Accelerated Bachelors/Masters Programs

Year 1 and 2	Explore options with your academic and career advisors. Chart a two-year schedule to establish the best path toward your degrees.
Year 3	Apply online. Transfer students who are juniors may apply at the end of their second semester. Loyola students do not need to submit official transcripts. Please review your program of interest for the required supporting materials.
Year 4	Begin your graduate course work. Graduate with your bachelor’s degree.
Year 5	Complete your graduate course work. Graduate with your master’s degree.

Applied Statistics (BS/MS): The BS/MS program in Applied Statistics is a five-year program that gives academically successful Loyola undergraduates the opportunity to pursue the MS degree in Applied Statistics while completing their BS degree. The applicant can be pursuing any of the BS degrees offered by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Biochemistry (BS/MS): The 5-Year BS/MS program allows currently Loyola University Chicago undergraduate students to obtain both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biochemistry in a compressed time period. This program structure is beneficial for those planning to take a gap year between undergraduate graduation, medical school, dental school, or other higher education.

Bioinformatics (BS/MS): This accelerated program facilitates the completion of both the BS and MS in Bioinformatics in just 5 years (in comparison to the 6 years required to pursue the BS and MS separately). Students apply during the spring of their Junior year. The MS component of this program includes two tracks: Non-thesis (internship-based) and Thesis (research based).

Biology/Bioinformatics (BS/MS): This accelerated program facilitates the completion of both the BS in Biology and MS in Bioinformatics in just 5 years (in comparison to the 6 years required to pursue the BS and MS separately). Students apply during the spring of their Junior year. The MS component of this program includes two tracks: Non-thesis (internship-based) and Thesis (research based).

Chemistry (BS/MS): The 5-Year BS/MS program allows currently Loyola University Chicago undergraduate students to obtain both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Chemistry in a compressed time period. This program structure is beneficial for those planning to take a gap year between undergraduate graduation, medical school, dental school, or other higher education.

Computer Science/Software Engineering (BS/MS): The BS/MS program in Computer Science/Software Engineering is a five-year program that gives academically successful Loyola undergraduates the opportunity to pursue the MS degree in Software Engineering while completing their BS degree. The applicant can be pursuing any of the BS degrees offered by the Department of Computer Science, including the joint majors with Mathematics or Physics or the interdisciplinary Bioinformatics.

Criminal Justice and Criminology (BS/MA): The BS/MA program in Criminal Justice and Criminology enables high achieving undergraduate majors to begin fulfilling requirements for a master's degree while completing the bachelor's degree. The program is designed so that students may complete their MA degree in one year after graduating with their BS degree rather than the traditional two years of study.

Criminal Justice & Criminology/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Criminal Justice & Criminology/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Data Science (BS/MS): The MS in Data Science prepares students to enter a multi-disciplinary field combining techniques from mathematics, computer science, and statistics to organize, analyze, visualize, and extract useful information from data. At Loyola University Chicago, there are many options for you for your Data Science education. Students can pursue an MS in Data Science with an option between thesis track and non-thesis track. The BS/MS program facilitates the completion of both degrees in just five years.

English (BA/MA): The English Department offers a five-year combined BA/MA degree (which, in some circumstances, can be completed in 4 ½ years). Graduates of this program will be well prepared to pursue a PhD in English, to apply to a professional school, or to seek a teaching position at the post-secondary level. The combined degree will allow promising and talented undergraduates to move quickly through the MA degree.

Global and International Studies/International Affairs (BA/MA): The growing interconnectedness of the world’s almost 200 countries, termed globalization, and the rising impacts of foreign affairs on our daily lives increasingly require individuals with advanced knowledge of International Affairs. The Dual BA/MA and BS/MA in International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

History (BA/MA): The combined BA and MA degree program in History integrates Loyola University Chicago’s (LUC) current History degree programs at the undergraduate and master levels. The program provides specially selected History majors with the opportunity to more efficiently move through two degrees and thereby jump-start their professional development by completing two degrees in five rather than six years. Graduates of this program are well prepared to pursue a PhD in History, to apply to a professional school, or to seek a teaching position at the post-secondary level.

History/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in History/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Information Technology (BA/MS): The BA-IT/MS-IT program is a five-year program that gives academically successful Loyola SCPS BA-IT majors the opportunity to pursue the MS degree in Information Technology while completing their BA degree. The BA-IT program is described onThe SCPS BAIT site. The SCPS also has a checklist for the dual program.

