Linked BA - MA Program

By: Victoria 

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The department of Communication Arts and Sciences here at MSU offers high performing undergrads a remarkable opportunity – to complete both their Bachelors and Master’s degrees in just 5 years. This is how it works: undergrads get to transfer a total of 9 credits from their 400 level classes, and count those toward their Master’s degree. So instead of completing 30 credits for the Master’s degree, undergrads only have to complete 21, which is why it is possible to complete the degree in a year. 

On Monday, the Undergraduate Communication Association held an information session for students who were interested in the linked program.

Perhaps I was slightly overenthusiastic, but I attended anyway. I am considering going to graduate school, and I wanted to know what all of my options were. Plus, there was free pizza.

I was elated to found out that the Master’s degree had two tracks. One involves a final thesis (this is the pre PhD track). This is the one that I am the most familiar with. But the other is a career track, in which you take a final examination in place of the thesis. But the speaker emphasized that even if you didn’t take the pre PhD track, it doesn’t mean that you cannot apply for a PhD if you wish to do so in the future. This came with great relief to me as even though I do want to get my Master’s degree, I’m not entirely sure if I want to get my PhD - though that is not certainly out of the realm of possibilities. 

Another advantage of this linked program is that because of the transfer of credits, students save a ton of money. Graduate students may also apply for assistantships to help pay for tuition.

Overall I’m pretty glad that I went for the information session. While I still haven’t decided which course of action to take, I now know more about my post graduate options than I did before, and it will certainly help me make an informed decision in the future.

The only thing that’s gnawing at my brain is the two schools of thought when it comes to post graduate degrees - should I do my Master’s right after my Bachelors, or should I work for a couple of years first before applying for my post grad? Many people have given me advice across the spectrum from – “getting a Master’s makes you stand out to your future employers” to “but it means that you’ve got no work experience at all, and that’s what they’re looking out for.” No matter which way you look it at, it’s pretty much a double edged sword.

It looks like I’ve still got a lot more thinking to do.

For more information on the linked program, click here.