Combined degree programs allow students to complete both a Bryn Mawr College AB degree and an additional degree either while completing the AB, or post-graduation. The College offers opportunities within Bryn Mawr through the Graduate Schools of Arts & Sciences and Social Work and Social Research, as well as with partner institutions including, The University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, CalTech, and Columbia.

A.B./M.A. Degree Program

The combined A.B./M.A. program lets the well-prepared undergraduate student work toward a master’s degree while still completing the bachelor’s degree. Students in this program complete the same requirements for each degree as do students who undertake the A.B. and then the M.A. sequentially, but they are able to work toward both degrees concurrently. They are allowed to count up to two courses towards both degrees. A full description of requirements for the program and application procedures appear on the Dean’s Office website. This opportunity is available in those subjects in which the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers a master’s degree:

• Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology
• Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies
• French
• History of Art
• Mathematics
• Physics

A.B./M.S.S. Degree Program

Students majoring or minoring in Psychology or Sociology may pursue this five-year combined degree program. Students in this program complete the same requirements for each degree as do students who undertake the A.B. and then the M.S.S. sequentially, but are offered the unique opportunity to work towards both degrees concurrently. They may count up to three undergraduate courses towards the M.S.S. and may count up to seven graduate courses as elective transfer credits towards the A.B. Students must complete 24 credits (not including the up to seven credits from the GSSWSR that count towards both degrees) to meet the College’s residency requirement.

In March of the junior year, interested students complete an A.B./M.S.S. application in consultation with the A.B./M.S.S. advisor, their major advisor and their dean. After obtaining these approvals, students submit their applications to the Dean of Studies. Eligible students must present an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 at the time of application.

Throughout the first four years of study, a student remains an undergraduate with respect to tuition, financial aid, housing, organized student activities, and the honor code. The student then applies and matriculates into the GSSWSR for the fifth and final year and becomes subject to all its regulations and fees for that year.

4+1 Accelerated Masters Partnership with the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania

The College’s 4+1 Accelerated Masters Partnership with the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science allows a student to begin work on a Master’s degree in Engineering while still enrolled as an undergraduate at Bryn Mawr. Applicants apply in the spring semester of their third year at the College, and are required to major in math or a relevant science and to have major and cumulative GPAs of at least 3.0 and a minimum 3.0 GPA in all math, science, and engineering courses. Applicants are also encouraged to submit GRE scores. Successful applicants are permitted to take up to three graduate courses at Penn while undergraduates through the Quaker Consortium. These courses would count towards a student’s undergraduate degree and at the discretion of the major department might also count towards a student’s major. Successful applicants may also be eligible to participate in Penn’s summer undergraduate research program.

Upon completion of the undergraduate degree, students in the 4+1 Partnership would then matriculate at the University of Pennsylvania and complete the Master’s Degree. Students who had already completed three graduate courses would be able to complete the degree (eight remaining courses for Biotechnology; seven for all other programs) in one year.

Penn Engineering has posted information tailored to prospective 4+1 students on its website. Students interested in this program should consult the 4+1 liaison for their major department, as well as their major adviser. It may be advisable for such students to enroll in one or more introductory engineering courses at Penn during their sophomore year to learn more about engineering and better prepare for graduate level courses.

4+1 Partnership In Bioethics with the University of Pennsylvania

Qualified Bryn Mawr undergraduates may apply to gain early and expedited admission as external “submatriculate” to the Master of Bioethics (MBE), an interdisciplinary degree program offered by the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. For more information, visit https://www.brynmawr.edu/inside/offices-services/health-professions-advising/health-related-combined-degrees-bryn-mawr-students. Students interested in this Program should consult Dr. Gail Glicksman in the Health Professions Advising Office.

3+2 Program in City and Regional Planning with the University of Pennsylvania

This arrangement with the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania allows a student to earn an A.B. degree with a major in the Growth and Structure of Cities Program at Bryn Mawr and a degree of Master of City Planning at the University of Pennsylvania in five years. While at Bryn Mawr the student must complete all collegewide requirements and the basis of a major in the Growth and Structure of Cities Program. The student applies to the M.C.P. program at Penn in the junior year. GRE scores will be required for the application. Students must prepare for the program by completing both URBS 204 and URBS 440 at Penn before entering the program. No courses taken prior to official acceptance into the M.C.P. program may be counted toward the master’s degree, and no more than eight courses may be double-counted toward both the A.B. and the M.C.P. after acceptance. For further information, students should consult the Cities department early in their sophomore year.

Combined Master’s and Teacher Certification Programs at the University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Education (GSE)

Bryn Mawr students interested in obtaining both the M.S.Ed. degree as well as faculty approval for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania teaching certificate may apply to submatriculate as undergraduates into the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education’s 10-month, urban-focused Master’s Program in Elementary or Secondary Education. Students usually submatriculate at the beginning of their senior year.

Bryn Mawr students who submatriculate may take up to two graduate-level education courses at Penn while they are undergraduates (usually during their junior or senior years) that will double count toward both their undergraduate and graduate degrees. To submatriculate into the program, students must have a GPA of a 3.0 or above and must complete an application for admission.

More information about the secondary education and elementary education master’s programs are available on the UPenn GSE website.

Villanova University 4+1 Program in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Qualified students can earn a Masters degree from Villanova University in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering through the Villanova bridge program. Students must be accepted to the program no later than Spring of junior year. The program includes a bridge course during the summer between junior and senior year, two graduate courses taken at Villanova during the senior year, and seven additional courses taken at Villanova in the summer before and during the fifth year. A GPA of 3.0 at Bryn Mawr is required to apply. Contact Dr. Evan Arena, Department of Physics, for more information regarding the program.

