Earn two degrees in less time

Accelerated Master's Degrees


Complete your master's and bachelor's degrees at the same time.

The Lenoir-Rhyne Accelerated Master's Degrees program (formerly named Bridges to Dreams) provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, saving both time and money.

  • Substitute graduate course hours for required undergraduate hours
  • Standardized test requirement waived for graduate admission
  • Start in fall or spring semester
  • Save even more in select programs through Alumni Advantage tuition discount

Current LR students may enroll in up to 12-credit hours of graduate-level coursework provided you meet the academic criteria for admission and you are accepted into the Accelerated Master's Degrees program. These graduate courses may be used to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

Students studying at tables in George Hall Atrium

Students in the program will have their academic performance reviewed after each semester to ensure satisfactory academic progress. Upon successfully completing your undergraduate degree and providing the minimum academic performance criteria for each course within the program, you will receive formal admission into your selected graduate program of study. Meeting these criteria allows entry to the graduate program without the standard formal application requirements otherwise required of graduate program applicants.

In taking graduate courses during your final semester(s) as an undergraduate, you are able to save the costs of these credits at the graduate level.

Students are admitted to the accelerated master's degrees program in either the fall or spring semester only; however, once admitted to an approved program, you may enroll in courses available in any term. Summer courses are charged at the standard rate per credit hour and are not subject to any university discount program.

Cortney Hildebran Cooke

One of the main reasons I chose to attend LR was the Accelerated Master's Degrees program. It is great to be able to start taking graduate classes early.

Cortney Hildebran Cooke '20, MBA 2021

Applying


The Lenoir-Rhyne University Accelerated Master's Degrees program is designed to assist current LR undergraduate students toward completing a graduate degree. Through the program, qualified LR undergraduates may begin graduate courses while still completing an undergraduate degree. Current LR students may enroll in up to 12 credit hours of graduate-level coursework provided they meet the academic criteria for admission and are accepted into the program. These graduate courses may be used to meet both undergraduate and graduate degree.

Students who will have earned 92 credit hours by the end of their semester of application, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and are in good standing with the university are eligible to apply for the Accelerated Master's Degrees program. A minimum of 64 credit hours at Lenoir-Rhyne must be completed prior to graduation.

Apply to Accelerated Master's Degrees Program

Alumni Advantage Discount Program


Successfully completing your undergraduate degree at LR and meeting the required criteria will make you eligible for the Alumni Advantage program, which provides a tuition discount on all remaining graduate courses taken toward satisfying a graduate degree at Lenoir-Rhyne in specific approved programs.
View Alumni Advantage
Jocelyn Lowe Shuping

LR's Accelerated Master's Degrees program was an attractive option because it allowed me to earn a graduate degree in only an additional year after completing my bachelor’s degree.

Jocelyn Lowe Shuping '20, MS '21

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