Accelerated Pathways
to Master's-Level Credit

Fast-track a master's degree by completing courses that map to graduate requirements.

Several programs at University of Maryland Global Campus feature accelerated pathways between undergraduate and graduate degrees that allow you to apply undergraduate credits toward master's degree requirements, saving you time and money.  If you complete an eligible undergraduate degree or specific coursework as outlined below, you may be able to reduce your total coursework for related graduate degrees.

Eligible credits for most pathways must have been completed no earlier than two years before the beginning of your graduate studies. Stricter requirements are listed under individual pathways. Graduate admission requirements and time limits for degree completion apply to all students taking advantage of an accelerated pathway. The time limit for degree completion becomes applicable when you begin study for your graduate degree.

Get more information about the accelerated pathways available at UMGC:

Criminal Justice

If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with coursework in criminal justice, a pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs in criminal justice allows you to reduce your total coursework for a related graduate degree by up to 6 credits.

The following undergraduate-to-graduate course substitutions will be accepted for a maximum of 6 credits in our master's degree program in management with a criminal justice management specialization.

• Criminal Justice Capstone(3 Credits, CCJS 495) substitutes for Critical Analysis of the Criminal Justice System(3 Credits, CJMS 600)
• Correctional Administration(3 Credits, CCJS 497) substitutes for Issues in Correctional Administration(3 Credits, CJMS 620)

The substitutions listed above are the only ones possible. Note that a minimum grade of B must be earned in each undergraduate course for the credits to be accepted at the graduate level. 

Cybersecurity

If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with a major in cybersecurity technology, a pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs in cybersecurity allows you to earn 6 credits toward the following programs:

• Master's degrees in Cloud Computing Systems, Cyber Operations, Cybersecurity Management and Policy, Cybersecurity Technology, or Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation
• Graduate certificates in Cloud Computing and Networking, Cyber Operations, Cybersecurity Management and Policy, Cybersecurity Technology, or Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation

To be eligible for the pathway, you must enroll in a related graduate program within two years of completing Network Security(3 Credits, CMIT 320) and Cybersecurity Technology Capstone(3 Credits, CMIT 495).

If eligible, you may be awarded credit for one of the following courses:

• Cyberspace and Cybersecurity Foundations(6 Credits, CST 610) in the graduate cybersecurity technology programs
• CBR 600 in the graduate cybersecurity management and policy or digital forensics and cyber investigation programs
• Decisive Thinking, Communicating, and Leading in Technology Fields(6 Credits, DCL 600T) in the graduate cloud computing systems or cyber operations programs

The substitutions listed above are the only ones possible. Note that a minimum grade of B must be earned in each undergraduate course for the credits to be accepted at the graduate level.

Data Science/Data Analytics

If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with a major in data science, a pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs in this field allows you to reduce your total coursework for graduate data analytics programs by 6 credits.

If eligible, you may be awarded credit for Data Management and Visualization(6 Credits, DATA 620).

You should enroll in the graduate data analytics program within two years of completing your undergraduate degree in data science.

Emergency Management

If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with coursework in emergency management, a pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs in emergency management allows you to reduce your total coursework for a related graduate degree by up to 6 credits.

The following undergraduate-to-graduate course substitutions will be accepted for a maximum of 6 credits in our master's degree program in management with an emergency management specialization.

• Concepts of Emergency Management(3 Credits, EMGT 302) substitutes for Comprehensive Crisis and Emergency Management(3 Credits, EMAN 600)
• Emergency Response Preparedness and Planning(3 Credits, EMGT 304) substitutes for Resilience Planning and Preparedness for Disaster Response and Recovery(3 Credits, HSMN 630)

The substitutions listed above are the only ones possible. Note that a minimum grade of B must be earned in each undergraduate course for the credits to be accepted at the graduate level. 

Health Services Management

If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with coursework in health services management, a pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs in this area allows you to reduce your total coursework for a related graduate degree by up to 6 credits.

The following undergraduate-to-graduate course substitutions will be accepted for a maximum of 6 credits in our master's degrees in healthcare administration and health information management and technology or the long-term care administration and digital health leader graduate certificate programs.

