Are you a U of M undergraduate who is interested in getting a head start on graduate school? Consider earning additional course credits for potential future use in the following Master of Professional Studies (MPS) programs:

Each degree prepares you with the critical leadership skills and disciplinary knowledge to best serve your community, advance your personal passion, or jump-start your career. Earning up to 6 credits for transfer into an MPS degree will save you time and money as you pursue the next step in your education.

Note: If you are a College of Biological Sciences student interested in getting a head start on the Master of Biological Sciences program, see the MBS pathway for more information.

Why would I want to take additional credits before graduation? 

  • Significant tuition savings: Potential savings up to $2,000 of graduate level tuition
  • Faster program completion: 6 credits is equal to one full-time semester at the graduate level; start your master’s program with one term already completed!

Who is eligible?

  • Senior-status undergraduate University of Minnesota students earning their first bachelor’s degree in a humanities, social sciences, or sciences major
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA

Which courses can I take?

Because each MPS program’s coursework is curated for your post-graduation career goals, you should register for courses that align with those goals. 

  • Grades for potential transfer courses must be B or better
  • These courses cannot count toward your undergraduate degree
  • Courses must have been taken no more than five years before admission to the master’s program and transfer paperwork must be submitted during your first term as an MPS student in your chosen program

The following courses are preapproved by each master’s program for future transfer if you are admitted to that program. Only those courses listed below are eligible for potential future transfer. All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted. 

The Addictions Counseling program provides education leading toward the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) in Minnesota.

Earn an optional graduate certificate in Regulatory Affairs for Food Professionals, Poultry Health, or a self-designed track as part of your master's program! All courses below are offered online.

  • ACL 6001 – A Multiplicity of Ways: Epistemologies in the 21st Century (1 credit, in person)
  • ACL 5211 – Trends and Impacts in Arts and Cultural Leadership and Management Civic Engagement (in person)
  • ACL 5241 – Financial Management for Arts Nonprofits, Community Organizations, Artists (in person)
  • ACL 5261 – Culture, Place, and Community: Ways of Living Together in the 21st Century (in person)
  • ACL 6201 – Reimagining Cultural Leadership (in person)

Earn an optional graduate certificate in Transgender & Gender Diverse Health or Sex Therapy as part of your master's program along the way! All courses below are offered online.

What should I do next?

  1. Prior to your final term, discuss this option with your undergraduate advisor to ensure you don’t need the course for your bachelor’s degree. If they agree it is a good option, in your final term, register for the courses you would like to consider for future transfer to the appropriate MPS program.
  2. Request the course instructor sign the Transfer Credits from Undergraduate to Graduate Career form—save this form!
  3. After you complete your bachelor’s degree, request that your undergraduate advisor sign the Transfer Credit form as well.
  4. Apply to the appropriate MPS program.
  5. If accepted, submit the signed Transfer Credit form to your graduate academic advisor.

Please note that taking these additional courses does not guarantee admission to the MPS programs listed above. Your application for admission to the MPS program will be reviewed holistically. If you have questions about these courses or admission, please contact enrollment advisor Steve Wicks: [email protected]. 

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