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CPACS Helps You Fast Track Your Master's Degree

Master’s degrees are the fastest growing and largest segment of graduate education. There are numerous benefits to an advanced degree, but it can be daunting trying to decide if that is the path you want to take.

students walking to class

The College of Public Affairs and Community Service’s (CPACS) new Fast Track programs in criminology and criminal justice as well as urban studies, provide an opportunity to decide if graduate school is right for you.

“Fast Track gives our undergraduates a way to test the waters, to find out if they want to continue onto a master’s degree without having to commit to graduate school,” says Teresa Kulig, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

“Fast Track benefits students who are thriving in their majors and are ready to start a master’s degree,” continues Kulig. “For students who have the drive to attain a bachelor’s and a master’s degree, this is a fabulous opportunity. You are still receiving the same quality education as your fellow graduate students, but because you are getting a head start with Fast Track you have a chance to get out and get into that career journey sooner.”

Fast Track is not just about saving time and money, it also helps students work firsthand with graduate students, doctoral students, academic researchers, and professors at the graduate level and to meet people they will be working within their chosen graduate program. "It’s a tremendous way to make connections and build relationships that will help a student to prosper academically,” says Kulig.

It’s a tremendous way to make connections and build relationships that will help a student to prosper academically.”

 Teresa Kulig, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

The program is available for undergraduate students currently pursuing a BS in criminology and criminal justice or BMS with a concentration in criminology and criminal justice, and planning to pursue either an MA or MS in criminology and criminal Justice. To qualify, a student must have at least 75 undergraduate credits and a minimum GPA of 3.5. A student may take nine hours of graduate coursework prior to admission to the UNO graduate degree programs. Up to nine hours of graduate coursework, normally taken during the student’s senior year, may be used to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements if the student maintains a GPA of 3.0 in their Fast-Track courses.

Eligible students will register for 8000-level CRCJ graduate courses. Check out the courses available.

In the School of Public Administration (SPA) Fast Track is available for undergraduate students working on a BS in emergency management or Black studies, desiring to pursue an MS in Urban Studies (MSUS). Students should have senior status and must be within at least 30 undergraduate credits yet to complete their undergraduate degree and have a minimum GPA of 3.5. Exceptional students who do not meet this requirement may be considered.

The following courses may be taken under Fast Track in SPA:

UBNS 8000, Seminar in Urban Studies
UBNS 8060, Introduction to Urban Planning
UBNS 8020, Race, Ethnicity, and American Urban Culture**
UBNS 8200, Community Organizing and Development **
PA 8010, The Public Economy **

** Must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in UBNS 8000

If you are interested in Fast Track in urban studies, contact Meagan Van Gelder, Ed.D. at mvangelder@unomaha.edu.

If you are interested in Fast Track in criminology and criminal justice, contact Teresa Kulig, Ph.D. at tkulig@unomaha.edu; or check out the SCCJ Fast Track webpage.