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The 4+1 is an opportunity for eligible undergraduate Florida Poly students to enroll in two graduate-level courses (6 credit hours) in their senior year. The two graduate-level courses taken in senior year are billed at a discounted rate. Students who participate in the 4+1 earn their master’s degree one year after earning their bachelor’s degree (ex: bachelors earned May 2024, masters earned May 2025).
Currently, all Master of Science programs at Florida Poly have a 4+1 option. These programs include:
- Master of Science in Computer Science
- Master of Science in Data Science
- Master of Science in Engineering Management
- Master of Science in Engineering
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Eligibility
Consideration for the 4+1 is competitive. Students should reflect on whether the program is a good fit for their individual situation. The ideal 4+1 candidate:
- Holds a 3.25 GPA or higher with no more than 24 credit hours remaining to complete their undergraduate degree at the start of senior year.
- Has room in their senior schedule to add 2 graduate-level courses (one each semester), with no more than 12 undergraduate credits + 3 graduate credits in a given semester.
- Is able to balance their undergraduate and graduate studies, without delaying or impeding their undergraduate completion. Students should expect to dedicate 5-10 hours per week outside of the classroom for each graduate course enrolled.
- Is not over the excess credit hour threshold for their undergraduate degree.
- Understands and agrees to all financial aid implications, including any additional charges in their senior year.
Eligible candidates are invited to apply at the end of their junior year. The 4+1 admission committee reviews various factors for admission, including the student’s ability to integrate graduate coursework into their senior schedule, the student’s academic profile, and departmental approval. Seats are limited in the 4+1 program, and not every eligible student who applies may be admitted. For more information about the program, please contact the Office of Graduate Studies, or reference the 4+1 webpage FAQs.
Plan of Study
The 4+1 is designed to be completed in the course-only pathway, which does not require a thesis. 4+1 students abide by the following plan of study:
Fall Senior Year - 3 Graduate Credit Hours
Spring Senior Year - 3 Graduate Credit Hours
Graduate with Bachelor’s Degree
Fall Graduate Year 1 - 12 Graduate Credit Hours
Spring Graduate Year 1 - 12 Graduate Credit Hours
Graduate with Master’s Degree
Upon admission to the program, students will work with their undergraduate advisor, graduate department chair, and the Office of Graduate Studies to select courses.
Guidelines
Bachelor’s Completion- 4+1 students in their senior year are undergraduate students, and not graduate students until after earning their bachelor’s degree. As an undergraduate, 4+1 students are subject to undergraduate policies and procedures and requirements, which includes applying for graduation.
Course load- Undergraduate students in the 4+1 may not register for more than 3 credit hours of graduate coursework in a given semester. Students in unique situations, such as those who are part-time, may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for enrollment in more than 3 credit hours by the Office of Graduate Studies and department chairs.
Dismissal- Offers to the 4+1 are contingent upon successful performance in both graduate and undergraduate courses. Students may be dismissed from the 4+1 for the following reasons. If dismissed from the 4+1, students may be allowed to reapply under the regular Master of Science admission process for the following academic year. Students in the 4+1 program are also subject to the same rules and policies of a traditional graduate student, specifically those outlined in FPU-5.00744AP Graduate Academic Standing, Academic Dismissal and Readmission.
- Falling below 3.0 GPA in the graduate courses
- Falling below 3.0 GPA in the undergraduate courses
- Withdrawal from any coursework (graduate or undergraduate) in fall or spring of senior year
- Scheduling changes which delay or inhibit undergraduate graduation
Financial aid- Students who plan to enroll in less than 12 undergraduate credit hours in a given semester should consult with the financial aid office to determine any impact to their existing award. 4+1 graduate courses in the senior year are discounted to the undergraduate tuition rate. This discount results in an overall savings of $1,847.58 on the two courses, and an out-of-pocket cost of $987.90 ($493.95 per course) for the student. If available, students may use their excess undergraduate financial aid to help cover the cost of the graduate courses in their senior year. Students are not eligible for graduate aid until after earning their bachelor’s degree.
Full-Time Status- Graduate courses in the senior year do not count toward full-time status. A student must enroll in 12 undergraduate credit hours in a given semester to be considered full-time.
Plan of study- The 4+1 is designed to be completed in the course-only pathway, which does not require a thesis. Upon admission to the program, students will work with their undergraduate advisor, graduate department chair, and the Office of Graduate Studies to select courses. 4+1 students take 3 graduate credits in fall senior year, 3 graduate credits in spring senior year. Any deviations must be approved by the department chair and Office of Graduate studies.
Required Credit Hours- Courses do not double-count for the bachelors and the masters. A student must earn 120 unique undergraduate credits and 30 unique graduate credits.
Time Commitment- Graduate courses are more rigorous than undergraduate courses. Students should expect to dedicate 5-10 hours per week outside of the classroom for each graduate course enrolled. If a student’s senior year is too full, they should wait until after graduation to start the master’s program.
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