4+1 Graduate Degree Partnership with Hope College
About the Program
We are thrilled to introduce an exciting opportunity for students at Hope College to fast-track their academic journey through a 4+1 Degree Program Partnership with Western Michigan University’s School of Communication. This initiative bridges the undergraduate and graduate experiences across both institutions, providing a streamlined pathway for students to earn both their bachelor's and master's degrees in five years.
How it Works
Transferable Credits
As part of this partnership, Hope College students can seamlessly transfer up to six undergraduate credit hours towards a Master of Arts in Communication degree at WMU. This collaborative program ensures your hard work at Hope is recognized and counts towards your advanced degree — saving time and money.
Prior Learning Assessment
Additionally, Hope students have the opportunity to obtain up to 6 credits, based on the evaluation of final deliverable(s). This means that your proficiency in advanced-level coursework at Hope College can count toward graduate credits at WMU.
Benefits of the Program
- Time-Efficient and Cost-Effective Pathway: Save time and money while accelerating your journey to a master's degree.
- Flexible Learning Opportunities: Combine the strengths of both institutions to create a personalized and enriching educational experience.
- Recognizing Your Achievements: Your accomplishments at Hope College are acknowledged and directly contribute to your advanced studies at WMU.
How to Get Started
- As early as possible in the academic junior or senior year, you should contact Dr. Julie Apker, director of graduate studies for the WMU School of Communication, to discuss this option and review the requirements, timelines and application procedures.
- Meet with your Hope undergraduate academic advisor to review current and anticipated credit hour status and identify what courses will qualify for transfer and prior learning assessment.
- Apply for admission to the master’s program in the School of Communication.
- Upon acceptance, you must meet with the director of graduate studies to prepare an appropriate program of study that includes the course credits to transfer in as electives and the course credits that will count through prior learning assessment.
- If you're adding credits through prior learning assessment (COM 7100 and/or COM 7120), share the content with the director of graduate studies for review by the graduate committee. Upon approval, these credits will count as electives to your master’s degree.
- A letter listing which undergraduate graduate courses will be counted in the master’s degree will be sent to you and will be included in your graduate file.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the University application and satisfy university admission requirements;
- An undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.0 from Hope College;
- Undergraduate transcripts from Hope College;
- A resume or curriculum vitae (CV); and
- A written statement of academic and personal interest (500-1500 words).
Graduate test scores (GRE) are NOT required.
- Choose Degree-Seeking graduate application
- Then, select the application type
- Correct: Communication – MA
- Incorrect: Communication accelerated MA (this is the AGDP for WMU students only)
ADMISSION DEADLINES
Eligible Hope College Courses
Transferable Credits: up to 6 credits, must have earned a B grade or better
- COMM 320 – Family Communication
- COMM 330 – Organizational Communication
- COMM 335 – Leadership Skills and Perspectives
- COMM 360 – The Art and Science of Persuasion
- COMM 371 – Intercultural Communication: Communicating Across Differences
- COMM 372 – Gender Communication
Prior Learning Assessment: up to 6 credits, based on the evaluation of final deliverable(s)
- COMM 399 – Communication Internship
- COMM 460 – Communication Theory
- COMM 463 – Rhetorical Theory
- COMM 470 – Cultural Communication Theory
Funding
Hope students are eligible to apply for teaching assistantships for the year they are enrolled at WMU. Assistantships pay for up to 18 hours of graduate course tuition plus a stipend. TAs also receive extensive, year-round mentoring to prepare them for instruction. Click here for how to apply, deadlines, and teaching details.
For more information, email Dr. Julie Apker at @email