script

4+ 1 Concurrent Credit Courses

Drury University > School of Education & Child Development > 4+ 1 Concurrent Credit Courses

Education Majors – Are you eligible for the Concurrent Credit Program? Concurrent Credit makes it possible to earn a master’s in 1 year! Complete a bachelor’s degree while earning 12 hours toward a master’s in Education.

Learn More

Questions and Answers

What is Concurrent Credit and the 4+1 program

Concurrent credit makes it possible for academically qualified and motivated students to complete graduate level courses that count toward their undergraduate degree while providing a head-start on a master’s degree from Drury’s School of Education and Child Development. With appropriate advising and fulfillment of academic standards, students can complete a bachelor’s (typically four years) and fast-track completion of a master’s degree in one year. This opportunity allows students to save money and time in the pursuit of a M.Ed.

How does it work?

  • Eligible undergraduate students who meet program requirements can enroll in can enroll in a maximum of twelve hours of 600 level education graduate courses (four courses) while still pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Students earn graduate and undergraduate credit simultaneously in each of these three courses.
  • Working in conjunction with the M.Ed. program director, students will complete and file a program of study with the Registrar’s Office. The plan of study must be approved by the student’s advisor, the M.Ed. graduate program director, the dean of the School of Education and Child Development, and the dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
  • In order to earn the master’s in one year, students will take the remaining hours of graduate coursework during the three or four semesters following conferral of the undergraduate degree (the typical sequence is summer, fall, and spring semesters).

What degrees are earned in the 4+1 Education program?

Bachelor’s (select one):

  • Bachelor’s in Elementary Education
  • Bachelor’s in Middle School Education
  • Bachelor’s in Secondary Education 

Master’s (select one):

  • Master’s in Education Curriculum and Instruction (Elementary, Middle or Secondary) (30 hours)
  • Master’s in Education Integrated Learning (30 hours)
    Master’s in Education Special Education (30 hours)

Who is eligible to apply for Concurrent Credit?

Undergraduate students pursuing the Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, Middle School Education or Secondary Education majors are eligible to apply for concurrent credit. Specified graduate coursework (see chart below) will apply to the curriculum requirements for any of these majors.

Minimum academic requirements for early acceptance to a qualifying master’s program are:
  • Seventy-eight (78), undergraduate credits, 30 of which must have been completed at Drury
  • Two (2) upper-division courses in the major area of study
  • Overall GPA of 3.5

    Students who think they might be eligible for concurrent credit should speak with their advisor and/or Dr. Cosgrove during their sophomore year to discuss course planning. Students must apply for the desired 4+1 master’s program after completing 75 hours of undergraduate coursework.

    Students must meet GPA requirements to stay in the program. The ability to enroll in graduate courses for concurrent credit is contingent upon maintaining a 3.5 cumulative GPA in undergraduate courses and a 3.0 in graduate coursework. Any grade lower than a “C” in a graduate course represents failure in the course.

    A grade of “C” may be counted toward the graduate degree only when offset by sufficient grade points in other courses. If a student earns a C in a graduate course, he/she will be placed on probationary status. A student can be dismissed from the graduate program for failing to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Students failing to remove themselves from scholastic probation within one semester in residence after being placed on scholastic probation may be dismissed.

Concurrent Credit Courses

Eligible students will work with their advisor and the M.Ed. program director in their sophomore year (or immediately upon transferring to Drury) to create a plan of study. Students in strong academic standing who are approved for concurrent credit will take the graduate-level course in place of the undergraduate course.

Only four courses (12 hours) are available for concurrent credit.

Graduate Course: Concurrent credit with Available to Undergraduate Majors

EDUC 608

Classroom Management for Teachers

EDUC 361

Collaborative Classroom Environments

Elementary, Middle School and Secondary Education majors
Typically taken during the junior year, but can be moved to the senior year

EDUC 611

Counseling Parents of Exceptional Children

EDUC 357

Families of Exceptional Learners

Elementary, Middle School and Secondary Education majors as elective credit options

