American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its accelerated bachelor's/master's programs. Undergraduate students may complete up to 3 credits for every 9 credits required for the graduate degree that may be applied to the requirements for both degree programs. The department that oversees the graduate program the student enters will determine if the courses the undergraduate student completes will satisfy master's degree requirements. Bachelor's/master's students must complete at least 18 in-residence credit hours at the graduate level after the bachelor's degree is earned and maintain continuous, sequential enrollment in the two programs.

This program enables highly qualified students to earn both a BA or a BS in a related discipline and the MA in Special Education: Learning Disabilities.

Requirements

• Students should apply to the master's program in the second semester of their junior year. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.00 or higher in major and minor courses and must satisfactorily complete the following:

• EDU-654 Methods of Managing Students with Behavior Disorders (3)
• EDU-643 Foundations of Special Education for Exceptional Children (3) or EDU-665 Overview of All Exceptionalities: The Arts in Special Education (3)

• All requirements for the BA or BS in the student's major
• Undergraduate students may apply up to 9 credit hours from approved graduate-level courses, including EDU-654 and EDU-643 or EDU-665 to satisfy the requirements of both degrees.

• All requirements for the MA in Special Education: Learning Disabilities, including a minimum of 18 credit hours completed in residence in graduate status after the undergraduate degree has been awarded. Students must finish the master's degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master's program.