Justification Examples

The Academic Assessment Committee reviews each justification carefully for its compliance with our UF Policy. To justify the double counted credits, the program faculty respond to this question in the approval request:

Please explain how the double-counted credits do not compromise the integrity and quality of the combined programs and enable students to meet each program’s learning outcomes at no loss of fidelity.

These are examples of successful justifications that meet the AAC’s expectations and address our policy successfully.

Other Bachelor's Degrees with the M.A.M.C./Mass Communications
This justification received an Academic Assessment Committee commendation for clarity and completness. Students may double count 5 to 12 graduate credits through the CJC Combination Degree, depending upon the number of elective credits that they have available in their undergraduate degree audit. These graduate classes will count as external electives for the student’s undergraduate degree. In other words, none of the graduate classes will replace undergraduate core or required courses. Because student learning outcomes are being measured through core courses within their discipline, fulfilling elective requirements with graduate-level courses from the College of Journalism and Communications will not compromise the integrity of the undergraduate course of study. In the combination degree program, students complete coursework that is typically taken at the beginning of the MAMC program, so the only change to their Master of Arts in Mass Communication is that they are taking up to 12 credits of graduate courses earlier than a typical master’s student and alongside undergraduate coursework. This does not impact their ability to gain the knowledge, skills, and professional behavior outlined as the learning outcomes of the MAMC program, and students may not take courses during which these learning outcomes would be assessed as their combination degree courses (capstone project, thesis, etc.). To confirm that students are double-counting the combination degree credits in the manner described above, the College of Journalism and Communications has developed combination degree application and revision procedures that require both individual advising appointments and documentation involving the student’s undergraduate program and the Mass Communication Department, as follows: The first step in the CJC Combination Degree application process requires students to meet with their undergraduate advisors to complete an eligibility form. This form asks undergraduate advisors to confirm how many elective credits the student has available for the combination degree program, and during this conversation, students typically discuss with the advisor when would be an appropriate time to begin the combination degree given their other undergraduate degree requirements. Once students submit their eligibility form, they are required to meet with the CJC combination degree advisor to review the terms of the combination degree program and discuss their timeline for applying to the program, taking the graduate-level courses, applying to the MAMC program, and beginning the MAMC program. During this meeting, the CJC combination degree advisor reminds the student that graduate-level courses may only fulfill certain undergraduate degree requirements, and as part of their combination degree application, the student signs a Memorandum of Understanding that includes an agreement with this policy. Next, the student must meet with the program coordinator or advisor for their chosen master’s concentration. During this meeting, the program coordinator/advisor guides the student in selecting graduate-level courses that would be appropriate introductory courses for the program and fulfill at least some core requirements in the MAMC degree plan. These courses are recorded on the student’s Combination Degree Request Form. To complete their application, the student must submit a statement of goals (300 words) explaining why they wish to pursue the combination degree and how it will impact their future educational and professional goals. Once the student’s application is finalized, their combination degree request form is reviewed and approved by the appropriate representatives from their undergraduate program and the MAMC program before being submitted to Undergraduate Affairs for addition to the student’s record. If during the combination degree program a student requests to take additional courses through the program, and provided their original course plan was under the 12-credit maximum, they are required to submit written confirmation of their available elective credits from their undergraduate advisor to the CJC combination degree advisor before additional coursework may be discussed. Once additional coursework is confirmed, they are also required to complete a revised combination degree request form to update their record before the award of the bachelor’s degree.

Other Bachelor's Degrees with the M.A.M.C./Mass Communications

This justification received an Academic Assessment Committee commendation for clarity and completness.

Students may double count 5 to 12 graduate credits through the CJC Combination Degree, depending upon the number of elective credits that they have available in their undergraduate degree audit.

These graduate classes will count as external electives for the student’s undergraduate degree. In other words, none of the graduate classes will replace undergraduate core or required courses. Because student learning outcomes are being measured through core courses within their discipline, fulfilling elective requirements with graduate-level courses from the College of Journalism and Communications will not compromise the integrity of the undergraduate course of study.

