Accelerated Graduate Enrollment (AGRADE) program

The AGRADE program provides the opportunity for top students to enroll simultaneously in our undergraduate and graduate programs. Students can apply a maximum of 16 credits towards both an undergraduate and a graduate degree in your major field. Students who elect the AGRADE program may expect to complete their bachelor's and master's degrees in five years of full-time study.

How does it work?

Students may elect a minimum of three and a maximum of 16 AGRADE credits. These will be used to complete your bachelor's as well as to serve as the beginning of graduate study. These credits are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate. Upon formal admission to our master's degree program, AGRADE courses are treated as if they were graduate credits transferred from a graduate program at another university. The remaining graduate credits required for the master's will be earned in the usual manner following formal admission to the graduate program.

When should I start?

Ideally, students begin the AGRADE program during the semester that they will earn 90 credits toward your undergraduate degree, typically during your junior year. However, students may join AGRADE at anytime before their undergraduate degree is completed.

Who is eligible?

Any student majoring in sociology or a related field with an overall GPA of at least 3.3 who is interested in a master's degree in sociology can join AGRADE.

How to I join?

Talk to our academic advisor, Stacie Moser, to confirm your eligibility and develop your plan. Then make an appointment with our graduate director, Zachary Brewster.

It's never too early to start thinking about AGRADE. Develop an undergraduate plan that will allow you the ability to take these courses in your senior year.

By allowing me to complete graduate courses while finishing a bachelor's degree, the AGRADE program ultimately facilitated an accelerated path into graduate school.

After earning my doctorate and reflecting back, it is Wayne State's AGRADE program that I credit for exposing me to graduate school as an option.

Whitney Hunt, Ph.D., visiting assistant professor, Colgate University

The AGRADE program provided me with access to graduate-level training that improved my ability to conduct methodologically sound research.

The skills that I acquired during my time as an AGRADE student have led to numerous publications and exciting professional opportunities.

Gerald Nowak III, Ph.D. student, Michigan State University