Develop a Dual Degree Program

At RIT, dual degrees (such as BS/MS or BS/ME) are one type of Combined Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program (CABM). The other type of CABM at RIT is an Accelerated Bachelor’s + Master’s Program (+1 MBA, 4+2 BFA/M Arch) which uses a course waiver model instead of a double-counting model.

Dual degree programs allow students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in less time than it would normally take to complete each degree separately because some of the credits are counted towards both the bachelor’s program and the master’s program. RIT offers BS/MS and BS/ME dual degrees. The course requirements, degree options, and culminating experiences in the dual degree must be identical to the NYSED-approved degree programs – no alterations are permitted. 

Dual degree programs can be created from existing bachelor’s and master’s programs or may be originally developed as a dual degree program (e.g., RIT’s BS/MS Physician Assistant program).

The admissions pathways for dual degree programs are:

• Conditional Early Acceptance
• Enrolled Student Pathway

Review RIT guidance regarding the classification of dual degree students

To learn more about CABM programs, Undergraduate Double Majors, and Undergraduate Dual Degrees (such as BS/BFA), see the RIT CABM Toolkit for Academic Departments (RIT login is required for access). Additional guidance is provided in the following:

• RIT Policy D01.2 Undergraduate Double Major Policy
• RIT Policy D01.3 Undergraduate Dual Degree Policy

The process for creating a new dual degree depends upon whether the undergraduate and graduate programs already exist and how they were registered with the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Each process is explained in the sections below, based on the three NYSED types of degree programs which are defined by NYSED:

1. Programs to prepare candidates for teacher, educational leader, or pupil personnel services certification (these are professional programs)
2. Programs to prepare candidates for a professional license such as architecture, dietetics/nutrition, engineering, interior design, physician assistant, certified public accountants, and public accountants (these are professional programs)
3. All other programs (these are general academic programs)

The first step for all new dual degree proposals is a market analysis to ensure that there is sufficient demand for the proposed program. Visit this page to learn more about this requirement and to request a market analysis from Enrollment Management.

If a decision is made to proceed, the next step is to prepare a proposal.

Depending upon the type and status of the programs involved in the proposed dual degree, the proposal form and required approvals vary. See the “Overview and Definitions” section above for the definitions of professional programs and general academic programs.

• If the proposed new dual degree is comprised of programs that already exist: 
  • If both the undergraduate and graduate programs are considered general academic programs, then the proposed dual degree can be approved internally by RIT’s Provost. NYSED approval is not required (see applicable NYSED guidance memo). Prepare the proposal using the RIT Dual Degree Proposal Application.
  • If either the undergraduate or graduate program is considered a professional program and/or prepares candidates for a professional license, the dual degree requires NYSED approval. Prepare the proposal using the NYSED Application to Change or Adapt a Registered Professional Education Program Note: Section II of the NYSED Application has been expanded to include information that is required for proposed dual degree programs. A sample program schedule must be included which shows the sequencing and scheduling of courses in the dual degree program, using NYSED’s curriculum table template.
• If the proposed new dual degree is comprised of one or more programs that do not yet exist:
  • Registration of the new bachelor’s and/or new master’s programs with NYSED is required. New program proposals must first go through the standard RIT curricular action approval process before the new dual degree can be proposed. 
  • Please contact the Office of the Vice Provost for guidance.

In all cases, RIT is responsible for ensuring that dual degrees are subject to internal curriculum review and approval, and that they adhere to the established from NYSED on the use of double counting credit (see next section).

The number of double counted credits is dependent upon the number of credits in the standalone bachelor’s program, not the number of credits in the standalone master's program. If a master's program has more than 30 credits, it does not increase the number of credits than can be double counted in a dual degree program.

