Accelerated M.A. Application Information

The Accelerated M.A. Program is offered through the following degrees:

• M.A. in Old Testament Archaeology
• M.A. in Biblical Exegesis*
• M.A. in Higher Education and Student Development
• M.A. in Evangelism & Leadership
• M.A. in History of Christianity
• M.A. in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership
• M.A. in Intercultural Studies
• M.A. in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership
• M.A. in Teaching (MAT) with Elementary or Secondary Education Certification
• M.A. in TESOL and Intercultural Studies
• M.A. in Theology

*Non-Ancient Languages students may take longer than a year to complete the accelerated M.A. in Biblical Exegesis. The  Ancient Language Prerequisite Tuition Rebate is designed to help students take necessary language prerequisites free-of-charge at Wheaton.

Accelerate Your Career 

Complete a bachelor's and a master's degree in a 5-year span of time. The program also features:

• Save up to $12,000 in tuition 
• No GRE or MAT required
• No application fee

Rachael Cyrus '14, M.A. '15 in Christian Formation and Ministry - Outdoor and Adventure Leadership concentration  

"The potential to save money had a significant influence on my decision after realizing the financial weight of further education. The Accelerated M.A. allowed me to pursue my M.A. at a lower cost, in less time, at a Christ centered institution without having to deal with the fees involved in application requirements, standardized tests and two years of tuition, room and board."

Paul Kim '14, M.A. '15 in Intercultural Studies

"I would definitely recommend the program to other Wheaton students. I believe it’s a tremendous opportunity for Wheaton undergraduate students to get a head start on graduate-level coursework, especially because of the team of faculty that comprise the Intercultural Studies department."

Accelerated M.A. Degrees

Admission

• Students must be formally accepted to an M.A. program by the Graduate Admissions Office.
• Applications to each program are evaluated on a rolling basis.
• Certain academic departments have additional admission requirements that apply to Accelerated M.A. students.
  • For example, education majors must be accepted to .
• Eight weeks prior to the completion of the bachelor degree, a student must notify the their intention to continue as a graduate student by submitting this decision form.
  • Accelerated students do not have to pay the $100 deposit to confirm.

Checklist

• Online Graduate Short Application - select Accelerated M.A. for enrollment plans.
• Online Recommendation Form - from a professor in your undergraduate major.
• Official Transcript - submit your latest, official transcript, we cannot request it from the Registrar.
• Research Paper - term paper that you've written that includes references and footnotes; it does not have to relate to the program you are applying to.

Classification

• A student's official classification remains as an undergraduate until the bachelor's degree is completed.
• Undergraduate graduation cannot be delayed in order to earn graduate credit.

Academic Advisors

• The student's undergraduate advisor will continue to be the student's official advisor until the bachelor's degree is completed.
• The student will be assigned a graduate advisor from their program's graduate department - so the student will have two advisors at the same time.

Classes/Credit

• Undergraduates can start taking graduate courses after completing 90 undergraduate hours.
• Approval by the graduate adviser required for all graduate coursework taken.
• Maximum graduate hours allowed before completing bachelor's degree is 16.
• Accelerated M.A. students are fully matriculated, therefore distance learning courses cannot be applied to an Accelerated M.A. degree.

Tuition

• Graduate courses taken while a student is classified as an undergraduate do not incur additional tuition. Once a student becomes classified as a graduate student, they may apply for .