3+2 Program in Engineering and Applied Science with California Institute of Technology

Students interested in engineering and recommended by Bryn Mawr may apply to transfer into the third year at Caltech to complete two full years of work there, after completing three years of work at the College. At the end of five years they are awarded an A.B. degree by Bryn Mawr and a Bachelor of Science degree by Caltech. Programs are available in many areas of specialization.

In their three years at Bryn Mawr, students must complete a minimum of 24 units, most of the coursework required by their major (normally physics or chemistry,) and all other Bryn Mawr graduation requirements. They must also complete all courses prescribed by Caltech. The Admissions Office at Caltech has posted information tailored to prospective 3+2 students on its website.

Students do not register for this program in advance; rather, they complete a course of study that qualifies them for recommendation by the appropriate Caltech 3+2 Plan Liaison Officer at Bryn Mawr College (Lisa Watkins for students interested in Chemical Engineering, Evan Arena for all other Caltech majors) for application in the spring semester of their third year at the College. Approval of the student’s major department is necessary at the time of application and for the transfer of credit from the Caltech program to complete the major requirements at Bryn Mawr.

Students considering this option should consult the program liaison in the Department of Physics or Chemistry at the time of registration for Semester I of their first year and each semester thereafter to ensure that all requirements are being completed on a satisfactory schedule. Financial aid at Caltech is not available to non-U.S. citizens.

3+2 Combined A.B./B.S. Degree Program in Engineering with Columbia University

Bryn Mawr has partnered with Columbia University to offer students interested in engineering the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Arts from Bryn Mawr and a Bachelor of Science from Columbia‘s School of Engineering and Applied Science in five years. Students need to have a minimum overall GPA of 3.30 and a B or higher in all math or science courses.

Students do not register for this program in advance; rather, they complete a course of study that qualifies them for recommendation by the appropriate Columbia 3+2 Program Liaison Officer at Bryn Mawr for application in the spring semester of their third year at the College. For additional information about course requirements, consult the curriculum guide. For more information about this Program, please contact Professor Evan Arena in the Department of Physics.

4+1 Master’s Programs at the Boston University School of Public Health

The Boston University School of Public Health Select Scholars program offers unique opportunities for Bryn Mawr undergraduates with an interest in this vibrant and growing field. Accelerated master’s degree 4+1 programs include:

A Master of Science (M.S.) in Population Health Research with Formal Specialization Options in

Climate and Health 
Epidemiology 
Global Health 
Public Health Data Science 
Translation and Implementation Science 
as well as a Customized Option 

Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with the 4+1.5/2 program. This is a practice-based degree with a core curriculum and interdisciplinary certificates in 16 areas.

Program benefits include: Scholarships to support at least 35 percent of tuition; waiver of the GRE test; graduate school preparation webinars; access to a dedicated admissions representative; and personalized degree consultations as well as early completion of program requirements. Applicants who apply before the December deadline will be considered for a 50% tuition discount scholarship.

For more information, visit brynmawr.edu/inside/offices-services/health-professions-advising/health-related-combined-degrees-bryn-mawr-students.

Students interested in this Program should consult Dr. Gail Glicksman in the Health Professions Advising Office.

4+1 Master’s Programs in Several Fields with Aberystwyth University

Students who will successfully complete the A.B. degree at Bryn Mawr and meet the minimum GPA requirements for the particular field of interest to them can apply for admission for a Master’s degree at Aberystwyth University in Wales. Aberystwyth offers the Master’s degree in 13 fields, which are open to our students. Included among these fields are: Art, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science, Education, History, International Politics, Mathematics and Modern Languages. Students accepted to these graduate programs will receive an Aberystwyth International Scholarship of 2000 pounds per year plus a 10% discount on the net tuition fee after the Scholarship. Interested students should contact Tracy Weber, Director of the Office of Global Engagement.

4+2 Master’s in Optics University of Rochester

Earn a master’s degree in optics following completion of four years at Bryn Mawr and two years at The University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics. Contact Professor Mike Noel for more information.

4+2 Master’s Program in China Studies with Zhejiang University

Taught in English and designed for Bryn Mawr graduates, this two-year Masters program in China Studies includes courses in a range of fields, such as history, economic development and contemporary Chinese Society and Culture. Graduating seniors and recent alumnae/i from all major fields are encouraged to apply. All expenses will be paid by Zhejiang University.

J.D. Scholarship Opportunity with Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law

This partnership is designed to advance BMC and Indiana University Maurer School of Laws’ strong commitments to providing meaningful pathways for students to advance their academic interest. This collaboration seeks to provide talented students interested in obtaining a Juris Doctor degree with a scholarship (equaling approximately 50% of tuition) and mentorship.

For more information about this program, please contact Jennifer Beale, Pre-Law Advisor, in the Career and Civic Engagement Office.

Parnership with Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing Masters Entry into Nursing Program

This program facilitiates the path to help Bryn Mawr students pursue an accelerated program leading from an A.B. from Bryn Mawr to a Hopkins MSN degree. Students take prerequisites while in college. They apply during their senior year, complete their A.B degree at Bryn Mawr, and then begin studies at Hopkins. GRE scores are waived. Eligibility: 3.3/4.0 GPA.

Students interested in this Program should consult Dr. Gail Glicksman in the Health Professions Advising Office.