Double use of credit

[jeffreymb]

Is it possible to complete one degree, applying some upper level credit to Gen Ed or Free electives and then later use those credits toward the major of a second degree?

I know it sounds kind of crazy, but I have some upper division credits from a university that don't fit into the major I am considering. At some later point I may want to put those credits toward the major of my second degree. Is this possible or should I not even use those upper division credits so they are available for later?

Thanks

[mightymouse]

Ask the school you want to get the second degree from.

Unless you have already pissed off the advisors and thats why your turning the question to the forum.

[rona58]

Actually, mighty, I have the same question. The reason I can't ask the school where I'd be getting my graduate level degree is that I haven't yet decided where or if I will pursue an MA for sure. Since having discovered IC, I now know how inexpensive and relatively easy it is to get undergrad credits, even upper level credits at TESC with DSST exams, I've just thought I would save my 6 MA level credits for later. But I would love to know, hypothetically, whether it's possible to apply MA level credits towards a BA and then still be able to get those credits for a Masters degree.

[MaieJaie]

But I would love to know, hypothetically, whether it's possible to apply MA level credits towards a BA and then still be able to get those credits for a Masters degree.

It depends upon the school, but it is possible.

For example, EC undergrads in the School of Liberal Arts can take up to 6 semester hours of graduate courses from EC's Master of Liberal Studies program. The hours will count as upper-level credit toward the BS or BA degree. If the EC student continues their studies toward EC's Master of Liberal Studies degree, then those six hours will apply toward the masters program even though they were also used toward the bachelor's degree. (I'm only familiar with EC's School of Liberal Arts, and am unsure if this applies to other schools at EC as well.)

On the other hand, American Military University and American Public University (largely the same institution) have a very specific policy prohibiting credits that were applied to the undergraduate degree from being used toward a graduate degree. Their site states: "Graduate courses from previous institutions used to complete Undergraduate degrees may not be used in transfer."
Award of Credit

It is not uncommon for schools--including traditional, on-campus university programs--to allow students to dual-enroll in the bachelor's and master's degrees. Typically, students have to be juniors or seniors, and need departmental/dean's approval. They take graduate courses, and the courses are counted toward the bachelor's degree but are also accumulated toward a master's degree at the same institution. By the time the student completes the bachelor's degree, he/she may be as close as one semester away from completion of the master's degree.

That being said, as far as transferring the credits from one school to another--it entirely depends upon the receiving institution. Some schools have policies prohibiting "double-dipping" the credits, others will accept the credits. If you have a specific school in mind, you'll probably want to check the school's graduate school catalog for its transfer credit policy.