Bachelor’s to Master’s Bridge Programs 

For the Master of Arts in Psychology and the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling programs, DBU offers specialized Bridge Programs. Bridge programs at DBU provide a means for highly motivated individuals with clearly defined career goals to attain knowledge and skills from both undergraduate and master’s degrees in a single accelerated process.  Combining the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees provides a faster track to graduation, proves to be more cost-effective, prepares students for professional licensure, and gives the student the opportunity to enter the workforce sooner with a competitive advantage. 

Permission to Pursue a Bridge Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Program 

Note:  Please refer to each program for requirements specific to that program only.   

Students wishing to enter a Bridge Program should file a Statement of Commitment with their academic advisor. Permission to pursue the program will be considered based on the following criteria: 

• Completion of 70-75 semester hours (see individual degree requirements) with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 at the time of filing a Statement of Commitment.  The 3.0 GPA criteria must be maintained to continue in the program. 

• The Statement of Commitment must be approved and signed by both the undergraduate advisor and the Master’s program director.  At that time, a new degree plan must be completed, approved, and signed by both the undergraduate advisor and the Master’s program director.   

• At the completion of 90 semester hours (to include 12 institutional hours with a 3.0 GPA) students must apply for admission to the Master’s program.   

• Upon acceptance into the Master’s program, students may take 5000 or 6000-level courses as prescribed by their degree plan.   

Note:  Permission to pursue a Bridge Program does not guarantee admission to the Master’s program.  All requirements for admission to the Master’s program must be met. Students may not enroll in 5000 or 6000-level courses prior to admission to the Master’s program.   

Retention in and Graduation from the Program 

Students must fulfill the following conditions to continue enrollment and graduate from a Bridge Program: 

• Students must maintain an institutional GPA of 3.0 at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and at the undergraduate level, an institutional GPA of 3.0 in coursework comprising the major or in all teacher certification coursework.      

• A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to graduate with a master’s degree.  

• Students must be advised by both their undergraduate advisor and their graduate program director/advisor prior to enrollment each semester. 

• Transfer students must meet the residency requirement for the bachelor’s degree of a minimum of 32 hours. Bridge Program courses at the graduate level are considered to be part of the undergraduate residency requirement. 

• If the student decides not to complete the Bridge Program, he/she must work with the undergraduate advisor in order to meet the degree requirements for the Bachelor’s degree in order to graduate.

TABLE OF PAIRED COURSES