Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Programs

Fast-track Your Master’s Degree

The Costello College of Business at George Mason University offers several Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s (BAM) programs for highly-qualified Mason undergraduates. 

Are you an academically strong student currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at George Mason University? If so, you may be eligible to take up to 12 credits that will apply to both your current undergraduate degree and a future graduate degree through a Bachelors/Accelerated Master’s (BAM) program. 

There are several advantages to pursuing a BAM program with the Costello College of Business: 

  • You can earn both a bachelor’s and master's degree in an accelerated timeframe by taking several graduate courses while still an undergraduate student. 
  • You can take graduate courses while still an undergraduate at undergraduate tuition rates, resulting in significant cost savings.  
  • You'll get earlier access to advising and career coaching. 

Explore Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Programs at the Costello College of Business

Master's in Accounting

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The Costello College of Business offers bachelor's/accelerated master’s (BAM) programs to academically strong undergraduates pursuing a bachelor of science in business with a concentration in accounting. Participation in this program allows you to take graduate courses while an undergraduate and decreases the number of credits required during graduate status. Advantages of the BAM-MSA include: 

  • Graduate courses taken during your senior year are charged at the undergraduate tuition rate, so you save both time and money on your education.  
  • Up to 12 credits can count toward your master’s and your bachelor’s (advanced standing). 
  • Up to 6 additional credits can be taken as reserve credit (only count towards the master’s). 
  • Build time into your schedule to complete an internship and improve your employment options. 
  • You can complete the master’s program in 11 months following your bachelor’s degree as a part-time or full-time student, online or in-person. 
  • Preference for scholarships and graduate teaching assistantships 

To be eligible, you must:  

  • Be pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in accounting
  • Complete ACCT 303 with a grade of C or better prior to (or concurrent with) application
  • Have earned at least 60 credits with a GPA of 3.0 or above (students may not enroll in graduate courses until they have earned 75 semester hours)   

Application requirements for the BAM-MSA program:  

View the MSA-BAM eligible courses here. Other courses may be approved for advanced standing with departmental permission. 

For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies in the GMU Catalog. 

CPA Considerations

All 600-level accounting courses qualify toward the Virginia CPA educational requirements. Courses that count toward two degrees (advanced standing courses) are only counted once toward the CPA 150-credit licensure requirement. If you are going to be short of the 150 credits, work with your advisors to add courses as allowable by the University.

Master's in Business Analytics

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Highly qualified undergraduate students may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program to obtain a BA/BS in a chosen major and an MS in Business Analytics after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 138 credits.

To be eligible to apply, you must:

  • Be a Mason undergraduate (open to all majors)
  • Have a minimum 3.0 GPA 
  • Have earned at least 60 semester hours (students may not enroll in graduate courses until they have earned 75 semester hours) 

Application requirements for the BAM pathway:

View the MSBA-BAM eligible courses here. 

For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Degrees policies.

For F-1 visa or other students who need to be full time while in the MS Business Analytics program, please consult with an advisor before pursuing the Bachelors Accelerated Masters program.

Master's in Finance

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Highly-qualified undergraduates admitted to the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's in Finance (BAM-MSF) program can obtain a BS/BA in a chosen major and a Master’s in Finance in an accelerated timeframe after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 141 credits. 

To be eligible to apply, you must:  

  • Have earned at least 60 semester hours with a GPA of 3.00 or above AND
  • Passed at least two quantitative courses1 with a grade of B or better in at least one.
    1 Courses from the Quantitative Reasoning section of Mason Core or equivalents.

Students who are accepted into the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum 75 undergraduate credits and course-specific prerequisites.

Application requirements for the BAM pathway: 

View the MSF-BAM eligible courses here. The following list of MS Finance 600-level courses (up to 4 courses, or 12 credits) can be taken by BAM-MSF students. Please note that due to prerequisites, students must start MSF 600-level courses during the fall term.

