Accelerated Pathways
to Master's-Level Credit

Fast-track a master's degree by completing courses that map to graduate requirements.

Several programs at University of Maryland Global Campus feature accelerated pathways between undergraduate and graduate degrees that allow you to apply undergraduate credits toward master's degree requirements, saving you time and money.  If you complete an eligible undergraduate degree or specific coursework as outlined below, you may be able to reduce your total coursework for related graduate degrees.

Unless otherwise noted, eligible credits for most pathways must have been completed no earlier than two years before the beginning of your graduate studies. Specific requirements are listed under individual pathways. Graduate admission requirements and time limits for degree completion apply to all students taking advantage of an accelerated pathway. The time limit for degree completion becomes applicable when you begin study for your graduate degree.

Get more information about the accelerated pathways available at UMGC:

Criminal Justice

If you completed a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at UMGC (either general or law enforcement track) within the last two years, an accelerated pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs allows you to reduce your total coursework for the concentration in criminal justice management within the Master of Science in management by up to 6 credits (two courses). 

If eligible for the pathway, you may be awarded credit for the following courses:

• Critical Analysis of the Criminal Justice System(3 Credits, CJMS 600)
• Issues in Correctional Administration(3 Credits, CJMS 620)

To be eligible for the pathway, you must complete the bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Cybersecurity

UMGC offers accelerated pathways for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity management and policy or cybersecurity technology within the last two years. Individual program relationships are described below.

Cybersecurity Management & Policy

If you completed a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity management and policy at UMGC within the last two years, an accelerated pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs allows you to reduce your total coursework for the Master of Science in cybersecurity management and policy by up to 9 credits (three courses).

If eligible for the pathway (you must complete the bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher), you may be awarded credit for the following courses:

• Foundations of Cybersecurity Management(3 Credits, CMAP 605)
• Cybersecurity Defense Strategies(3 Credits, CMAP 615)
• Cybersecurity Risk Management(3 Credits, CMAP 625) 

To be eligible for the pathway, you must complete the bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Cybersecurity Technology

If you completed a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity technology at UMGC within the last two years, an accelerated pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs allows you to reduce your total coursework for a related master’s or graduate certificate program by up to 9 credits (three courses).

If you are eligible for the pathways leading to the master's degrees in cloud computing systems and cyber operations and the graduate certificates in cloud computing and networking and cyber operations, you may be awarded credit for the following course:

• Decisive Thinking, Communicating, and Leading in Technology Fields(6 Credits, DCL 600T)

If you are eligible for the pathway leading to the master's degree in cybersecurity technology (you must complete the bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher), you may be awarded credit for the following courses:

• Introduction to Cybersecurity(3 Credits, CTCH 605) 
• Cybersecurity Threats and Analysis(3 Credits, CTCH 615)
• Cybersecurity for Systems and Networks(3 Credits, CTCH 625)

If you are eligible for the pathway leading to the master's degree in digital forensics and cyber investigation (you must complete the bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher), you may be awarded credit for the following courses:

• Digital Forensics and Cyber Investigation Foundations(3 Credits, DFCS 605)
• Collection and Examination of Digital Evidence(3 Credits, DFCS 615)
• Windows Forensics and Security(3 Credits, DFCS 625)

Data Science/Data Analytics

If you completed a bachelor's degree in data science at UMGC within the last three years, an accelerated pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs allows you to reduce your total coursework for the master's degree in data analytics or the graduate certificate in business analytics by up to 6 credits (two courses).

If eligible for the pathway, you may be awarded credit for the following courses:

• Data Visualization(3 Credits, DATA 625)
• Data Management(3 Credits, DATA 635)

To be eligible for the pathway, you must complete the bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Health Services Management

If you completed a bachelor's degree in health services management at UMGC within the last two years, an accelerated pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs allows you to reduce your total coursework for a master’s degree in healthcare administration or health information management and technology or graduate certificate in long-term care administration or digital health leader by up to 6 credits (two courses).

If eligible for the pathway, you may be awarded credit for the following courses:

• Introduction to Healthcare Administration(3 Credits, HCAD 600)
• Information Technology for Healthcare Administration(3 Credits, HCAD 610)

To be eligible for the pathway, you must complete the bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Homeland Security

If you completed a bachelor's degree in homeland security at UMGC within the last two years, an accelerated pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs allows you to reduce your total coursework for a master’s degree concentration in homeland security management within the Master of Science in management or Master of Science in IT by up to 6 credits (two courses).

If eligible for the pathway, you may be awarded credit for the following courses:

• Concepts in Homeland Security(3 Credits, HSMN 610)
• Critical Infrastructures(3 Credits, HSMN 625)

To be eligible for the pathway, you must complete the bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Human Resource Management

If you completed a bachelor's degree in human resource management at UMGC within the last two years, an accelerated pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs allows you to reduce your total coursework for a master’s degree concentration in human resource management within the Master of Science in management by up to 6 credits (two courses).

If eligible for the pathway, you may be awarded credit for the following courses:

• Issues and Practices in Human Resource Management(3 Credits, HRMD 610)
• Recruitment and Selection(3 Credits, HRMD 630)

To be eligible for the pathway, you must complete the bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Management Information Systems

If you completed a bachelor's degree in management information systems at UMGC within the last two years, an accelerated pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs allows you to reduce your total coursework for a master’s degree in information technology by up to 6 credits (two courses). The following IT concentrations are available: 

• IT: Database Systems Technology
• IT: Homeland Security Management
• IT: Informatics
• IT: Information Assurance
• IT: Project Management
• IT: Software Engineering
• IT: Systems Engineering

If eligible for the pathway, you may be awarded credit for the following courses:

• Information Systems Analysis, Modeling, and Design(3 Credits, ITEC 630)
• Information Technology Project Management(3 Credits, ITEC 640)

To be eligible for the pathway, you must complete the bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Teaching

Complete a bachelor's degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a total of 138 credits.

If you are pursuing a bachelor's degree from UMGC in an appropriate major (computer science, English, history, or social science) or have other appropriate coursework (including biology and mathematics coursework), a pathway between UMGC undergraduate and graduate programs may allow you to reduce the total coursework for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) by up to 12 credits—three courses, including the noncredit introductory course Orientation to Graduate Studies at UMGC(0 Credits, UCSP 615). This accelerated program option allows you to take graduate-level coursework before you complete your undergraduate degree.

To be eligible for this accelerated MAT option, you must have completed the 500-level courses listed below before being accepted to the MAT program:

• Foundations of Teaching for Learning(6 Credits, EDTP 500) substitutes for Foundations of Teaching for Learning(6 Credits, EDTP 600)
• Adolescent Development and Learning Needs(6 Credits, EDTP 535) substitutes for Adolescent Development and Learning Needs(6 Credits, EDTP 635)

The 500-level courses listed above are the only courses eligible for the 12 articulated credits available through this pathway. If completed with a grade of B or higher, the credits apply to the MAT program. If completed with a grade of C or lower, the credits apply towards the undergraduate degree only.

Please note: Applicants must meet all admission requirements for full admission to the MAT Program.