Joint Undergraduate/Master's Program
What is JUMP? JUMP is Joint Undergraduate/Master's Program. JUMP allows students to start working toward their MA in Applied Economics while completing their Bachelor’s degree.
How does JUMP work? Undergraduate students admitted into JUMP may take graduate courses that count toward BOTH undergraduate and graduate degrees. For example, if a student takes ECON 465G (3 credit hours), that course can count as 3 hours toward the undergraduate degree AND 3 hours toward the MA degree. Up to 12 credit hours can be double-counted.
What are the benefits of the JUMP program? Double-counting significantly lowers the cost of obtaining a Master's degree. If a student double-counts 12 hours, they will need only 18 additional graduate credit hours (instead of 30 in the regular MA program) to get the MA in Applied Economics. In addition to 12 hours that may be double-counted, undergraduate students in JUMP are allowed to take 6 more credit hours of graduate coursework that will apply only toward the graduate degree. Therefore, a JUMP student can complete half of their MA degree before even finishing the bachelors degree.
Who can apply for JUMP in Applied Economics? To apply for JUMP, students have to meet the following requirements:
- Be an economics major (economics, business economics and mathematical economics);
- Have completed at least 60 hours total, with at least 24 hours at WKU;
- 3.25 overall GPA
- 15 hours of 200-level or higher economics courses with a minimum GPA of 3.50.
- 3.5 average GPA in ECON 302 and ECON 303
- 2 recommendations from Economics department faculty
What's the typical timeline for JUMP? Students apply for JUMP after completing 60 undergraduate hours. After being admitted to JUMP, students take 4XXG- and 500-level courses, usually during their senior year. After completing their undergraduate degree, students apply to the MA program and take the remaining courses.
Do students have to maintain certain grades while in JUMP? Yes. JUMP students must maintain at least a 3.2 GPA in economics coursework and a 3.0 overall GPA to remain in good standing.
How to apply for JUMP? To apply or to find out more about the JUMP option, contact Dr. Christopher Biolsi.