Bryn Mawr College

AB/MA Programs

Applying for the AB/MA program is a three-part process. First a student must develop an AB/MA curricular work plan with their major's advisor.  Next, submit an application to the Undergraduate Dean's Office, which will then be submitted to the Undergraduate Special Cases Committee for approval.  If that application is successful, you then must apply to the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.  That application will be reviewed by both the appropriate department and the Dean of Graduate Studies.  Here we describe the last step in this process:

How to Apply to the GSAS After Being Approved by the Undergraduate Dean's Office

Print and complete this version of the GSAS Application

Print and give the Recommendation Form to your three recommenders.

Along with completing the GSAS application, applicants will need to provide the following to the GSAS Office:

• a statement of interest
• 3 letters of recommendation.
• a copy of your BMC transcript (an unofficial transcript printed from Virtual Bryn Mawr is acceptable)
• any program specific documents as listed in Part II of the application

Items that are Waived for AB/MA applicants:

• the application fee
• GRE and TOEFL scores

Deadline for Applying:  For Fall 2011, the AB/MA program is on a rolling admissions schedule, and the GSAS will accept applications through the end of the semester.  Deadlines for Spring 2012 for submission of applications to the Undergraduate Special Cases Committee are:

1. February 3
2. March 15

Things to Keep in Mind

• The MA degree requires six courses for graduate credit, an MA thesis, and either an oral or written defense of your work.  In some programs additional work may be required (See Requirements below.)  In order to complete the thesis requirement you have to be a candidate for the MA, which requires completing an Application for MA Candidacy  in the Fall semester for a May degree.
• All AB/MA students must register through Virtual Bryn Mawr during the window designated by the Registrar for GSAS students.
• You must print your Virtual Bryn Mawr registration page and submit it to your department chair or graduate advisor for approval and signature.
• If you have registered for a Unit of Supervised Work (USW) you must also obtain the signature of the faculty member with whom you will be doing the USW.  If the USW is being supervised by your chair or graduate advisor, please indicate that.
• It is important to follow the original workplan that was approved during your application process.  If the workplan must be changed, you need to submit a new workplan, complete with the necessary signatures, to the Graduate Dean for approval.  This needs to happen before registering for the semester in which the change will take place.

• No registration can be approved until all outstanding balances are cleared.

• For the MA degree, you will need to complete the requested information in Virtual Bryn Mawr for the MA diploma and Commencement program by February 15 for a May degree, and by October 15 for a December degree, even if you are not sure that you will graduate. 
• Note: if you do complete the MA degree within the four years of your under-graduate enrollment, you will not be charged graduate tuition.  If, however, you enroll for additional semesters, you will be responsible for paying graduate Tuition and Fees.

Requirements for the MA Degree

Read about the specific MA requirements for your program here.

Declaration for Full-Time Study

If you are completing your degree in a 5th year, you may want to consider submitting this form.