4+1 Program

The 4+1 program is designed to accelerate the path for SCU undergraduates to earn a Master of Science degree. Open to all SCU undergraduates who meet the admission requirements, this program allows accepted students to take up to 4 graduate units per quarter during their senior year, with a cap of 12 units. These 12 units must be completed within the same academic year the student enters the program. This structure allows students to potentially complete their graduate degree within ten months of being admitted to the graduate school.

Admissions Process

Applicants to this program include, but are not confined to, individuals with a solid foundation in mathematics, exposure to technical coursework, a desire for access to graduate-level classes, and those aiming for careers aligned with analytics. The admission process is as follows:

  • Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are encouraged to participate in information sessions and/or arrange advising appointments.
  • Students with a GPA of at least 3.3 at the time of application are eligible to apply during their junior year once Winter quarter grades have been published. Applicants who expect to achieve a 3.3 GPA by the conclusion of the Spring quarter may also be considered for acceptance into the program on a case-by-case basis, pending approval.
  • Students must have completed pertinent prerequisite coursework that equips them for their specific MS degree of interest. Please note current 4+1 eligible masters are all STEM designated. These prerequisites vary depending on the student's undergraduate major and should be addressed with an admissions officer at the outset of the student's undergraduate program. Examples could include, but not limited to: Calculus, Statistics, Python, Java, C, and C++.
  • The GMAT/GRE is not required and will be waived for admission.

Graduating 4+1 students will be sent an email in May, regarding their intention to proceed as graduate students. If the student agrees to continue, there is no need to reapply to the MS program as a new applicant. The graduate credits earned during their senior year will be credited toward their graduate program.

Students who do not enroll as graduate students within one year of completing their undergraduate degree may be required to reapply as new applicants. Graduate-level courses completed as an undergraduate may be applicable toward a graduate degree for up to two years, subject to university and program policies.

Students considering delaying their enrollment in the graduate program must first meet with their undergraduate academic advisor to confirm their expected graduation quarter and discuss the impact on their academic plan. Students are also encouraged to schedule an appointment with the MS Admissions team to review their eligibility, application timeline, and the applicability of previously completed graduate coursework.

Program & Registration Overview

Students will start  their graduate-level coursework during their senior year. The MS Programs Office will register 4+1 students on their behalf for either one 4-unit course or two 2-unit courses per quarter. To remain in the program, 4+1 students must achieve a grade of B or above in their graduate courses.

It is recommended that each 4+1 student takes 4 units per quarter (Fall, Winter and Spring). However, flexibility is provided based on the workload as an undergraduate student. The standard enrollment for 4+1 students is 4 units per quarter. Students may request approval from the Graduate Business Programs Office to enroll in fewer than 4 units. Requests to enroll in additional coursework beyond the standard course load, including to accelerate graduation or compensate for a missed quarter, will not be approved.

While graduate-level courses do not contribute to the student’s undergraduate requirements, we collaborate with the Undergraduate Department to assess the feasibility of integrating them into an undergraduate student's regular workload. Each case is evaluated individually, and approval from all departments involved is necessary.

Any 4+1 Students who wish to continue their graduate-level coursework as a graduate student are required to meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss what their program plan will look like moving forward. The Academic Advisor can be reached at msprograms@scu.edu. Students should note that to ensure they receive the tuition benefit associated with the 4+1 program each quarter to take graduate programs at no cost they must be enrolled as a full time student each quarter.

Credit Transfer Requirement & Limitation

Students in the 4+1 program may apply the graduate-level courses they completed during their undergraduate studies toward their continued graduate program degree. However, they should be aware of the following:

  • Courses taken in the 4+1 program may not be applicable to other graduate programs outside of their continued program, as core and elective requirements vary across programs. For example, some 4+1 MSBA courses may not apply to the MSFA, MSIS, MSM, MBA, etc. Students are advised to continue in the same program they began as undergraduates to ensure the seamless transfer of credits.
  • A maximum of 12 units of graduate-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies can be transferred. Students cannot exceed this limit. If they complete fewer than 12 units (e.g., 8–10 units), only the completed units will be transferred.
  • Courses can only be transferred if the student continues in the program within five years and if the courses are still applicable as core or elective requirements.
  • If a student applies and is admitted to more than one graduate program (e.g., first MSBA, then MSFA), courses taken during the 4+1 program can only be transferred once. For example, if 4+1 MSBA courses were transferred to the MSBA, they cannot be transferred again to the MSFA, MSIS, MBA, etc. and vice versa.
  • Due to the limitation of course transferability, courses may be applied as a waiver in subsequent programs, this is subject to approval by the Faculty Director and the Graduate Business Programs Office.

Undergraduate Courses Equivalency Waiver

Below are the graduate core courses for each program that can be waived if the corresponding undergraduate course has been completed. Students should note that waivers are only granted if the undergraduate course received a grade of B or higher. Courses with a grade below a B will not be accepted. If a waiver is approved, 4+1 students must take an equivalent number of elective units to meet the total unit requirement for their degree (48 units for MSIS, 42 for MSBA, and 36 for MSFA). Students may apply a maximum of 6 units (MSFA), 8 units (MSBA), or 10 units (MSIS) of approved undergraduate coursework toward their graduate program.

MS Finance & Analytics (MSFA)

  • ISBA 2401 Data Analytics with Python (4 units) can be bypassed if the student has taken OMIS 114 Data Science with Python
  • ISBA 2402 Database - SQL (2 units) can be bypassed if the student has taken OMIS 105 Database Management Systems
  • FNCE 2405 Investments (4 units) can be bypassed if the student has taken FNCE 124 Financial Management

MS Business Analytics (MSBA)

  • ISBA 2401 Data Analytics with Python (4 units) can be bypassed if the student has taken OMIS 114 Data Science with Python
  • ISBA 2402 Database - SQL (2 units) can be bypassed if the student has taken OMIS 105 Database Management Systems
  • ISBA 2405 Prescriptive Analytics (4 units) can be bypassed if the student has taken OMIS 109 Prescriptive Analytics

MS Information Systems (MSIS)

  • ISBA 2406 Object Oriented Analysis and Programming (4 units) can be bypassed if the student has taken OMIS 106  Systems Analysis and Design
  • ISBA 2410 Information Systems Analysis and Design (4 units) can be bypassed if the student has taken OMIS 106 Systems Analysis and Design
  • ISBA 2402 Database SQL (2 units) and ISBA 2407 Database Management Systems (2 units) can be bypassed if the student has taken OMIS 105 Database Management Systems
  • ISBA 2401 Data Analytics with Python (4 units) can be bypassed if the student has taken OMIS 114 Data Science with Python
  • ACTG 2608 Financial Accounting (2 units) can be bypassed if the student has taken ACTG 11 and ACTG 12

Career Support Opportunities

4+1 students may schedule one 1-on-1 meeting with a graduate-level career coach during their senior year.