Grace College is introducing a graduate option that allows students the opportunity to graduate with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in four years. Grace believes the new program will give students an opportunity to further their education in less time and for less money.

This new blended graduate option is offered with five distinct master’s programs. Students choosing to take advantage of this new blended option can receive bachelor’s and master’s degrees for the price of just an undergraduate degree.

The blended program offers several graduate options: a master of business administration, a master of arts in ministry studies, and master of science in orthopaedic regulatory and clinical affairs. In the fall of 2014, two new graduate degrees will become available: a master of science in nonprofit management and a master of science in higher education. These programs utilize online classes, the accelerated undergraduate track and summer coursework to offer students a more financially efficient option for higher education.

Students already on an accelerated track may opt to stay four years instead of three to receive their master’s degree. They will begin graduate classes during their third year, splitting their hours between undergraduate and graduate classes for their final two years. “These programs are a great way to engage in a higher cognitive level of thinking right when you have the opportunity” said Tim Ziebarth, dean of online education.

The accelerated degree program (called Reimagine) was announced in June of 2010 with the goal to help students earn a quality education in less time. The faculty and staff developed Reimagine in response to student and family financial concerns, implementing eight-week sessions in each of the fall and spring semesters (totaling four sessions in two academic semesters) and adding online summer sessions. Graduating within a three-year time frame instead of the usual four enables students to enter the workforce or pursue a graduate degree at a quicker pace without sacrificing academic rigor.

In this accelerated format, students can earn more credits than they typically would in a traditional 15-week semester format, but because of the 8-week sessions, they have more focused attention on fewer courses. The three-year undergraduate plan results in an approximate saving of 25 percent on room, board and tuition.

For more information, visit www.grace.edu/reimagine.