Information Technology (BS/MS): The BS/MS program in Information Technology is a five-year program that gives academically successful Loyola undergraduates the opportunity to pursue the MS degree in Information Technology while completing their BS degree. The applicant can be pursuing any of the BS degrees offered by the Department of Computer Science, including the joint majors with Mathematics or Physics or the interdisciplinary Bioinformatics.

Mathematics (BS/MS): The BS/MS program in Mathematics gives academically successful Loyola undergraduates the opportunity to pursue the MS degree in Mathematics while completing their BS degree. The BS/MS in Mathematics will allow you to broaden your mathematics and statistics background with an assortment of elective courses you couldn't squeeze in during your BS career; go deeper into the modern study of algebra and analysis, and get a glimpse of mathematics as it is applied in cognate fields. This program is open to all bioinformatics and computer science majors, as well.

Philosophy (BA/MA): The BA/MA in Philosophy program allows students to earn both bachelor's and master’s degrees in philosophy in five years. This accelerated degree program is a cost-effective option for undergraduate majors wishing to pursue graduate education in philosophy. It prepares students to apply for doctoral programs and gives them a chance to work with faculty they already know at the graduate level.

Philosophy/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Philosophy/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Political Science (BA/MA): The dual BA/MA program allows our best undergraduate Political Science majors to pursue the BA and MA in a shorter period of time than if both programs were pursued separately. Students typically complete the dual BA/MA program in 5 years, as opposed to the 6 years if both programs were pursued separately. The program provides students with preparation for purposeful careers in politics, government, international affairs, law, the non-profit world, journalism, business, education, social services, and other professions, as well as for further graduate (PhD) study at professional schools and institutions of higher learning, both in the U.S. and abroad.

Political Science/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Political Science/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Psychology/Applied Social Psychology (BS/MA): The five-year program in applied social psychology allows students to earn both the BS in Psychology and the MA in Applied Social Psychology degrees in five years. Completing both degrees in five years saves students approximately one year of study. Graduates of the program obtain skills in basic and applied research methodology, advanced training in statistics and a strong knowledge base for theory and research in social psychology. Upon graduation, students from this program are well prepared for research careers in a variety of settings, including marketing, advertising, education, criminal justice, community intervention and health care, or for further graduate study.

Psychology/International Affairs (BS/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Psychology/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Sociology (BA/MA): The Sociology Department offers a 5 year BA/MA degree, allowing you to begin graduate school in your senior year, and to finish the MA degree at the end of your 5th year. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain an advanced degree without the time and expense of the longer 2 year MA degree offered by most programs. This is approximately one year less than normally required to earn both degrees. Graduates of this program will be well prepared to enter the labor force, a professional school or pursue a PhD.

Sociology/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Sociology/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Spanish/Hispanic Studies (BA/MA): Students can complete both their BA and MA in Spanish/Hispanic Studies in 4.5 to 5 years, depending on summer course work, study abroad and transfer credits. Spanish Majors in their first four years of the combined degree program complete the required thirty hours of the undergraduate degree, including up to twelve hours of required graduate course work.

Theology (BA/MA): The Department of Theology offers undergraduates the unique opportunity to complete a combined BA/MA in Theology in just five years (instead of the customary six). Upon completion of the degree, graduates will be prepared to assume a variety of positions where theological training and competence are in demand, such as teaching theology in a high school/academy, or developing educational programs for a parish. Of course, a Master’s degree in Theology is also the requisite step for entrance into a doctoral program in theology for those interested in the life of a professor of theology, hence for teaching and researching theology.

Theology/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Theology/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Advertising & Public Relations/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Advertising & Public Relations/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Advertising Creative/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Advertising Creative/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Advocacy & Social Change/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Advocacy & Social Change/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Communication Studies/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Communication Studies/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Film and Digital Media/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Film and Digital Media/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Multimedia Journalism/International Affairs (BA/MA): The Dual BA/MA in Multimedia Journalism/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Elementary Education/International Affairs (BSEd/MA): The Dual BSEd/MA program in Elementary Education/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Secondary Education/International Affairs (BSEd/MA): The Dual BSEd/MA program in Secondary Education/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Special Education/International Affairs (BSEd/MA): The Dual BSEd/MA program in Special Education/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.

Social Work/International Affairs (BSW/MA): The Dual BSW/MA program in Social Work/International Affairs allows students to explore global problems and interactions from an interdisciplinary perspective that makes use of eight Arts and Sciences academic departments and four additional colleges. Students will have the flexibility to tailor their program to fit their individual interests. Students can fulfill a capstone experience by participating in an internship, taking a study abroad class, writing a paper for publication, or writing a master’s thesis.