In the combination degree program, students complete coursework that is typically taken at the beginning of the MAMC program, so the only change to their Master of Arts in Mass Communication is that they are taking up to 12 credits of graduate courses earlier than a typical master’s student and alongside undergraduate coursework. This does not impact their ability to gain the knowledge, skills, and professional behavior outlined as the learning outcomes of the MAMC program, and students may not take courses during which these learning outcomes would be assessed as their combination degree courses (capstone project, thesis, etc.).

To confirm that students are double-counting the combination degree credits in the manner described above, the College of Journalism and Communications has developed combination degree application and revision procedures that require both individual advising appointments and documentation involving the student’s undergraduate program and the Mass Communication Department, as follows:

The first step in the CJC Combination Degree application process requires students to meet with their undergraduate advisors to complete an eligibility form. This form asks undergraduate advisors to confirm how many elective credits the student has available for the combination degree program, and during this conversation, students typically discuss with the advisor when would be an appropriate time to begin the combination degree given their other undergraduate degree requirements.
Once students submit their eligibility form, they are required to meet with the CJC combination degree advisor to review the terms of the combination degree program and discuss their timeline for applying to the program, taking the graduate-level courses, applying to the MAMC program, and beginning the MAMC program. During this meeting, the CJC combination degree advisor reminds the student that graduate-level courses may only fulfill certain undergraduate degree requirements, and as part of their combination degree application, the student signs a Memorandum of Understanding that includes an agreement with this policy.
Next, the student must meet with the program coordinator or advisor for their chosen master’s concentration. During this meeting, the program coordinator/advisor guides the student in selecting graduate-level courses that would be appropriate introductory courses for the program and fulfill at least some core requirements in the MAMC degree plan. These courses are recorded on the student’s Combination Degree Request Form.
To complete their application, the student must submit a statement of goals (300 words) explaining why they wish to pursue the combination degree and how it will impact their future educational and professional goals. Once the student’s application is finalized, their combination degree request form is reviewed and approved by the appropriate representatives from their undergraduate program and the MAMC program before being submitted to Undergraduate Affairs for addition to the student’s record.

If during the combination degree program a student requests to take additional courses through the program, and provided their original course plan was under the 12-credit maximum, they are required to submit written confirmation of their available elective credits from their undergraduate advisor to the CJC combination degree advisor before additional coursework may be discussed. Once additional coursework is confirmed, they are also required to complete a revised combination degree request form to update their record before the award of the bachelor’s degree.

Combination: B.A.B.A/General Studies with M.B.A./Marketing
The double-counted credits do not compromise the integrity and quality of the combined programs. The graduate courses have been carefully selected by major and approved by the faculty-led undergraduate business curriculum committee for the bachelor's degree. The graduate courses pre-approved to substitute undergraduate degree requirements are more advanced and rigorous than undergraduate courses, thus strengthening the student learning outcomes at the undergraduate level. For the master’s degree, students will complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits required for the degree. All of the graduate courses approved to double count toward the bachelor’s and master’s degrees meet the master’s degree requirements, as either a core class or a graduate business elective. The double-counted graduate credits must be earned with a letter grade of B or better and do not impact the integrity or quality of learning objectives at the master’s level since combination degree students must complete the same degree requirements as traditional master’s students.

Combination: B.A.B.A/General Studies with M.B.A./Marketing

The double-counted credits do not compromise the integrity and quality of the combined programs. The graduate courses have been carefully selected by major and approved by the faculty-led undergraduate business curriculum committee for the bachelor's degree. The graduate courses pre-approved to substitute undergraduate degree requirements are more advanced and rigorous than undergraduate courses, thus strengthening the student learning outcomes at the undergraduate level.

For the master’s degree, students will complete a minimum of 30 graduate credits required for the degree. All of the graduate courses approved to double count toward the bachelor’s and master’s degrees meet the master’s degree requirements, as either a core class or a graduate business elective. The double-counted graduate credits must be earned with a letter grade of B or better and do not impact the integrity or quality of learning objectives at the master’s level since combination degree students must complete the same degree requirements as traditional master’s students.

