The combined B.S./M.S. program will provide exceptional undergraduates with the opportunity to obtain both a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and Human Services and a Master of Science in Life Span Human Development in 5 years, a shorter time than typically required to earn a B.S. plus M.S. if both degrees are pursued separately. This program has thesis, report or manuscript formats.

The application process is the same as for the traditional M.S. degree except that completion of the B.S. degree is not required. The following requirements must be met before an individual can be admitted into this program:

• The student must be seeking a B.S. degree from the School of Family Studies and Human Services.
• The student must have completed 45-90 credit hours toward the B.S. degree.
• The student must have completed the following FSHS undergraduate courses: FSHS 110, 310, 375, 506, and 510.
• The student’s cumulative undergraduate GPA must be at least 3.0.

Because there is some overlap between undergraduate and graduate study, some graduate courses will satisfy the degree requirements of the undergraduate degree. A maximum of 9 graduate credit hours from the M.S. LSHD degree can be counted toward the B.S. FSHS degree. Some additional conditions are:

• The student must complete 36 graduate credit hours with a graduate GPA of at least 3.0.
• The student must complete all B.S. FSHS undergraduate requirements with the exception that up to 9 credit hours taken for graduate credit can also count toward his/her undergraduate degree requirements.
• At least 30 of the graduate credit hours on the Graduate Program of Study must be in classes at the 700 level or above.
• A student pursuing a thesis format must complete at least 6 credit hours of Masters Thesis (LSHD 899).

Once an individual is admitted to the concurrent B.S. /M.S. degree program, the student should consult the graduate handbook for policies and procedures for graduate degrees, which include: supervisory committee, final examination, thesis defense, etc. The student’s supervisory committee must approve the program of study, which is a statement of the student’s graduation requirements.

The B.S. degree may be awarded at any time following the completion of the undergraduate degree requirements. Alternatively, the B.S. and M.S. degrees may be awarded concurrently.