UAB offers several options for high-achieving undergraduates to accelerate the time and cost necessary to complete both their undergraduate and graduate degrees. These include Accelerated Bachelors/Masters programs (ABM) and Fast-Track programs.

Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs

Undergraduate students can take courses that count toward both bachelor’s and master’s degrees with one of our accelerated bachelor’s/master’s (ABM) programs. Once admitted, you can take up to 12 shared hours of approved 500/600-level graduate courses that help complete both degrees. This allows you to significantly shorten the time it takes to earn a master’s degree and distinguish yourself as a high-level critical thinker and problem solver.

Requirements

  • You must have earned 60 or more undergraduate hours (36 of which must be completed at UAB) to start the ABM program. Students admitted to UAB as transfer students are eligible to apply to an ABM program after earning 60 or more undergraduate hours, at least 24 of which must be earned at UAB.* Some programs may have higher requirements or require specific grades in certain courses.
  • You must have a UAB undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher. Some programs may require a higher minimum GPA for admission and/or may not permit the full 12 hours to be shared between programs.
  • You must meet the above criteria as well as other minimum criteria for graduate admission before taking graduate-level courses. Upon admission to the UAB Graduate School, you’ll begin a program of study leading to your master’s degree as approved by your department and by the Graduate School.
  • You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in all graduate and undergraduate coursework. Some programs may have higher requirements or require specific grades in certain courses.
  • In addition to any graduate-level coursework you take in a given term as an ABM student, you must enroll in at least six undergraduate hours. ABM hours that are approved as shared credit count toward this minimum. Students enrolled in a summer term OR in the final semester of their undergraduate program who have less than six hours remaining are exempted from this requirement. Other exemptions must be approved by the Graduate School.

*All UAB undergraduate students must adhere to the residency requirement outlined in the undergraduate catalog.

How to Apply

  1. Meet with your undergraduate advisor and the relevant graduate program director(s) to discuss program requirements.
  2. Complete the ABM form (including all approvals) and submit it to the UAB Graduate School.
  3. Submit all departmental application materials required by the ABM program.

Programs

Fast-Track Programs

Undergraduate students can apply for a master’s degree program before even finishing their bachelor’s. Our fast-track programs let students begin graduate coursework while you’re enrolled as an undergraduate—saving you money and enabling you to earn your master’s sooner. While hours aren’t shared between the two degrees as in the ABM program, some Fast Track master’s programs may allow you to waive course content you covered while completing your undergraduate degree.

Not all undergraduate financial aid can be applied to graduate coursework. Contact the UAB Office of Financial Aid to learn how enrollment in a fast-track program may affect your aid eligibility.

Requirements

  • You must have earned 60 or more undergraduate hours (36 of which must be completed at UAB) to start the fast-track program. Students admitted to UAB as transfer students are eligible to apply to an fast-track program after earning 60 or more undergraduate hours, at least 24 of which must be earned at UAB.*
  • You must have a UAB undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Some programs may require a higher minimum GPA for admission.
  • Individual programs may require certain prerequisite courses, or they might be open only to specific undergraduate majors. Some programs also might require the completion of your bachelor’s degree before admission.
  • In addition to any graduate coursework you take in a given term as an undergraduate enrolled in a fast-track program, you must also be enrolled in at least six undergraduate hours. If you have fewer than six hours remaining to complete your undergraduate degree, then you are exempt from this requirement. Students enrolled in a summer term OR in the final semester of their undergraduate program who have less than six hours remaining are exempted from this requirement. Other exemptions must be approved by the Graduate School.

*All UAB undergraduate students must adhere to the residency requirement outlined in the undergraduate catalog.

How to Apply

Interested in one of the Fast-Track programs below? Apply to receive more information  opens a new website.

Programs

Accounting   opens a new website
(MAC)
(accepts BS in Accounting students)

Biology   opens a new website
(MS)
(accepts BS in Biology students)

Biotechnology   opens a new website
(MS)
(accepts BS in Biomedical Sciences students)

Civil Engineering   opens a new website
(MSCE)
(accepts BSCE in Civil Engineering students)

Medical Laboratory Sciences   opens a new website
(MS)
(accepts BS in Biomedical Sciences students)

Electrical and Computer Engineering   opens a new website
(MSECE)
(accepts BSEE in Electrical Engineering students)

Health Informatics   opens a new website
(MS)
(accepts BS in Health Care Management students)

Health Physics   opens a new website
(MS)
(accepts BS in Biomedical Science students)

Healthcare Quality and Safety   opens a new website
(MS)
(accepts BS in Health Care Management students)

Materials Engineering   opens a new website
(MSMtE)
(accepts BSMtE in Materials Engineering students)

Mathematics   opens a new website
(MS)
(accepts BS in Mathematics students)

Mechanical Engineering   opens a new website
(MSME)
(accepts BSME in Mechanical Engineering students)

Occupational Therapy   opens a new website
(OTD)
(accepts BS in Health Care Management students)

Public Health   opens a new website
(MPH)
(accepts any undergraduate student)

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Graduate Admissions