Special Programs and Opportunities

Special Programs and Opportunities

Accelerated Master’s Degree Program

Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Accelerated Master’s Degree Program is designed to assist current LR undergraduate students toward additional completion of a graduate degree. Through dual enrollment during the senior year, qualified LR undergraduates may begin their graduate courses while still completing their undergraduate degrees. Provided they meet the academic criteria for admission and are accepted into the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program, LR students may enroll in up to 12 credit hours of graduate-level work as part of their senior year, which may be used to meet undergraduate graduation requirements and/or begin coursework in their graduate studies at LR. The number of hours that may be taken will vary by graduate program but may not exceed 12 credit hours. Note that not all graduate programs may participate in the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program - see participation list below.

Students approved to participate in the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program are considered Provisionally Admitted to their respective graduate program of interest and their academic performance will be reviewed after each semester to ensure satisfactory academic progress. Upon the successful completion of their undergraduate degree and provided the minimum academic performance criteria is met for each course within the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program, students will receive formal admission into their selected graduate program of study.

In taking graduate courses during their final semester(s) as an undergraduate, students participating in the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program are able to save the costs of these credits at the graduate level. Additionally, students successfully completing their undergraduate degree at Lenoir-Rhyne and who also meet the required criteria will be eligible for the “Alumni Advantage” program, which provides a tuition discount on all remaining graduate courses taken toward satisfying graduate degree completion at Lenoir-Rhyne in approved specified programs. (See Alumni Advantage Section for more information and minimum requirements.)

Students will be admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program in either the fall or spring semester only; however, once admitted to an approved program, students may enroll in courses available in any term. Summer courses will be charged at the standard rate per credit hour and are not subject to any university discount program.

Special Note: Students participating in an approved Accelerated Master’s Degree Program must satisfy the minimum required hours for the respective graduate program.

Accelerated Master’s Degree Program Designations and Participation

Elective Option

Students accepted to an Elective Option program are on track to successfully complete their undergraduate degree requirements and have space available in their academic schedules to accommodate the necessary demands of graduate-level courses. Courses completed as a part of an Elective Option program are factored as general electives toward their undergraduate curriculum and will factor in the student’s cumulative GPA. Once a student officially matriculates into a graduate program, courses taken as part of an Accelerated Master’s Degree Program will appear as transfer credit on the student’s graduate transcript and will not be factored in the graduate program GPA.

If a student desires for credit earned as part of an Elective Option program to also serve as a course substitute for an undergraduate degree requirement, a course substitution form must be completed, filed and approved by the university registrar prior to enrolling in the course. Students who will have earned 90 credit hours by the end of their semester of application are eligible to apply for an Elective Option program. Applications must be completed by the deadline indicated below for consideration; late applicants will not be considered until the following fall or spring semester.

Graduate Programs Participating in an Elective Option Program:

Major Option

Major Option programs differ from Elective Option programs in that these are unique transition programs which allow students to dually earn credit toward both their undergraduate major curriculum as well as graduate-level credit towards a specific graduate program.

Courses completed as part of a Major Option program will serve as course substitutes towards their undergraduate curriculum, and grades earned in these courses will be factored in both the major and cumulative GPAs. Once a student officially matriculates into a graduate program, courses taken as part of an Accelerated Master’s Degree Program will appear as transfer credit on the student’s graduate transcript and will not be factored into the graduate program GPA. Since these programs are ‘pre-approved’ by the university, a separate course substitution form is not necessary.

Students who will have earned 90 credit hours (a minimum of 64 credits earned at Lenoir-Rhyne) by the end of their semester of application are eligible to apply for an Articulated Bridge program. Applications must be completed by the deadline indicated below for consideration - late applicants will not be considered.

Graduate Programs Participating in Articulated Bridge Programs:

*Qualified students seeking entry to the Master of Arts: Teaching program for the sake of secondary education may participate in one of the following approved Major Option programs. Note that entry requirements may vary by program and are at the discretion of the School of Education. Please see the School of Education section of the catalog for more detailed information.

• English to MAT*
• Exercise Science (Health & PE) to MAT*
• History to MAT*
• Mathematics to MAT*
• Music to MAT*
• Natural Sciences to MAT*
• Spanish to MAT*

General Admission Requirements to the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program

A candidate for admission to the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program at Lenoir-Rhyne University must:

1. Be an Lenoir-Rhyne student in good standing on all accounts (i.e., academic, judicial, financial) who will have earned at least 90 credit hours by the end of the semester in which they are applying to the program. 
2. Intend to graduate with an undergraduate degree from Lenoir-Rhyne and file (or have filed) an official Application for Graduation with the Registrar’s Office.
3. Possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on all Lenoir-Rhyne work to date, an overall 3.0 on all college-level work at Lenoir-Rhyne or elsewhere and (if relevant) a 3.0 in undergraduate work in the discipline in which they seek graduate admissions.

It is important to note that some programs participating in the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program may require additional admission requirements. These are listed with the Accelerated Master’s Degree curriculum information below.

All undergraduate transfer requirements still apply.

A student may apply for the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program in either the fall or spring term if the three criteria above are met. Complete applications include, at minimum, the following materials and should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admission:

1. Completed application form for the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program.
2. Transcripts of all undergraduate credits to date (if the university does not already possess any transcripts, it is the student’s responsibility to submit these additional documents).
3. On occasion, the university may request additional materials prior to determining admission into the program.

Note that the standard enrollment deposit for graduate admissions will be waived for students admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program.