BAM-MSF students can choose whether the courses are designated Advanced Standing (up to 12 credits; grade of B or better required) and will count for both the undergraduate and graduate degree, or are designated Reserve Credit courses (up to 6 credits) and will only count for the graduate degree program.

For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Degrees policies.

Master's in Management

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The Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Program – Master’s in Management (BAM-MSM) is designed for any major who seeks a foundation in business management.  

As a BAM- MSM student, you’ll have the opportunity to take graduate-level courses as an undergraduate student and apply those courses to your master’s in management degree. 

When you take up to 12 graduate credits as an undergraduate, you’ll have more flexibility within the master’s in management program (36 credits). This lighter course load will allow you more time to focus on you master’s in management courses, graduate career workshops and events, and additional time for your internship. 

To be eligible, you must:  

  • Be a Mason undergraduate with a 3.0 GPA or greater
  • Have earned at least 60 semester hours (students may not enroll in graduate courses until they have earned 75 semester hours) 

Application requirements for the BAM-MSM program:  

View the MSM-BAM eligible courses here. 

For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Degrees policies.

How To Apply, Notification, and Transitioning to Master’s Program 

Checklist

  • You may apply to the program once you have earned between 60 -100 credit hours in your relevant undergraduate program.

    • Though you can apply to BAM with only 60 credits, you must complete at least 75 undergraduate credits before taking advanced standing graduate courses. Advanced standing courses double count towards your undergraduate and Master’s program. 
  • Apply at least one full semester prior to the semester in which you intend to graduate. This ensures that you will have at least two semesters to take the necessary courses for transitioning. 
  • Materials you will need to apply: 
    • Mason transcript from Patriot Web 
    • The name and GMU email address of your BAM advisor with your application. 

How to Apply

  1. Go to the online application portal 
  2. Sign up for an account 
  3. Once set up, click the “Start A New Application” button 
  4. Then select the “Start Application” button under the “College of Business Graduate Application" section.  
  5. A set of questions will appear:  
    1. What level are you applying?  Select “4 – Accelerated Masters (for Mason Undergraduate Students Only)” 
    2. What campus are you applying for? Select the modality of your preferred program 
    3. What degree-seeking program are you applying for? Select your program of choice. 
    4. Term: Select the term you will start your graduate degree. This should be the term after your undergraduate degree is awarded. 
  6. Once you answer all the appropriate fields, the bachelor's accelerated master's form will appear. Complete the form, click "Review Your Application", and then click "Submit Your Application". 

Notification

If your Accelerated Master's application is approved, you will receive an automated email notifying you to check your Application Portal. Your decision will be available to you on your Application Portal. 

Approved students can register for graduate courses via Mason's Patriot Web system when they have reached at least 75 credits. 

Approval for the Accelerated Master's program only guarantees admission to a degree program at a later date if you maintain the required GPA outlined in the University Catalog, and follow all of the policy requirements outlined in the “Transitioning to a Master’s Program” section below. 

Transitioning to Master’s Program

  • File your intent to graduate in the final semester of your undergraduate degree here
  • At the beginning of your final undergraduate semester, meet with your graduate advisor to have your Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's (BAM) Transition Form signed and approved. Find the form here. If this form is not received by Graduate Admissions, you will not be eligible to be formally admitted to your graduate program.  
  • Your graduate advisor will submit the BAM Transition Form to the Graduate Admissions Office (OGA). The form will then be forwarded to the Registrar’s Office. 
  • Once the BAM Transition Form has been processed by OGA and the Registrar, you will receive an official admission letter to the graduate program via the admissions web portal. Please access the official admission letter and "Accept" the offer of admission. If you do not accept the offer, you not become a master's student.
  • If you were considered out-of-state for your undergraduate program and would like to qualify for in-state tuition for your graduate program, you must also submit a new domicile form with your BAM Transition Form to Graduate Admissions. 
  • During your first semester as a graduate student, applicable credits will be designated “Advanced Standing.” 

Questions? Contact Us

Email: sbusgrad@gmu.edu
Phone: 703-993-8006