Fifth Year Option

Fifth-year Master’s for APU Undergraduates

Current APU undergraduate students may apply to the Master of Arts in English fifth-year option. In this 4+1 program design, you can complete your bachelor’s degree and, in just one additional year, your master’s degree. Admitted students can take up to 9 units of 500-level graduate coursework during their senior year, finishing the remaining 21 units for the master’s degree over the next academic year (e.g., 6-9 units in the fall term, 6-9 units in the spring term, and 3-6 units in the summer term).

Benefits for APU Students

• As a senior, you can take up to 3 graduate courses (9 units) for both undergraduate and graduate credit.
• Your graduate application fee is waived.
• There’s no need to request transcripts.

Applying to the 4+1 Program

During the application process, you will submit:

• The graduate application for admission
• A brief résumé
• A writing sample, which could be a critical essay or research paper from an undergraduate class
• Two recommendations from references with knowledge of your academic ability and potential

For more information about the 4+1 BA/MA option, contact Emily Griesinger, PhD, program director, at egriesinger@apu.edu.