Accelerated Master's Program

Apply now

The Accelerated Bachelor's and Master's in Physical Education (4+1) is designed to prepare qualified students for graduate work in Physical Education, leading to both a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and a Master of Education in Physical Education. Students in the accelereated program can complete up to 12 graduate level credit hours at undergraduate tuition rates. The M.Ed. in Physical Education is delivered entirely on the internet, which allows students the flexibility to pursue the degree at a time and place that fits their schedule.

Benefits of the Program

  • One less year of school, thus saving you significant amounts of time and money
  • Twelve of your graduate credit hours at undergraduate tuition rates

Application to the Accelerated B.S.E. and M.Ed. Program

An applicant for the accelerated program must be

  1. A University of Arkansas undergraduate pursuing a bachelor's degree in K-12 Physical Education and Health,
  2. Completed at least 60 credit hours toward the Physical Education B.S.E. degree
  3. Have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.25.

Students are accepted on a rolling basis.

Any prospective student who applies for the accelerated program are evaluated by the Physical Education program faculty using a variety of factors including GPA, resume, and a 500-word statement of interest. GRE scores are not required to apply for the M.Ed. program through the accelerated program.

Courses Completed During the Final Undergraduate Year

Accelerated students may take up to 12 credit hours of graduate coursework in the last 12 months of their undergraduate degree that will count toward both their B.S.E. and M.Ed. degrees. The 12 hours (four 3-credit courses) of graduate coursework are selected from the following classes: PHED 52503, PHED 52703, PHED 53103, PHED 555503, PHED 56403, PHED 57503 and PHED 58003.

Two of the courses are direct subsitutes for required undergraduate courses: PHED 58003 is a substitute for PHED 47003 (fall semester), and PHED 53103 is a substitute for PHED 40203 (spring semester). Other classes count in place of undergraduate elective courses (taken during fall semester, spring semester or the summer prior).

Upon completion of the B.S.E. degree (including the graduate courses), the accelerated students who have at least an average 3.0 GPA in PHED graduate courses will be accepted by the program faculty into the Physical Education M.Ed. degree program after admittance into the U of A Graduate School.

The accelerated program was designed to allow students to gain a bachelor's and master's while saving money and time in the process. This program allows our outstanding undergraduates the opportunity to earn credit toward a graduate degree while they complete the final requirements for their undergraduate degree. Students in the accelerated program can complete up to 12 graduate-level credit hours at the undergraduate tuition rates.

Questions are welcome! Please email the program coordinator, Teaching Associate Professor Jack Kern, Ph.D., at jkern@uark.edu.