• If the undergraduate degree is a Non-Engineering Program:
  • Programs that have 120 semester credits in the bachelor’s degree and 30 or more semester credits for the master’s degree, can double-count up to 6 credit hours from the master’s degree in the bachelor’s degree.  
  • Programs that have 123 semester credits or more in the bachelor’s degree and 30 or more semester credits for the master’s degree, can double-count up to 9 credit hours from the master’s degree in the bachelor’s degree. 
• If the undergraduate degree is an Engineering Program, follow these requirements from the NYS Engineering Board:
  • The number of double counted credits must align to the number of credits in the bachelor’s program that exceed 120 semester credits. For example: if the bachelor’s program is 126 semester credits, then 6 credits from the master’s program can also be counted in the bachelor’s program. If the bachelor program is 120 semester credits, no master’s courses can be double counted.

Consistent with RIT’s Strategic Plan goal to provide curricular flexibility to undergraduate students with 12 credit hours of open electives, students can choose to use open electives to complete a dual degree program. 

Wherever possible, dual degree programs should leave the 12 credit hours of open electives in place and find other courses within the undergraduate program where a graduate course can substitute for a comparable undergraduate course. Examples of undergraduate courses which should be considered: program-specific electives, professional electives, and required courses.

The prescribed graduate course(s) will then be double counted because they will be in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. Students may double count between 6-9 credits, depending on the program. See the “How Many Credits can be Double Counted?” section above for guidance. 

In situations where a comparable undergraduate program-specific elective, professional elective, or required course is not available, the following guidance should be followed:

• Open electives may be prescribed as the place in an undergraduate program where a graduate course is used for double counting. Prescribing an open elective should use this format on the curriculum table: XXXX-567 Course Title (fulfills Open Elective). When the prescribing of open electives occurs, a student will have fewer open elective credits. If a student wishes to keep the open electives intact, they will need to add to their undergraduate program the graduate courses that were designated to be double counted. This will result in the student increasing the total credit hours taken in the undergraduate program. Sample language for the program’s curriculum table: If a class other than XXX is chosen as an open elective, the student will need to take XXX as a separate class.
• If programs use open electives as the place where double counting is achieved, a rationale must be provided in the dual degree proposal that explains why program-specific electives, professional electives, and required courses were not used for double counting.  

To identify double counted courses on the curriculum table (Table 1), put the number of double counted credits in the “DCC” column (DCC = double counted credits). These credits should then be totaled in the DCC column at the bottom of the table. Be sure to indicate what undergraduate requirement is being fulfilled by the prescribed graduate course.

The double counted credits should also be placed in the applicable column on the Table 1 (MAJ or OPEN) for the undergraduate course they are fulfilling. Examples:

• If a graduate course is being substituted for a comparable course in the undergraduate program, and double counted, the course credits should go in the “MAJ” column and be included in the “MAJ” total at the bottom of the Table 1.
• If an open elective is being prescribed with a graduate course and double counted, the course credits should go in the “OPEN” column and be included in the “OPEN” total at the bottom of the Table 1.

• The applicable Dean(s) must review the market analysis and determine if the proposal will proceed. (See “Market Analysis Requirement” section above)
• The Department(s) should prepare a request for the dual degree using the proposal form was identified in the “Proposal Form” section above.
• The proposal must be reviewed and approved by the following for the contributing undergraduate and graduate degree programs:
  • The department faculty and department chair(s) 
  • The department curriculum committee(s)
  • The college curriculum committee(s)
  • Dean(s) of the college(s)
• Once the approvals are secured, the completed dual degree proposal form, market analysis and curriculum table must be sent to the Office of the Vice Provost. If the market analysis was not favorable, include rationale from the Dean(s) explaining why the proposal should proceed.
• The Office of the Vice Provost will review the proposal and request approval from the Provost and NYSED (if applicable).

Once the proposed new dual degree has been approved, the following actions will occur:

• The Office of the Vice Provost will work with the college(s) and Enrollment Management to determine a first admit term and request subplan codes from the Registrar’s Office.
• The Office of the Vice Provost will send an official campus notification to the applicable campus departments and the applicable Dean/Associate Dean.
• The new dual degree will be added to the undergraduate bulletin and RIT Programs of Study website during the annual bulletin process.

The proposed dual degree program MAY NOT be advertised or admit students until a formal approval has been received.

Refer to the following document for instructions regarding promotion of the new program: Marketing, Recruitment and Communication Guidelines for RIT’s New or Changed Academic Programs.