Bachelor's to Master's Accelerated Pathways (BMAP) Policy

I. Scope

This policy applies to William & Mary (W&M) as a whole university, including the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (the university). 

II. Purpose and Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy is to establish minimum requirements for bachelor’s-to-master’s accelerated pathways at W&M.

III. Definitions

Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Accelerated Pathway (BMAP) means a defined and approved pathway in which an existing bachelor’s degree program at W&M is paired with a specific, existing master’s degree at W&M such that the pathway may allow for a specified number of graduate credits to be applied to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees and which may allow for the completion of both degrees in a shorter timeframe than completing them separately.

Primary academic units at W&M are: The College of Arts and Sciences; the Raymond A. Mason School of Business; the School of Computing, Data Sciences, and Physics; the School of Education; the School of Law; and the Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS.

Double-counted credits are graduate credits that are earned prior to conferral of the undergraduate degree and are counted towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.

IV. Policy

A.    BMAP Design and Approval Requirements

1. Development of a BMAP program is at the discretion of the involved primary academic unit(s).
2. A potential BMAP must be developed and approved through usual academic program approval processes within each primary academic unit in which a degree program being considered as part of the BMAP is housed.
3. Following approval by the appropriate primary academic unit(s), a potential BMAP must be submitted to the W&M Curriculum Committee for review and approval.
4. A potential BMAP submitted for approval to the university-level curriculum committee that does not meet the requirements of this policy cannot be offered and will be rejected by university leadership even if approved by the curriculum committee. Resubmission is permitted after any noncompliance issues are addressed.
5. BMAPs can allow for undergraduate students to earn graduate credit by completing graduate courses that can be counted towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. These “double-counted” credits cannot exceed 12 credits.
6. All graduate credits earned by undergraduate students as part of a BMAP must be applied towards the total credit requirement of the student’s undergraduate degree program.
7. The total number of credits required for both degree programs (undergraduate and graduate) for students enrolled in a BMAP must be equal to the following:  
   • The total required undergraduate credits in the student’s undergraduate degree program plus (+) the total required graduate credits in the participating graduate degree program minus (-) the number of double-counted credits in the BMAP.
8. Undergraduate credits must not be counted towards the graduate degree. 
9. A BMAP that allows for double-counting of graduate credits must be able to demonstrate that the expectations for student learning delivered in the BMAP are consistent with the intended student learning expectations of the participating undergraduate and graduate degree programs. An academic justification for the selected graduate level courses that will be applied in the undergraduate degree program must be provided as part of the application for approval by the W&M Curriculum Committee, and it shall be provided to the Office of the Provost for review upon request.
10. Schools must publish in the graduate academic catalog the specific curricular requirements for a BMAP. The BMAP curriculum must be consistent with the requirements of this policy.
11. The graduate courses selected for eligibility in a BMAP must align with at least one of W&M’s undergraduate major's plan of study (major or concentration requirements, major electives, minor requirements, or minor electives) in the academic catalog year in which the BMAP is published.
12. Deans are responsible for ensuring that the curriculum and requirements for student acceptance into a BMAP (1) maintain the integrity of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs; and (2) ensure that the rigor of the graduate degree program is not diminished.
13. Deans are responsible for ensuring that the curriculum and requirements for student acceptance into a BMAP (1) maintain the integrity of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs; and (2) ensure that the rigor of the graduate degree program is not diminished.
14. Graduate program directors (or their equivalent) and the associate/vice dean for graduate studies must both approve all eligible graduate courses included the BMAP and their undergraduate equivalents.
15. The graduate program director (or the vice/associate dean of graduate studies in the absence of and equivalent) must approve each student’s specific BMAP plan of study.