EDUC 625

Correction of Mathematical Difficulties

EDUC 455

Correction of Disabilities in Mathematics

Elementary Education majors

EDUC 632

Literacy Instruction in the Content Area

EDUC 331

Content Area Literacy

Elementary, Middle School and Secondary Education majors

EDUC 633

Middle School Curriculum and Instruction

EDUC 383

Middle School Curriculum and Instruction

Middle School Education majors

EDUC 638

Teaching in Diverse Classrooms

EDUC 304

Teaching in Diverse Classrooms

Middle School and Secondary Education majors
Typically taken during the spring semester of the junior year

EDUC 649

Intro to Mild/Moderate Disabilities

EDUC 369

Intro to Mild/Moderate Disabilities

Elementary, Middle School and Secondary Education majors as elective credit options

EDUC 651

Evaluation of Abilities and Achievements

EDUC 368

Introduction to Evaluation and Assessment

Elementary, Middle School and Secondary Education majors as elective credit

EDUC 652

Language Dev of Exceptional Child

EDUC 351

Intro to Lang. Dev. of Exceptional Child

Elementary, Middle School and Secondary Education majors as elective credit

EDUC 667

Analysis and Correction of Reading Disabilities

EDUC 452

Correction of Literacy Problems

Elementary Education majors

SCI 622

Improvement of K-12 Mathematics Instruction

EDUC 380

Methods of Teaching Elementary Mathematics

Elementary Education majors

SCI 631

Improvement of K-12 Science Instruction

EDUC 382

Methods of Teaching Elementary Science

Elementary Education majors
Typically taken during the spring semester of junior year


How will tuition be charged?

Tuition for graduate-level courses taken while pursuing a bachelor’s degree will be charged as follows:

Day School: Students enrolled in 12-17 hours while taking graduate level coursework will be charged at the Day School tuition rate. In the event of an overload (more than 17 hours), graduate courses will be charged at the applicable graduate tuition rate. Reference the Tuition and Fees chart for tuition rates.

CCPS: Courses taken at the graduate level are charged the applicable graduate tuition rate. Reference the Tuition and Fees chart for tuition rates.

Once formally admitted to the graduate program upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, students will pay the graduate tuition rate for their coursework.

Students registering for concurrent credit must complete the Permission to Register for Concurrent Credit form. This form must be completed and submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the “last day to enroll” as stated in the Academic Calendar for each semester in order to finalize registration.

How do I apply?

  1. Students who maintain an overall GPA of 3.5 should talk with their advisor or the M.Ed. program director in their freshman and/or sophomore year to express an interest in the concurrent credit opportunity. The goals of this discussion are to review eligibility requirements and the course rotation for undergraduate and graduate offerings. With early planning, eligible students will be in position to complete up to nine hours of graduate courses that will satisfy both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.
  2. After completing 60 hours, schedule a conversation (phone or in-person) with Dr. Asikaa Cosgrove, M.Ed. program director, to confirm intent to apply for 4+1 (Concurrent Credit). In this conversation, the director will determine whether to grant approval for the student to apply for early admission to CGS. Upon conclusion of this meeting, the director will send an email to CGS (grad@drury.edu) notifying the office that the student is eligible to apply for early admission. The director will advise the student on graduate coursework. (Approval to apply for early admission does not guarantee admission into CGS.)
  3. After earning 75 credit hours of undergraduate coursework and maintaining a 3.5 GPA, complete the online application for admission to the College of Graduate Studies. The application requires the following:
    a. Submit a personal statement that explains your career goals and reasons applying for the +1 program.
    b. Request two letters of recommendation (details are provided in the online application). One recommendation must be from a Drury faculty member.
    c. When completing the online application, be sure to mark the appropriate box to indicate that you are applying for the 4+1 pathway to a graduate degree (concurrent credit).
    d. Contact the CGS office (grad@drury.edu) to request the waiver code for the $25 application fee.
  4. Upon completion of the bachelor’s degree, you will fulfill all M.Ed. admission requirements.
  5. After admission into the program, complete the Permission to Register for Concurrent Credit form. Contact the College of Graduate Studies to receive an electronic copy of the form (grad@drury.edu). This form must be completed and submitted to the Office of the Registrar by the “last day to enroll” as stated in the Academic Calendar for each semester in order to finalize registration.

How do I get more information?

M.Ed. Director
Dr. Asikaa Cosgrove
(417) 873-7806
acosgrove@drury.edu

Dean, School of Education and Child Development
Dr. Natalie Precise
(417) 873-7755
nprecise@drury.edu