Beatrice Fleurant & Erin Grant
Online Editor & News Editor
Through FSC’s accelerated graduate school programs, termed 4+1 Accelerated Programs, students can secure a jump start on their professional goals for a fraction of the cost. Students can begin taking graduate coursework while completing their bachelor’s degree in order to finish both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five short years.
“It’s really about giving our students a head start,” Abbey Bonet, the Assistant Director of Adult and Graduate Admission, said. “We wanted to create opportunities for students who are excelling in their undergraduate programs to start exploring graduate-level work.”
This long-standing program was created as a way to make graduate degrees more accessible and more affordable for FSC students.
During the undergraduate portion of the program, students can use their existing financial aid for their graduate-level coursework. Once students complete their bachelor’s degree and move fully into graduate student status, they’ll be charged the graduate per credit hour rate.
“We understand that financial aid and scholarships change a lot once students finish undergrad,” Bonet said.
While the application process looks different for each program, students typically apply in the Spring semester of their junior year, once they have reached 93 credits. FSC students with a minimum 3.25 GPA often won’t have to take an entrance exam to apply, but students should be prepared to submit supplemental information such as a personal statement, resume and letter of recommendation.
Shani Lizardi, Associate Director of Adult and Graduate Programs, emphasized that the admissions team takes each applicant’s situation into account.
“We do take the full application into consideration, including people’s specific situations,” Lizardi said. “Some students work full-time or have family responsibilities. If they’re motivated and ready to take on graduate work, we’re definitely willing to give them the opportunity to be able to reap the benefits [of the accelerated programs].”
Once accepted, success in the program comes down to the student’s preparation.
“The best candidates are students who are well organized, manage their time effectively and really know what they want,” Kimmy Diallo, an FSC admissions counselor, said.
Many of the graduate programs offer online or hybrid options, so students are not confined to staying in Lakeland. Diallo emphasized that some students step outside of the 4+1 blueprint.
“It’s not necessarily always four plus one. Even though it’s labeled 4+1, it’s very dependent on the student and what track works best for them. It all depends on how many credit hours and how long the student plans on staying at FSC,” Diallo said.
Students enrolled in these accelerated programs will work with both their undergraduate advisor and a graduate faculty advisor to complete their degree. Outside of academic advisors, students are also offered the support of financial aid to prepare for the transition into the graduate pay structure.
The programs will continue to grow and expand over the coming years. This past fall, an accelerated master’s in data analytics started, and the Master of Public Administration accelerated program will be launching soon.
Some master’s programs already at FSC include a 4+1 Master of Business Administration, Education, Accounting and a Industrial-Organizational Psychology (MSIO).
If looking for more information, Bonet encourages students to schedule a meeting.
“We can look at their transcripts, talk through their goals, and make a plan that fits,” Bonet said.
By offering a flexible path to graduate school, these programs help students grow into their professional futures faster than ever.
