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PCB&E 4+1 Pilot

Plaster College of Business and Entrepreneurship is piloting 4+1 pathways from undergraduate programs into PCB&E graduate programs which will allow high-achieving undergraduate students an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in as few as five years. Full-time college students will complete the majority of their undergraduate curriculum, as well as most of their general education requirements, during their first three years. Then, upon formal acceptance into the master’s degree program, the students will complete their graduate coursework during their fourth and fifth year. Current Lindenwood undergraduate students are eligible for participation in the 4+1 master’s pathway. Graduation timelines may vary and are dependent on an official review of the student’s prior academic history. Students who elect not to complete the graduate portion of the program can still graduate with an undergraduate degree following the completion of all undergraduate degree requirements. The pathway to different master programs has specific eligibility requirements, application procedures, selection criteria, and retention criteria.

Tuition
During their Junior/Senior years, students participating in a 4+1 undergraduate/master’s pathway will be subject to undergraduate tuition rates until the undergraduate degree is conferred. Undergraduate tuition permits a student to take up to 18 credit hours per semester. Pathway students must take 12 credit hours of undergraduate courses and may take up to 6 graduate credit hours per term. (Pathway students may take up to a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours at the undergraduate tuition rate while in the 4+1 Pathway.) Undergraduate students who enroll for more than 18 hours in a semester will be charged at the university's course overload rate. Graduate courses completed as an undergraduate student in the 4+1 pathway that provide credit for the undergraduate degree or graduate degree will be subject to undergraduate tuition and financial aid.

Eligibility

  • Enrolled into PCBE major
  • 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher
  • Earned 60 credit hours
  • Completion, or near completion, of all general education requirements

4+1 Undergraduate to Master Pathway Application Process and Criteria:

  • Completion of the 4+1 master’s pathway application (may be submitted after 60 credit hours).
  • Completion of at least 60 undergraduate credit hours at time of application submission to the PCB&E 4+1 pathway. (Credit hours the student is enrolled at the time of 4+1 application will count as part of the total hours).
  • Completion of all graduate program prerequisites with a B or better.
  • Transcript verification of completion of all program prerequisite courses. If the prerequisite courses have not been completed at the time of application, students can submit final verification at a later date.

Master Pathway Application Deadlines:

  • For enrollment into Fall I Graduate courses, the Pathway Application must be submitted by June 1 of the same year.
  • For enrollment into Fall II Graduate courses, the Pathway Application must be submitted by September 1 of the same year.
  • For enrollment into Spring I Graduate courses, the Pathway Application must be submitted by December 1 of the previous year.
  • For enrollment into Spring II Graduate courses, the Pathway Application must be submitted by February 1 of the same year.
  • For enrollment into Summer Graduate courses, the Pathway Application must be submitted by April 1 of the same year.

4+1 Master Pathway to Graduate Program Application Process and Criteria:

  • Completion of at least 84 undergraduate credit hours before the student may submit an application to and be admitted to the appropriate Lindenwood graduate program.
  • Completion of the university graduate program application (after 84 undergraduate credit hours)
  • Completion of all graduate program foundation courses or equivalencies with a B or better.

4+1 Master Pathway to Graduate Program and Foundation Courses:

Pathway students may want to plan their undergraduate courses to complete Master Program Foundational or program core courses prior to undergraduate graduation. For undergraduate courses to be counted as completed Graduate Foundation courses, student must earn a grade of B or better in the undergraduate course (each pathway graduate program has program-specific academic eligibility requirements, application procedures, selection criteria, and other admission criteria).

Upon conferment of the undergraduate degree, the student will be considered a graduate student and will be subject to graduate tuition, graduate financial aid, and all other fees associated with graduate programs. Please refer to the current university policies regarding undergraduate and graduate information on tuition, program expenses, and all other fees. For additional information on financial aid, please see the Federal Financial Aid sections in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs.

Students participating in a 4+1 undergraduate to master’s pathway will be classified as an undergraduate student until all undergraduate degree requirements have been met. Under normal circumstances, this should be accomplished by the end of the fourth year. Upon completion of the undergraduate degree requirements, the bachelor’s degree will be conferred, and the student shall be considered a graduate student for all university purposes.

Earning Graduate Credit as an Undergraduate Student
Enrollment into graduate courses will require approval from the Dean or their appropriate representative. To earn graduate credit as an undergraduate student, the student must be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours at the undergraduate level for each semester that the student is taking graduate credit and have a minimum undergraduate 3.0 GPA (colleges and programs may have different academic requirements please check with the college of your desired program.). A maximum of 6 graduate credit hours may be earned in a single semester. Please see the specific 4+1 undergraduate to master’s pathway for additional information. Once a student has been approved for the 4+1 pathway, the undergraduate student will need to follow a 4+1 course plan and will be eligible to register in selected graduate courses. These graduate-level courses will be determined by the 4+1 pathway.

Grading Policy for Undergraduate Students Enrolled in Graduate Courses
Undergraduate students enrolled in graduate-level courses will be graded in accordance to the graduate course grading policy. In graduate level courses, undergraduate students may receive grades of A, B, C, F, W, AF, N, I and Audit (see appropriate definitions in the Grading System section of the graduate catalog)

Student Classification and Degree Conferment
Students participating in a 4+1 undergraduate to master’s pathway will be classified as an undergraduate student until all undergraduate degree requirements have been met. Under normal circumstances, this should be accomplished by the end of the fourth year. Upon completion of the undergraduate degree requirements, the bachelor’s degree will be conferred, and the student shall be considered a graduate student for all university purposes.

Upon conferment of the undergraduate degree, the student will be considered a graduate student and will be subject to graduate tuition, graduate financial aid, and all other fees associated with graduate programs. Please refer to the current university policies regarding undergraduate and graduate information on tuition, program expenses, and all other fees. For additional information on financial aid, please see the Federal Financial Aid sections in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs.