Yes, it is pretty rare but still possible to earn a master’s without a bachelor’s degree. When you think of getting a master’s degree you automatically assume that you must already earned your bachelor’s before applying to study further. But in some cases, there are exceptions as some universities allow you to pursue masters without having a bachelors degree first. There are schools that offer a master’s program that doesn’t require an applicant to have a bachelors study. So, if you haven’t completed a bachelor’s degree, earning a master’s isn’t really out of the question. Here is how you can pursue Masters with a previous bachelors degree.
How to enrol in a Masters without a Bachelor’s Degree?
Jumping to your master’s without having a bachelor’s degree can be an unconventional approach but an approach nevertheless. The majority of the universities expect you to have a bachelor’s in a related program so that you have most of the learning and basic knowledge of the master’s program you are applying to. However, a degree is not the only way to prove that you are qualified in your field. Here we will outline some possible options that can help you dive right into a master’s degree without a bachelor’s program.
Masters without a Bachelor’s Degree: Work Experience
What most people don’t know is that some institutes can actually use experience as an acceptable substitute for bachelors education. If you have a relevant experience of seven or above years you can be considered for a place in their master’s program as some institutes believe that work experience can be seen as learning on the job.
Granted that the application of such students can still be subject to the approval of the school’s application committee but there is no harm in applying, right? The application requirements may vary from school to school and program to program but you can start preparing your employment documents if you have the work experience that can get you into your desired program.
Masters without a Bachelor’s Degree: Discontinued Educational Documentation
There are many cases, where students started their bachelors studies but stopped schooling for one or another reason. In some cases, they may start working after they dropped out but don’t have enough experience to be considered extensive professional experience. There are some institutes that may approve your application without a bachelor’s degree if you provide documentation of your earlier education pursuits and shit-term work experience. Again there is no guarantee that you will get in but you can try your luck with some institutes to see if they will give approval.
Masters without a Bachelor’s Degree: Professional Certificate
Professional certificates such as many vocational and professional courses can help you get into a master’s program as long as it is in a related field and skillset of their vocational course. These courses are valid for 5 years and can still be used as educational documentation despite not being a formal college program.
Masters without a Bachelor’s Degree: Transferring Your Degree to Another Field
One of the dilemmas that many students face is that they have a bachelor’s degree in a field that is unrelated to the master’s they are aiming for. Even while it is possible to enrol in a master’s program without a bachelor’s degree, you are more likely to come across schools that will accept a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated subject. Maybe you have changed your mind about what you want to study or what career you think now is better for you or maybe you want to pursue an MBA but haven’t studied business as your bachelors degree. Some of the popular masters programs that don’t always require a bachelor’s degree in a related field are:
- MBA
- Master’s in Counselling Psychology
- Master’s in Human Resources
- Master’s in Social Work
- Master’s in Journalism
- Master’s in Nursing
If any of these programs you are looking to pursue, then you can study a master’s degree without bachelors.
Masters without a Bachelor’s Degree: Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree
There’s another route through which you can get a masters degree without bachelors is to get a masters and bachelors degree at once which is known as an integrated master or two-in-one degree. It is a program that combines a masters degree with a bachelors. Instead of studying two as separate degrees, you can opt for one single, longer program. So, these are the options you have on how to get a masters degree without bachelors and they work just fine.
Colleges and Universities that offer Master’s without Bachelor’s Degree
As it might prove to be difficult to find colleges and universities that offer a masters degree without bachelors, we have compiled a list of these colleges and universities and the programs they offer without bachelors. Some of the different names universities used for masters degrees without bachelors are:
- Bachelor / Master Combined Programs
- Bachelors/Graduate Degrees
- Integrated Bachelor / MBA
- BA / BS / MAT / 5thYear Master’s Degree
- Accelerated Degree Programs
- Dual Bachelor’s / Master’s Degrees
Below you will find the list of colleges and universities that are offering masters degrees without bachelors are:
- South University
- Loyola University
- Penn State University
- American University
- Boston University
- California University of Pennsylvania
- Capella University
- Regis University
- Excelsior College
- Kent State University
- Stockton University
- Arizona State University
- The University of South Carolina
- Brenau University
- Central Michigan University Global Campus
We hope that this short guide about getting a masters degree without bachelors will help you in your educational journey. No matter how unusual your journey may be, remember that your experience can take you to many places. So take a chance and apply for a masters that you have been wanting, even without a bachelor’s degree.
