Joint BA/MA Policies

Eligibility

The Division of the Social Sciences allows for substantial credit sharing between the MA program and the undergraduate program (see below). Because of this, we do not set strict eligibility requirements for BA/MA students besides having completed at least 3300 credits in the College by the time they will begin the joint enrollment year. However, to be competitive for admission, we make the following recommendations:

1. Students are strongly recommended to have completed all College Core requirements by the end of their third year.
2. Students should have completed all undergraduate major requirements, or have a feasible and approved plan to double count credits from the MA program towards the major.
3. Students are recommended, but not required, to have at least a 3.55 GPA at the time they apply.

MA Degree Requirements

During the BA/MA year students must meet all MA degree requirements in their MA program. This will include a total of 9 graduate courses and submission of a faculty-approved MA thesis. 

Coursework completed prior to enrolling in the MA program, even if completed at the graduate level, cannot be counted towards the MA degree. 

Enrollment in undergraduate math, statistics, or computer science courses may be completed through the MA program and count towards the 9 graduate course requirement in accordance with the program’s policies. Not all programs permit enrollment in undergraduate courses, and students should carefully review program policies before planning to enroll in undergraduate courses. I

Credit Sharing

The Division of the Social Sciences sets no limits on the number of courses completed through the MA program that can be applied towards the undergraduate degree. Credits can be shared in two ways:

1. As general elective credit (default).
2. As major elective credit, by approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the major.

Credits cannot be counted towards the MA and more than one major. Questions regarding double-counting or degree logistics should be directed to Lindsey Weglarz, Associate Dean of Students (lweglarz@uchicago.edu).

Thesis Sharing

It may be possible for a BA/MA student to write a single thesis to meet requirements for both the MA degree and the undergraduate major. This is at the discretion of the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the College major, not the MA program. 

All MA thesis requirements must be met regardless of whether the thesis is used to meet undergraduate thesis or long paper requirements. Students anticipating writing one thesis to meet both requirements should confirm their major permits an MA thesis to count towards an undergraduate major requirement.

Note: MAPSS students can choose to write a thesis or a capstone paper. Capstone papers are not typically permitted by BA programs to count as a thesis, though some programs may permit one to count towards a long paper requirement. 

Tuition and Aid

Students in a joint BA/MA program retain primary enrollment through the College, and effective with the 2026 – 2027 academic year are assessed tuition at the College rate. They also retain eligibility for undergraduate financial aid; however, students receiving FAFSA-based aid, such as a Pell Grant or Federal Work Study must count two courses per quarter towards their undergraduate degree to retain Federal aid eligibility. 

Other BA/MA Policies

Undergraduate Course Enrollments

MA students may only enroll in three (3) graduate courses per quarter. Joint BA/MA students, like all undergraduates, are eligible to enroll in a fourth undergraduate course at no extra cost, and so in any given quarter can enroll in four (4) courses if needed to complete remaining undergraduate requirements (3 graduate courses + 1 undergraduate course). 

Please note that approval to enroll in additional undergraduate courses must be first approved by the College, and then by the MA program and the Division.

Graduation

All BA/MA students must meet all BA requirements and graduate by June of their fourth year. BA/MA students may complete their thesis and graduate with the MA in the August but they must graduate with the MA in August or they cannot receive the MA.

Non-Standard College Graduation Timelines

Most BA/MA students follow the standard College timeline of four years of enrollment with a Spring quarter graduation. Transfer students and students whose final quarter of enrollment in the College occurs in Autumn or Winter quarters are still eligible to apply to the joint degree. However, Division of the Social Sciences MA programs require beginning the program in Autumn; students cannot begin in another quarter. For students with final enrollment quarters other than Spring quarter, this typically means they will graduate from the College during the typical joint enrollment period. 

In the event a joint BA/MA student is required to graduate from the College in Autumn or Winter of the joint enrollment period, they will be enrolled as a standard graduate student to complete the MA program. If they receive financial aid from the College during their final year in the College, the Division of the Social Sciences will match the per-quarter tuition scholarship for the final quarter or two of enrollment. The Division cannot cover fees, health insurance, or living expenses. Students requesting aid for the master-only enrollment quarters will be required to provide a letter from College Aid confirming their scholarship amount.