B. Application, Acceptance and Enrollment in a BMAP and Option for Guaranteed Admission to the Graduate Program

1. Application and acceptance to a BMAP is reserved for current W&M undergraduate students who:
   • have earned a minimum of 54 credits (inclusive of any transfer credits, advanced placement credits, etc.);
   • have declared a major and have already completed at least one full-time fall or spring semester at W&M; and
   • are sufficiently advanced and ready to engage in graduate level coursework in the relevant graduate degree field (and meet the GPA minimum requirements for admission to the graduate degree), as agreed to in writing by all of the following:
     • the graduate program director of the BMAP’s graduate program,
     • the vice/associate dean of graduate education (or equivalent) of the school/college in which the graduate program resides.
2. Application and acceptance into a BMAP must be made prior to the start of the semester in which the student graduates.
3. Enrollment: A student can enroll as a BMAP student in eligible graduate courses according to their BMAP pathway once they meet the following conditions:
   • The student must have successfully completed at least two full-time fall or spring semesters at W&M before the first day of classes of the term in which they wish to enroll as a BMAP student; and
   • The student must have completed all prerequisites for BMAP students that have been identified by the master’s program component of the pathway.
4. Each semester, before the end of add/drop, the school/college in which the graduate program is housed must submit to Financial Aid and the University Registrar’s Office a completed and approved form identifying the student’s double counted courses for that semester. The graduate program director of the graduate program component of the BMAP is responsible for ensuring that this is completed.
5. Option for Guaranteed Admission
   • BMAPs may, but are not required to, guarantee admission to students who successfully complete the BMAP and meet the other requirements (e.g., maintain a certain GPA and earn at least a B in the graduate courses taken). Before a BMAP can offer guaranteed admission, this option and the associated additional requirements must be approved by the graduate program’s faculty, the graduate program director, and the graduate program’s associate/vice dean of graduate studies or their equivalent.
   • Students who are not in good standing with the university, who earn unsatisfactory grades in one or more graduate courses that are part of the BMAP, who do not meet the requirements of the school/college for graduate study, or who, by the time of undergraduate degree conferral, do not have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average that meets the graduate program’s admissions requirements cannot be granted guaranteed admission into a master’s program. These students may file a new admissions application to the master’s program and, upon admission and enrollment, may request the application of credits for any graduate coursework previously taken at W&M as an undergraduate student, subject to the double-counted credit maximums established in this policy and to any other maximums established by the university or school.
6. BMAP students are undergraduate students until they complete their undergraduate degree. As such, these students cannot be charged graduate tuition/fees for courses completed as part of the BMAP. BMAP students are governed by undergraduate academic and institutional policies until conferral of their undergraduate degree.
7. When two or more primary academic units share or jointly house an approved BMAP (i.e., the undergraduate and graduate programs are in different primary academic units), deans’ offices shall coordinate when establishing BMAP admissions processes and requirements.

C.     Program and Coursework Requirements

1. All graduate credits earned in undergraduate status as part of a BMAP must be applied to the requirements of the undergraduate degree.
2. All prerequisites for a graduate course must be completed prior to enrollment in that graduate course.
3. Graduate credits earned prior to acceptance into a BMAP cannot be counted towards the requirements of that BMAP without the approval of the individuals identified in Section IV.B.1(iii) of this policy.
4. BMAP students must earn a minimum grade of B- in each graduate course taken during undergraduate status. Colleges/Schools may establish and approve more stringent minimums.
5. Students participating in a BMAP must comply with all university requirements for the master's degree if they choose to pursue the master’s degree after completing their undergraduate degree program. This includes any residency requirements and graduate time limit to degree requirements.
6. Conferral of the bachelor’s degree must occur at the conclusion of the term in which all requirements for the undergraduate degree have been met by the BMAP student.

1. Federal financial aid that is awarded to cover costs associated with a BMAP student’s undergraduate degree must not be applied towards graduate credits that do not apply to the student’s undergraduate degree.
2. Students must be informed about this policy’s financial aid restrictions prior to their participation. Notifications to students must include a clear statement that the student may be responsible for tuition associated with any graduate credits they take that do not count towards the undergraduate degree.

V.            Enforcement; Complaints, Grievances, or Appeals

Academic deans are responsible for enforcing this policy. Appeals to academic policy must be made via established university procedures.

VI.            Authority and Amendment, Implementation

This policy is approved by the Provost in accordance with Article IX Section D of the Bylaws of the Board of Visitors and the Policy on Creating and Maintaining Whole University Policies & Procedures.

This policy was amended on August 25, 2025 to include the definition of Conditional admission or Conditional graduate admissions and to clarify requirements for Conditional Graduate Admission under Section IV.B. 

This policy was amended on December 15, 2025 to reflect necessary changes following passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill and a subsequent review of this policy. Changes necessary to align policy with federal regulations while still prioritizing student success as much as possible included elimination of the conditional admission option and an increase in the allowance of double counted graduate credits (from 12 to 18).

This policy was amended on January 28, 2026 to include the definition of social classification and clarify Section IV. B. 3 and IV.B. 4 requiring social classification as a junior.

This policy was revised effective October 31, 2026 to include reducing the 18-credit limit on double counted credits to 12 (to align with peer institutions’ maximums) and to clarify several policy elements related to BMAP requirements and design, as well as admission, acceptance, and enrollment in a BMAP.