Graduate School

Accelerated Masters

Accelerated master’s programs allow you to apply eligible credits earned during your bachelor's degree towards your master's degree at Michigan Tech, potentially reducing the time and cost to completion. Discover how you can pursue an accelerated master’s degree and advance your academic journey.

Adding an accelerated master’s degree

If you are interested in pursuing an accelerated master's degree, please visit our accelerated master’s site for eligibility requirements and application instructions.

Viewing degree requirements

Currently enrolled Michigan Tech students may view a What-If audit on their Degree Works dashboard. This audit will show the current program curricula and how your registered and completed graduate courses apply to the degree. Please note that curricula are updated each catalog year and are not final until you matriculate.

Alumni can contact the Graduate Program Director for information about course requirements.

Accelerated credits

Credits earned for a Michigan Tech bachelor’s degree may apply toward a master’s degree and accelerate your progress toward this credential.

The following rules and limitations apply:

  • Up to nine (9) credits may be accelerated.
    • NOTE: students admitted prior to fall 2024 may only use six (6) accelerated credits. Programs may also set a lower limit or not have an accelerated option.
  • All credits must be approved by the graduate program director.
  • Students must be admitted to the accelerated option for the degree program.
  • The undergraduate GPA must be 3.00 or higher.

Ask your graduate program director to complete the Accelerated Courses form to indicate which course(s) will be used.

Approved credits will display on your Degree Works audit after the Graduate School and Registrar’s Office has processed your program’s request.

Senior rule

Michigan Tech undergraduates may earn graduate credits toward a graduate program while they are completing a bachelor’s degree under the Senior Rule. See the Senior Rule page for more information and the required form to complete.

Sharing credits between master’s degrees

If you want to pursue multiple master’s degrees, eligible credits may be shared between the degrees with program approval. See our Additional Master’s Degree web page for more information.

Using master's credits for graduate certificates

All credits earned toward a master’s degree that meet the requirements of a graduate certificate may be used to satisfy the requirements of both. In order to earn a graduate certificate, you must complete the Request to Add a Certificate form prior to or during your last term of enrollment. Please note that certificates are not automatically awarded even if you have completed all of the required courses.


See our certificates web page for more information on policies regarding graduate certificates. 

Transfer credits

If you have eligible graduate credits from a degree at another institution, you may be able to transfer these credits to Michigan Tech.

The following rules apply:

  • Up to one-third of the required coursework credits may be transfer credits. Please note that credit allowances may vary based on the specific degree option (e.g., coursework, thesis, or report).
    • Example 1: A master’s degree with the coursework option requires 30 credits. Up to 10 credits may be transfer credits.
    • Example 2: A master’s degree with the thesis option requires 20 coursework credits and 10 research credits. Up to six (6) credits may be transfer credits.
  • The credits must not have been used for a previous degree at another institution.
  • The Graduate Program Director must approve of the transfer credits. Each program can set lower limits for the number of credits allowed.


Ask your Graduate Program Director to complete the transfer credits form to initiate the credit transfer. See our Transfer Credits page for more information.

Earning your degree

Once you have completed at least ten (10) credits, you’ll be eligible to submit an Application to Graduate on your Student Profile. You must complete it no later than your final semester of enrollment at Michigan Tech.

In rare instances, you may also be required to submit a Master’s Degree Schedule, which outlines the specific courses applied to your degree. If this form is necessary for your degree, your program or the Graduate School will notify you.

Official Policy Information

The policies governing graduate programs at Michigan Tech are approved by the University Senate. This webpage provides a simplified overview for your convenience. For complete and official details, please refer to the following policies:

  • Policy 413.1 - Accelerated Master’s Programs
  • Policy 411.1 - Graduate Certificates
  • Policy 35-21 - Guidelines for Accelerated Graduate Certificates