Following Faculty Senate approval on January 30, 2025 (Action Item 7), the WSU Graduate School has adopted a new policy to standardize Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) for 4+1 programs. These programs provide an accelerated pathway for students to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years, saving time and tuition while advancing their careers.
The policy outlines clear guidelines for constructing MOUs between academic units, ensuring consistency and alignment with best practices. It allows students to share up to six credits between degrees, provided the courses meet graduate-level standards and maintain a grade of “B” or higher. MOUs must specify eligible courses and address limitations on conjoint and cross-listed courses to prevent duplication of credit beyond the six shared credits.
This framework applies to undergraduate and graduate programs within WSU as well as partnerships with accredited external colleges and universities. External partnerships allow students to complete their bachelor’s degree elsewhere and seamlessly transition into a WSU master’s program. External MOUs address credit-sharing agreements, course mapping, quarter-to-semester credit conversions, and approval processes to maintain academic rigor, equity across programs, and compliance with NWCCU accreditation standards.
Effective in fall 2025, this standardized MOU process will support the growth of high-quality, accessible 4+1 programs and ensure alignment with institutional and accreditation standards. To learn more, review the full memo that will be incorporated into the Graduate School Policies and Procedures in the next update.