Public Health Studies and Applied Gerontology, Bachelor’s/Master’s Combined Program

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Tina K. Newsham

The Public Health Studies bachelor’s/Applied Gerontology master’s degree program is designed to provide qualified students the means to complete the requirements for both degrees in a period of five years. The key feature of the program is that a student can count up to 12 hours of graduate-level courses to satisfy requirements for the B.S. in Public Health Studies and toward the M.S. in Applied Gerontology.

A. Students in the B.S. program in Public Health Studies who have:

1. Completed a minimum of seventy-five (75) and a maximum of ninety-eight (98) credit hours in their undergraduate programs. (Note: more hours may be permitted if the student is a double major.) Transfer students must have completed a minimum of two semesters as full-time students at UNCW, a minimum of 24 hours.
2. Completed a minimum of nine (9) credit hours of 300-400 level Public Health Studies courses
3. A minimum accumulated grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0.

Students may request permission from both the Recreation Therapy Program Coordinator and the Gerontology (Graduate) Coordinator to apply up to 12 hours of graduate-level credit earned during their senior year towards their future master’s work in Gerontology. This request must also be approved by the Director of the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences. Permission to apply to the bachelor’s/master’s degree program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School. Admission to the Graduate School is contingent upon meeting eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program.

B. Students must submit the standard application for admission to the Graduate School by the posted deadline for the semester in which the student intends to enroll. This includes:

1. An application for graduate admission
2. Official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate)
3. An essay on the applicant’s goals in pursuing the master’s
4. Three recommendations by individuals in academically or professionally relevant fields

C. Students must submit to the Gerontology (Graduate) Coordinator a Graduate Degree Plan during the first semester of their senior year, signed by the prospective student, the Director of the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, and the graduate coordinator. This Graduate Degree Plan for the master’s degree must clearly indicate:

1. The specific 500-level GRN courses (maximum of 12 graduate credit hours) that will be double-counted for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees (contingent upon acceptance into the M.S. program)
2. The student’s intention to fulfill course requirements for the master’s degree no later than a year after receiving the bachelor’s degree
3. The intended graduation date for the master’s degree (typically one year after the B.S., in the spring)

D. Upon the Gerontology (Graduate) Coordinator’s review of the submitted materials, a letter of acceptance (or denial) to the master’s program will be sent to the student. Acceptance will be provisional and contingent on meeting specified degree requirements, including completion of the bachelor’s degree.

E. A student who is ineligible to participate or continue in, or withdraws from, the bachelor’s/master’s program cannot double count any courses for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees. For more details, see the Gerontology (Graduate) Coordinator.