Thinking About Graduate School?
Consider Early Admission Options at Pitt
If you have a 3.5 GPA or higher and are planning to pursue graduate study at the University of Pittsburgh, you might be eligible for an early admission option. This allows you to start your graduate classes early and apply up to 24 graduate credits toward your undergraduate degree as free electives.
Graduate Programs That Offer Early Admission with CGS:
- School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA)
- School of Public Health
- School of Law
What You Need to Know:
- You must be a strong graduate school candidate and be admitted to the Pitt graduate program. Admissions requirements vary—check directly with the graduate school you’re interested in.
- You need to complete at least 96 undergraduate credits, including all of your general education requirements, before starting your graduate classes.
- At least the last 30 of your 96 undergraduate credits must be completed at CGS before you can be accepted as a graduate student.
- If you’re in a professional undergraduate major and planning to enter a professional graduate program, there’s a limit on how many professional credits you can apply—talk with your advisor about this early.
- You must take at least 24 credits of graduate-level courses and earn a B or better in each course. These credits will also count toward your graduate degree.
- You can apply fewer than 24 graduate credits toward your undergraduate degree if you’ve already completed some electives.
Important:
✔️ Talk to your CGS advisor as soon as possible if you’re interested in this option. They can help you understand the process and make sure you’re on track.
✔️ Check with the Financial Aid Office. Becoming a graduate student early may impact your financial aid. It’s your responsibility to confirm.
Graduating from CGS:
- You’ll apply to graduate from CGS after you’ve finished the first 24 credits of your graduate program.
- You must have at least 120 total credits to earn your bachelor’s degree.
- You’ll graduate with a B.A. or B.S. based on your CGS major, and your transcript will include a note that your degree was awarded in combination with a Pitt graduate program.
- Your undergraduate GPA will be based only on your CGS coursework. Your graduate courses won’t count toward your undergraduate GPA.
School of Public and International Affairs 4+1 Accelerated Program
Pitt undergraduates can get a head start on a master’s degree at SPIA while finishing their bachelor’s degree. Once you’ve completed 24 graduate credits at SPIA, you can apply to graduate with your bachelor’s degree. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in the Dietrich School or the College of General Studies, have at least 96 credits completed, a minimum GPA of 3.5, all Skills and General Education requirements finished, and no “G” grades. Questions? Reach out to a SPIA admissions counselor at spia@pitt.edu.
School of Public Health Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program
Pitt undergraduates can apply to accelerated bachelor’s/master’s programs that let you earn both degrees in about five years. To start at Pitt Public Health, you’ll need to have completed at least 96 undergraduate credits, plus meet the program’s specific admission requirements in addition to the standard ones.
Master of Studies in Law Early Option
Law, Criminal Justice, and Society (LCJS) majors at Pitt can fast-track their education by pairing their LCJS BA with a Master of Studies in Law (MSL) from Pitt’s School of Law. To be eligible, you’ll need a minimum 3.5 GPA and at least 96 undergraduate credits completed, including all skills, general education, and LCJS core requirements (except for the two LCJS electives). The first 6 credits in the MSL program will count toward those LCJS electives. Students must apply and be admitted to the MSL program separately from their undergraduate program. Questions? Contact Wesley Hiers, Director of LCJS, at wjh16@pitt.edu.