Please see the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program website for more information and application deadlines: https://www.lr.edu/financial-aid-costs/college-affordability/accelerated-masters-degrees

Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements - Accelerated Master’s Degree Program

Students accepted in the Accelerated Master’s Degree program may take graduate-level courses in their approved program as outline above. Continuation in the program requires successful completion of these courses each term. Students are expected to earn at least a B-/2.7 in all graduate-level (500 level or above) classes. The registrar will assess the grades of all Accelerated Master’s Degree students at the end of each semester. Failure to meet this requirement in any graduate class constitutes automatic grounds for dismissal from the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program at the end of the particular semester.

Students may appeal dismissal through the university’s Admissions and Academic Standing Committee; however, reversal of dismissal by appeal will be rare. Dismissal from the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program does not necessarily determine a student’s academic status of academic probation or suspension, nor does it preclude the possibility of successful application for admission into an Lenoir-Rhyne graduate program at a later time by traditional admissions procedures. If a student dismissed from the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program achieves admission later through the traditional process, any credits completed during the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program will be assessed by the graduate program in a manner similar to assessment of transfer hours.

Each graduate program may establish different standards for satisfying the probationary admissions period. Similarly, each program will furnish the courses that may be taken during one’s senior year as well as the maximum number of hours available to be completed in the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program.

Graduate coursework completed during the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program with a grade of B-/2.7 or better will be transferred to meet specific program requirements in the graduate program. However, these credit hours will not be calculated in the ongoing determination of the student’s cumulative grade point average after full admission in the graduate program.

Alumni Advantage Program

Lenoir-Rhyne University alumni who complete their bachelor’s degree or another graduate degree at an earlier time at Lenoir-Rhyne and who meet the following criteria are eligible for a 10% tuition discount on all graduate courses taken toward satisfying graduate degree requirements at Lenoir-Rhyne in specified programs. These discounts are applicable only toward courses that are taken after completion of one’s undergraduate degree and only on graduate hours that are taken toward completion of the particular degree requirements. The university reserves the right not to offer discounted credits in particular programs and certain programs do not offer the Alumni Advantage program. This applies to both undergraduate and graduate alumni.

Graduate Alumni

Lenoir-Rhyne University alumni from previous graduate level studies are also eligible for course discounts of 10% on all Lenoir-Rhyne graduate hours taken toward degree completion if they return for another graduate degree that participates in the Alumni Advantage program.

To receive the discount, the student must be accepted as a degree-seeking student and enrolled into the particular approved graduate program as outlined in the university’s admissions policies and procedures. This offer does not imply or ensure admissions into any of the university’s graduate programs. The discount only applies to hours taken toward meeting the requirements of the degree. This discount may not be combined with any other graduate discounts or scholarships furnished by Lenoir-Rhyne. The discount is applicable to any participating graduate program on any of the university’s three campuses. This discount policy does not apply to post-baccalaureate courses that are not a part of a graduate degree, such as postbaccalaureate teacher licensure or the Dietetics Internship program. It does not apply to any second undergraduate degree hours. As Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary is now a part of Lenoir-Rhyne, all returning LTSS alumni are also eligible for this offer.

Lenoir-Rhyne reserves the right to discontinue this discount opportunity at any time; however, if the university decides to end the offer, current students under the plan will receive the discount for a reasonable amount of time to allow them the opportunity to complete their current program.

The William and Robert Shuford Center for International Education

The mission of the Shuford Center for International Education (SCIE) is to stimulate, develop and support initiatives and programs, abroad and on-campus, which equip students with the cross-cultural skills and awareness of global issues they will need for gainful employment and service in the world. The SCIE promotes semester- and year-long study abroad programs; short-term, faculty-led study abroad programs; and a rich set of affordable summer opportunities as well. The SCIE also provides immigration services for Lenoir-Rhyne’s international degree-seeking and exchange students and provides for their acculturation and integration into life at Lenoir-Rhyne. The SCIE organizes a wide variety of on campus initiatives to promote intercultural learning and meaningful interaction between U.S. and international students including overseeing a residential learning community called the Global Village.

Lenoir-Rhyne University, through the William and Robert Shuford Center for International Education, is a member of NAFSA: Association of International Education; the Institute for International Education (IIE); Diversity Abroad; The Forum on Education Abroad; International Student Exchange Programs (ISEP); and the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC).

Study Abroad Programs

Lenoir-Rhyne University sponsors study abroad student exchange programs at more than 150 institutions in over 50 countries around the globe. Through Lenoir-Rhyne’s agreements with exchange partners, students are registered for classes at Lenoir-Rhyne and receive credit for the course work they complete while abroad. Students may use their Lenoir-Rhyne financial aid for any of these exchange programs. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 to be approved for study abroad.

Lenoir-Rhyne professors also lead short term study abroad programs during spring break or during May, June or July. The costs of these study programs vary from program-to-program.

Contact the Director of the William and Robert Shuford Center for International Education at 828-328-7375 for more information on study abroad programs.

International Student Services

The William and Robert Shuford Center for International Education (SCIE) provides immigration services to F-1 visa holding students and J-1 visa holding international students. The SCIE staff will assist with information about:

• Immigration regulations for J-1 students and scholars
• DS 2019s and J-1 visas
• Health insurance for J-1 visa holders
• Employment on campus for J-1 visa holders
• Academic matters for J-1 visa holders
• Cultural adjustment
• Academic training for J-1 visa holders

Exchange visitors should contact Brittany Marinelli, Director of International Education at 828-328-7375 for more information. 

• Immigration regulations for F-1 visa-holding students
• I-20s for F-a visas
• Health insurance for international athletes and all other F-1 visa holders
• Employment on and off campus for F-1 visa holders
• Academic matters
• Optional practical training
• Curricular practical training

Degree-seeking international students should contact Eric Brandon, Director of International Admissions and Special Projects at 828-328-7301 for more information.