Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Leadership Studies

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USM’s Accelerated Graduate Pathway (AGP) to the Leadership Studies master’s program allows students to begin taking graduate level courses during their final year of undergraduate study. These courses will satisfy credit requirements for both the undergraduate and graduate programs, allowing undergraduate students to complete up to 12 graduate-level credits. Additionally, students who meet undergraduate progress standards will have their graduate application fee waived and gain automatic admission to the Leadership Studies master’s program.

Program Requirements

LOS 300 - Organizational Theory Credits: 3
LOS 329 - Research Methods Credits: 3
LOS 350 - Leadership Credits: 3
Students must receive a B+ or better in these three undergraduate courses, and a B or better in LOS 500.
Students are required to maintain 3.0 GPA or higher and complete all conditions as outlined above. A minimum of 108 undergraduate credits and36 graduate credits are required to complete both degrees.

Students must meet all previous conditions in order to continue from their undergraduate degree into the Master of Arts in Leadership Studies program. Students must be reflected in MaineStreet as pursuing the accelerated pathway in order to move from the undergraduate degree to the graduate program without a separate admission application process.

How to Apply:
- On the Common App, select your preferred choice of major; then you will see the following option: “Please indicate your interest in one of the following accelerated pathway options at the University of Southern Maine” from which you can select a Pathway.
- In the University of Maine System application, select your First Choice Major; then you will see the following drop-down menu: Accelerated Graduate Degree Pathway (First Choice Major), from which you can select a Pathway.
- If you are a Transfer or Continuing Student, please contact the University of Southern Maine Advising Office to meet with an academic advisor who can review your previous coursework and determine your eligibility for entering an Accelerated Graduate Pathway. Please call (207) 780-4040 or email: usm.advising@maine.edu.
Recommended Course Sequence

Students wishing to progress through the graduate program in five years should take LOS 500: Foundations of Leadership I and LOS 550: Leading Across Cultures during the fall semester and LOS 501: Foundations of Leadership II and LOS 512: Deliberate Creativity and Innovation during the spring semester of their fourth year of study. After successfully completing these four courses as well as all undergraduate requirements, students will complete their undergraduate degree and become matriculated as a graduate student in the MLS program.

Accelerated Pathway Student Schedule
- Shared Senior Year Fall: LOS 500, LOS 550
- Shared Senior Year Spring: LOS 501, LOS 512
After Matriculation into the MLS Program
- Summer One: LOS 610, 2 LOS electives* (one fulfilling the second context requirement)
- Fall Two: LOS 611, LOS 688, LOS elective*
- Spring Two: LOS 689, LOS elective*
*Electives from outside of the MLS program may be taken with prior approval from your faculty advisor.