The Dual Degree BA/MA Program allows exceptional undergraduate INTS majors at the University of Denver, the opportunity to earn a Master of Arts degree in only one year beyond the traditional four-year BA. Prospective students must be in touch with BA Program advisors well in advance of applying in order to plan accordingly and must meet normal standards of graduate admission at the time of application. Please see section below, "Admission to the Josef Korbel School as a Dual Degree Student," for important dates and processes.

How the BA and MA Programs Merge

The dual degree program allows qualified students, who have been accepted in to the program, to begin taking graduate-level courses during their senior year as an undergraduate. Remaining graduate-level requirements are completed in the fifth and final year of the program.

As part of their undergraduate studies, dual degree students are required to take five upper-division, 3000 level courses* (courses which may come from the concentration area requirement, approved study abroad courses, and INTS electives).  After completing these five courses, dual degree students are required to take two additional graduate courses at the 4000 level, both of which must be considered "core" courses for the MA degree the student is pursuing. Ultimately, dual degree students will double-count these 35 credit hours toward both their BA and MA degree. In the fifth and final year of the program, students must complete an additional 55 hours of graduate-level course work, in order to satisfy the remaining requirements of the MA component.

*Note: INTS 3990 - Honors Thesis, INTS 3991 - Independent Study, and INTS 3980 - Internships in International Studies may not be included among the courses that double-count toward both degrees, though they may be taken as optional courses for the undergraduate major.

Admission to the Josef Korbel School as a Dual Degree Student

Applicants must be current and declared INTS majors at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies and are eligible to apply for the dual degree BA/MA Program only once during their academic tenure at DU. Admission standards for the dual degree BA/MA program are similar to those used for candidates applying to the traditional MA Program at the Josef Korbel School. The minimum recommended GPA is 3.75.

Given the need for significant advance planning prior to the formal application, students interested in pursuing the dual degree BA/MA Program are required to submit an informal application and letter of intent to the Associate Director of the BA Program. Applications may be obtained in the BA Program Office (Ben M. Cherrington Hall, Suite 101), and are due no later than February 5 of student's sophomore year. Failure to submit the informal application on time may invalidate a student's eligibility to participate in the program.

Formal application to the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, including application form, statement of purpose, official transcript, and three letters of recommendation (one of which must be from an INTS faculty member), is required. The Graduate Records Exam (GRE) is also required. An interview with the Admissions Committee may also be requested. For more details on the application process please review the How to Apply section.

DEADLINE FOR FORMAL APPLICATION: May 15 of student's junior year. Dual degree applicants are subject to the application fee.

Additional Information

Click here for additional information on dual degree requirements, policies, and procedures.

Helpful Links:

• How to Apply
• Office of Graduate Studies
  University of Denver
  Admissions and Records
  Mary Reed Building, Room 5
  2199 S. University Blvd.
  Denver, CO 80208
  303.871.2831
  303.871.4942 (fax)