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 take graduate courses for graduate credit. The number of such graduate credits is defined as part of the BMAP and can range from 0 graduate credits to a maximum of 18 graduate credits.
6. All graduate credits earned as an undergraduate must be applied towards the total credit requirement of the student’s undergraduate degree program. No exceptions to this requirement can be granted or approved.
7. The number of credits required by BMAP must be the value obtained from this formula: 
   
   • Total credits required for the student’s undergraduate degree program PLUS Total credits required for the graduate degree program MINUS the number of double-counted credits permitted by the specific BMAP.  
   • Note: this requires that BMAPs account for the credit requirements of a student’s undergraduate degree program if that degree program, as not all undergraduate degrees at W&M can be completed with 120 credits.
8. Undergraduate credits must not be counted towards the graduate degree. In other words, undergraduate credits cannot be double-counted.
9. A BMAP that allows for double-counting of graduate credits must be able to demonstrate via crosswalk that the expectations for student learning delivered in the BMAP encompass all expectations delivered in the individual undergraduate and graduate degree programs. This crosswalk must be provided to the Institutional Change Team, the W&M Curriculum Committee, and/or 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. Graduate program directors (or their equivalent – or the associate/vice dean for graduate studies in the absence of an equivalent) must approve each student’s specific BMAP curriculum and, in doing so, must ensure that the curriculum is consistent with the requirements of this policy and that it maintains the integrity of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
11.  “Ad hoc” BMAPs must not be established. That is, while it is permissible to seek approval of a BMAP where multiple (or even “any”) bachelor’s degrees can be part of the BMAP, the graduate degree component of the BMAP must be specifically identified and must be approved by both the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

B.     Application to a BMAP and Requirements for Conditional Graduate Admission

1. Application, acceptance, and participation in a BMAP is reserved for current W&M undergraduate students.
2. Students can apply to and be accepted into a BMAP as long as they are currently enrolled and have completed at least 15 credit hours at W&M.
3. Students shall not be considered as enrolled or participating in a BMAP prior to being classified as a junior by total credits earned. Further, students cannot begin taking graduate level courses prior to the completion of (a) review of their financial aid status by the Office of Financial Aid and (b) any processing required by the Office of Financial aid. The graduate program director is responsible for working with the Office of Financial Aid to ensure that this review is completed.
4. Students cannot count graduate credits toward a BMAP if those credits were earned prior to attaining junior classification by total credits earned.
5. Application and acceptance into a BMAP must be made prior to the start of the semester in which the student graduates.
6. 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.
7. 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 do not maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate grade point average by the time of undergraduate degree conferral 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.
8. BMAP students are undergraduate students until they complete their undergraduate degree. As such, these students cannot be charged graduate tuition/fees. BMAP students are governed by undergraduate academic and institutional policies until conferral of their undergraduate degree.
9. 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. Operation of and acceptance into a BMAP is solely the responsibility of the primary academic unit in which the graduate program is housed.

C.     Program and Coursework Requirements

1. BMAP students cannot earn more than 18 graduate credits prior to conferral of the undergraduate degree. As noted above, all graduate credits that are earned in undergraduate status 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. 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.
4. Successful completion of a BMAP requires that all university requirements for the master's degree are met, including any residency requirements and graduate time limit to degree requirements.
5. 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.

D.    Federal Financial Aid

1. Federal financial aid that is awarded to cover costs associated with a BMAP student’s undergraduate degree cannot and 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

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).