4+1 Bachelor's to M.S. in Organizational Leadership

Who can apply

• Framingham State students in any undergraduate major
• An overall GPA of at least 2.80
• No prerequisite courses required

How to apply

• Apply at the beginning of your junior year
• Submit the 4+1 program application

1. Years 1 to 3: Complete your undergraduate major and general education courses.
2. Year 4: Finish your bachelor's degree and take up to three graduate courses that count toward both degrees.
3. Year 5: Complete your M.S. in Organizational Leadership (hybrid).

See the full course requirements for the M.S. in Organizational Leadership in the graduate catalog.

A 4+1 (or 4 + 1) program lets you earn a bachelor's and a master's degree in about five years. At Framingham State, you can take up to three graduate courses during your senior year that count toward both degrees, then finish your M.S. in Organizational Leadership after you graduate.

About five years: four years for your bachelor's degree and, ideally, one more for your M.S. in Organizational Leadership.

Students in any undergraduate major can apply. You need an overall GPA of at least 2.80. There are no prerequisite courses.

You can finish your M.S. in Organizational Leadership as soon as a year after your bachelor's, with up to three graduate courses counting toward both degrees. Graduate courses you take for dual credit can count toward your full-time undergraduate course load and tuition. Master's degree holders earn about 19% more per week than bachelor's degree holders nationally (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025).

Yes. You can work while you're in the graduate program.

You keep the graduate-level credit for the courses you've taken. You can always return for the M.S. in Organizational Leadership later, but you'd apply as a regular graduate student rather than a 4+1 student.