon completion of their undergraduate degree.

Other Admission Options:

Learn about our new Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) option, where highly qualified students can receive up to one full semester credit for the work they have already written or published. Students receiving the PLA can finish the MFA in three semesters instead of four.   

For more information, contact:

Carol Ann Davis, MFA
Program Director, MFA in Creative Writing
cdavis13@fairfield.edu

Dawn DeBiase
Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs CAS
ddebiase1@fairfield.edu
203-254-4000, ext. 3720

BS/MS in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology

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BS/MS in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology

Eligibility Requirements

  • Full-time, matriculated students of any Fairfield University major may apply to the MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology program
  • GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • A grade of B+ or higher in the following psychology courses taken as an undergraduate: PY 201 Statistics for the Live Sciences, PY 202 Research Methods, and PY 420 Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology taken in the fall of senior year. (For psychology majors, PY 420 may be used as a psychology elective towards the undergraduate degree, if PY 132 has not been taken already.)
  • Completion of at least 96 credits prior to the start of fall senior year

Admission Requirements

  • Online application available at fairfield.edu/applynow
  • $60 admission fee (waived for current students)
  • Fairfield University transcript (obtained by the Office of Graduate Admission)
  • A letter of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • Copy of resume

Timeline

  • Students should apply no later than April of their senior year, but are encouraged to contact the program director during their sophomore or junior year to allow enough time to take pre-requisite courses which may only be offered once a year
  • Upon acceptance, students will remain an undergraduate, but are allowed to register for two (2) graduate classes during their senior year
    • These classes will be covered through full-time tuition payment These classes cannot count towards fulfillment of the undergraduate degree
  • During the final semester, typically spring, students will need to apply to the program officially to become a matriculated graduate student upon completion of their undergraduate degree

For more information, contact:

Katie Tomlin, PhD
Associate Professor of the Practice
Graduate Program Director
ktomlin@fairfield.edu 

Dawn DeBiase
Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs CAS
ddebiase1@fairfield.edu
203-254-4000, ext. 3720

BS/MS in Mathematics

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BS/MS in Mathematics

Eligibility Requirements

  • Mathematics majors may apply with a minimum Major GPA of 3.2
  • Completion of at least 96 credits prior to the start of fall senior year

Admission Requirements

  • Online application available at fairfield.edu/applynow
  • $60 admission fee (waived for current students)
  • Fairfield University transcript (obtained by the Office of Graduate Admission)
  • A letter of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • Copy of resume

Timeline

  • Math undergrad students apply in the Spring of your junior year or either semester of your senior year
  • Upon acceptance, students will remain an undergraduate, but are allowed to register for two (2) graduate classes during their senior year
    • These classes will be covered through full-time tuition payment
    • These classes cannot count towards fulfillment of the undergraduate degree
    • During the final semester, typically spring, students will need to apply to the program officially to become a matriculated graduate student upon completion of their undergraduate degree.

For more information, contact:

Mark Demers, PhD
Director, Graduate Program in Mathematics
Professor of Mathematics
203-254-4000 x2252
mdemers@fairfield.edu

Dawn DeBiase
Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs CAS
ddebiase1@fairfield.edu
203-254-4000, ext. 3720

BA/ Master of Public Administration

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BA/ Master of Public Administration

Eligibility Requirements

Admission Requirements

  • Online application available at fairfield.edu/applynow
  • $60 admission fee (waived for current students)
  • Fairfield University transcript (obtained by the Office of Graduate Admission)
  • A letter of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • Copy of resume

Timeline

  • Students apply during their spring semester of junior year
  • Upon acceptance, students will remain an undergraduate, but are allowed to register for two (2) graduate classes during their senior year
    • These classes will be covered through full-time tuition payment
    • These classes cannot count towards fulfillment of the undergraduate degree
    • During the final semester, typically spring, students will need to apply to the program officially to become a matriculated graduate student upon completion of their undergraduate degree.

For more information, contact:

Gayle Alberda, PhD
Program Director, MPA Program
galberda@fairfield.edu  

Dawn DeBiase
Assistant Dean of Graduate Programs CAS
ddebiase1@fairfield.edu
203-254-4000, ext. 3720

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