Early Entry Master’s Program

THE Program

In this program up to 12 credit hours of graduate level, 5000/6000 BIOL courses may be taken as an undergraduate and also be credited toward the Master’s degree. In other words, graduate work will be “double-counted” for both your undergraduate and graduate degrees. An additional 3 credit hours may be taken at the undergraduate tuition rate and subsequently applied to the MS degree upon full entry.

Deadlines for applications are May 15 for the Fall semester and October 15 for the Spring semester. A UNC Charlotte undergraduate student will apply in April of the Junior year (May graduation) to take courses in both Fall and Spring semesters of the Senior year. A UNC Charlotte undergraduate student will apply in October of the Senior year (May graduation) to take courses in the Spring semester of the Senior year.

What you need to apply:

  • NO GRE REQUIRED.
  • Have a minimum 3.2 GPA in Biological Sciences and a 3.2 GPA overall. Transfer credits count both for credit hours needed and for minimum GPA toward eligibility.
  • Be a Biology major or minor or a major in a related sciences department.
  • Have completed at least 75 hours of undergraduate course work to apply; have at least 90 hours of coursework to register for graduate courses. When you apply you will select the semester for entry as the first semester you intend to enroll in graduate-level courses. For instance, you are in Sept of your senior year and wish to take 5000/6000 level courses in the Spring of your Senior year, you will apply to the MS program for Spring even though you will still also be an undergraduate. If you apply with 75+ credits but not yet 90 credits, then you must estimate which semester you will have completed the required 90 credits to take classes in this program. Transfer credits count both for credit hours needed and for minimum GPA toward eligibility.
  • Currently, be performing research in a lab in the department OR identify a major advisor prior to submission of an application OR identify a major advisor prior to entry as a full-time MS student. Be certain to have any identified major advisor submit one of the letters of support for your application.
  • Submit a competitive Master’s application including letters of support. See appropriate application guidelines and admissions procedures.
  • IMPORTANT: You are required to email the Graduate Programs Coordinator Dr. Adam Reitzel once your application is submitted to be considered for this program.
  • If an early-entry student has not met the normal admission requirements of a 3.0 GPA at the end of his/her baccalaureate degree, she/he will be dismissed from the graduate program. Students accepted into an early-entry program will be subject to the same policies that pertain to other matriculated graduate students.
  • Additional information may be found at the Graduate School Early Entry web page.

ONCE YOU ARE ADMITTED:

  • If admitted then you must complete a Graduate Student Academic Petition to obtain permission and declare the graduate level courses that the student will take. Failure to obtain prior Graduate School approval negates a student’s ability to “double-count” courses in an accelerated Early Entry program.
  • Up to 12 credit hours of graduate level 5000/6000 BIOL courses including independent research or tutorial courses will count toward both the undergraduate and MS degree. Declarations must be made in the Graduate Student Academic Petition.
  • Courses taken at the graduate level will not show in the undergraduate DegreeWorks audit until after grades have been posted.
  • Early Entry students will be charged undergraduate tuition and fees for all courses (graduate and undergraduate) for which they register. Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students will be charged graduate tuition and fees.