Combination: B.Mus. with M.A./Arts in Medicine
Because the School of Music already allots 27 credits to outside-field coursework, these 12 double-counted credits will exist within the scope of the B.Mus.'s existing intention. Additionally, 12- credits will allow students to complete the first year of core-curriculum for the M.A. in Arts in Medicine, allowing students to complete the remaining M.A. credits in one academic year if desired. Furthermore, the growth-year (gap-year) it takes to complete the M.A. allows students interested in graduate programs in public health, medical, or fine arts to specialize and differentiate themselves while working on their applications. Bachelor of Music students, when an outside concentration in a pre-med, psychology, or public health track, would benefit from the 12- double counted M.A. credits as follows. The M.A. curriculum requires creative practice assignments and a 12-week practicum experience. The student’s instrument or vocal performance will be exercised and professionalized; in alignment with the B.Mus.’s Content SLO. The M.A. curriculum also requires an analysis of music and the impacts of genre, mood, and style on audiences (in particular, audiences in health or public health contexts); in alignment with the B.Mus.’s Critical Thinking SLO. Finally, the M.A. curriculum requires investigating, researching, and writing about the historical and cultural impacts of music and the arts as they pertain to human health and wellbeing, in alignment with the B.Mus.’s Communication SLO. Currently, B.M. students have 9- credits worth of electives they can take, and the advisors at the School of Music are comfortable with using 3 credits of our practicum or professional seminar M.A. credits to replace a practice or professional course in the B.M.

Combination: B.Mus. with M.A./Arts in Medicine

Because the School of Music already allots 27 credits to outside-field coursework, these 12 double-counted credits will exist within the scope of the B.Mus.'s existing intention. Additionally, 12- credits will allow students to complete the first year of core-curriculum for the M.A. in Arts in Medicine, allowing students to complete the remaining M.A. credits in one academic year if desired. Furthermore, the growth-year (gap-year) it takes to complete the M.A. allows students interested in graduate programs in public health, medical, or fine arts to specialize and differentiate themselves while working on their applications.

Bachelor of Music students, when an outside concentration in a pre-med, psychology, or public health track, would benefit from the 12- double counted M.A. credits as follows. The M.A. curriculum requires creative practice assignments and a 12-week practicum experience. The student’s instrument or vocal performance will be exercised and professionalized; in alignment with the B.Mus.’s Content SLO. The M.A. curriculum also requires an analysis of music and the impacts of genre, mood, and style on audiences (in particular, audiences in health or public health contexts); in alignment with the B.Mus.’s Critical Thinking SLO. Finally, the M.A. curriculum requires investigating, researching, and writing about the historical and cultural impacts of music and the arts as they pertain to human health and wellbeing, in alignment with the B.Mus.’s Communication SLO.

Currently, B.M. students have 9- credits worth of electives they can take, and the advisors at the School of Music are comfortable with using 3 credits of our practicum or professional seminar M.A. credits to replace a practice or professional course in the B.M.

Combination: B.S. Journalism with M.A./Mass Communication
Students may double count 5 to 12 graduate credits through the CJC Combination Degree program toward the B.S. in Journalism, depending upon the number of elective credits that they have available in their undergraduate degree program. These graduate classes will count as professional electives for the student's undergraduate degree. In other words, none of the graduate classes will replace undergraduate core or required courses. Additionally, the professional electives are meant to deepen the student’s understanding of the communications topic that they are most interested in, which these graduate-level courses will also do. Regarding their graduate degree, in the combination degree program, students complete coursework that is typically taken at the beginning of the MAMC program, so the only change to their experience is that they are taking these courses earlier than a typical master’s student and alongside undergraduate coursework. This does not impact their ability to gain the knowledge, skills, and professional behavior outlined as the learning outcomes of the MAMC program.

Combination: B.S. Journalism with M.A./Mass Communication

Students may double count 5 to 12 graduate credits through the CJC Combination Degree program toward the B.S. in Journalism, depending upon the number of elective credits that they have available in their undergraduate degree program.

These graduate classes will count as professional electives for the student's undergraduate degree. In other words, none of the graduate classes will replace undergraduate core or required courses. Additionally, the professional electives are meant to deepen the student’s understanding of the communications topic that they are most interested in, which these graduate-level courses will also do.

Regarding their graduate degree, in the combination degree program, students complete coursework that is typically taken at the beginning of the MAMC program, so the only change to their experience is that they are taking these courses earlier than a typical master’s student and alongside undergraduate coursework. This does not impact their ability to gain the knowledge, skills, and professional behavior outlined as the learning outcomes of the MAMC program.

Justification Examples

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