• Research and Data Analysis in Healthcare(3 Credits, HMGT 400) substitutes for Information Technology for Healthcare Administration(3 Credits, HCAD 610)
• Health Services Management Capstone (3 Credits, HMGT 495) substitutes for Introduction to Healthcare Administration(3 Credits, HCAD 600)

The substitutions listed above are the only ones possible. Note that a minimum grade of B must be earned in each undergraduate course for the credits to be accepted at the graduate level.

Homeland Security

If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with coursework in homeland security, a pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs in homeland security allows you to reduce your total coursework for a related graduate degree by up to 6 credits.

The following undergraduate-to-graduate course substitutions will be accepted for a maximum of 6 credits in our master's degree program in management with a homeland security management specialization or information technology with a homeland security management specialization or our graduate certificate in homeland security management.

• Introduction to Homeland Security(3 Credits, HMLS 302) substitutes for Concepts in Homeland Security(3 Credits, HSMN 610)
• Infrastructure in Homeland Security(3 Credits, HMLS 408) substitutes for Critical Infrastructures(3 Credits, HSMN 625)

The substitutions listed above are the only ones possible. Note that a minimum grade of B must be earned in each undergraduate course for the credits to be accepted at the graduate level. 

Human Resource Management

If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with coursework in human resource management, a pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs in human resource management allows you to reduce your total coursework for a related graduate degree by up to 6 credits.

The following undergraduate-to-graduate course substitutions will be accepted for a maximum of 6 credits in our master's degree program in management with a human resource management specialization.

• Human Resource Management Capstone (3 Credits, HRMN 495) substitutes for Issues and Practices in Human Resource Management(3 Credits, HRMD 610)
• Talent Acquisition and Management(3 Credits, HRMN 400) substitutes for Recruitment and Selection(3 Credits, HRMD 630)

The substitutions listed above are the only ones possible. Note that a minimum grade of B must be earned in each undergraduate course for the credits to be accepted at the graduate level. 

Management Information Systems

If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with coursework in management information systems, a pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs in this area allows you to reduce your total coursework for an information technology master's degree by up to 6 credits. The following IT specializations are available:

• IT: Database Systems Technology
• IT: Homeland Security Management
• IT: Informatics
• IT: Information Assurance
• IT: Project Management
• IT: Software Engineering
• IT: Systems Engineering

The following undergraduate-to-graduate course substitutions will be accepted for a maximum of 6 credits in our master's degree program in information technology:

• Information Systems Project Management(3 Credits, IFSM 438) substitutes for Information Technology Project Management(3 Credits, ITEC 640)
• Systems Analysis and Design(3 Credits, IFSM 461) substitutes for Information Systems Analysis, Modeling, and Design(3 Credits, ITEC 630)

The substitutions listed above are the only ones possible. Note that a minimum grade of B must be earned in each undergraduate course for the credits to be accepted at the graduate level.

You must enroll in the graduate management information systems program within three years of completing your undergraduate degree in management information systems.

Teaching

Complete a bachelor's degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a total of 138 credits of coursework.

If you are pursuing a bachelor's degree from UMGC in computer science, English, history, social science, or general studies (with a minimum of a 30-credit specialization in social studies) or have taken other appropriate coursework (including biology and mathematics coursework), a pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs allows you to reduce the total coursework for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) by up to 12 credits—three courses, including the noncredit introductory course Orientation to Graduate Studies at UMGC(0 Credits, UCSP 615). This accelerated program option allows you to take graduate-level coursework before you complete your undergraduate degree.

To be eligible for this option, you must have completed the courses listed below before being accepted to the MAT program.

• Foundations of Teaching for Learning(6 Credits, EDTP 500) substitutes for Foundations of Teaching for Learning(6 Credits, EDTP 600)
• Adolescent Development and Learning Needs(6 Credits, EDTP 535) substitutes for Adolescent Development and Learning Needs(6 Credits, EDTP 635)

The 500-level courses listed above are the only courses eligible for the 12 articulated credits available through this pathway. If completed with a grade of B or higher, the credits will apply to the MAT program. If successfully completed with a grade of C or lower, these credits apply toward the undergraduate degree only.

The UCSP 615 requirement may be waived if you previously earned a graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution. For more information, contact your academic advisor.