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AS&E Students
Arts and Sciences, Engineering, SMFA at Tufts
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The Bulletin: Combined-Degrees Programs

Combined Degree BFA + BA/BS Program with SMFA at Tufts

Students in the combined degree BFA + BA/BS program will be in full-time residence for a minimum of 8 semesters; will complete a minimum of 85 credits of non-studio coursework and 76 credits of studio art coursework. Within the 76 credits of studio coursework, all undergraduates must complete the following: three introductory studio courses by the end of their first year, three intermediate studio courses by the end of their sixth semester of study and three advanced level studio courses in their last three semesters of study.  The non-studio distribution requirements for the BFA are satisfied by students completing 15 credits in art history, in addition to the distribution, foundation, and concentration requirements for their BA or BS degree, with the exception of their Arts Distribution requirement, which is satisfied by studio coursework taken towards their BFA degree. There are instances where students may use courses to satisfy multiple requirements in close consultation with their advising team. Normally, the majority of the non-studio work is taken on the Tufts Medford/Somerville campus, and most of the studio art courses are taken at the SMFA. Please reference the General Undergraduate Information, the School of Arts and Sciences (BA/BS) degree requirements and the School of Arts and Sciences (BFA) sections for the specific graduation requirements for the BFA degree and the BA/BS degree. 

Students who move from the combined degree program to the BA/BS program may still count up to 6 credits of studio coursework, graded Credit/No Credit, to satisfy the Arts distribution requirement; this is an exception to the requirement that distribution courses be taken for a letter grade.

Students transferring from outside institutions entering the Combined Degree BFA & BA/BS program must spend a minimum of four full-time semesters at Tufts or on Tufts Programs Abroad and must complete at least half the credits required for each degree at Tufts or on Tufts Programs Abroad. Students are able to transfer up to 43 credits of non-studio coursework towards the BA/BS portion of their degree and 38 credits of studio coursework towards the BFA portion of their degree. Pre-matriculation credits received from certain standardized examinations (such as Advanced Placement and international diplomas) are included in these limits. Within the 38 credits of studio transfer - Transfer students may transfer in the following coursework towards the Studio Level Requirement (if approved through all official TOC processes):

  • 2 of the 3 required intro level courses and will need to complete their outstanding intro level coursework by the end of their second semester of study.
  • 1 of the 3 required intermediate level courses and will need to complete their outstanding coursework before their final two semesters

Transfer students must complete all three advanced level courses at the SMFA and cannot be waived from this requirement. They should plan to complete this coursework in their final three semesters of study.

Direct entry first year transfer students are not permitted to transfer any introductory, intermediate or advanced level studio coursework from another institution.

Students enrolled in the BFA + BA/BS Combined degree program are held to the Academic Standing Requirements outlined in the BA/BS program section of this Bulletin.  In addition to these requirements, they are also held to the Studio Level Progress Outcomes, outlined in the BFA section of this Bulletin. 

Students enrolled in the BFA + BA/BS Combined degree program may register for a maximum of 21 credits in each fall and spring term.

Students in the BFA + BA/BS Combined degree program whose total course load equals 12 semester or more will be awarded Dean’s List honors if they meet Dean’s List GPA requirements detailed in the Arts and Sciences BA/BS section of this bulletin.

Fifth-Year Master’s Degrees Program with the School of Engineering

See School of Engineering for description.

Fifth-Year Master’s Degrees Program with the School of Arts and Sciences

The School of Arts and Sciences and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) offer Fifth-Year Master’s Degree Programs through select departments. The Fifth-Year Master’s Degree is one way of recognizing the increasing number of undergraduates entering college with exceptional preparation in certain areas. Students seeking admission to these programs should consult their undergraduate major advisor, their Associate Dean of Advising, and their prospective graduate advisors before applying to the Graduate School. Tufts undergraduate who are considering a Fifth Year Master’s program must adhere to the policies and procedures detailed in the GSAS Master’s, OTD, and Certificate Handbook.

Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s in Public Health (MPH) Degrees Program

See Undergraduate Admissions for more details.

Combined-Degrees Program with The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

The combined-degree program is offered jointly by the undergraduate schools (Arts and Sciences or Engineering) and The Fletcher School. It offers an opportunity for a limited number of highly qualified Tufts undergraduates to earn both the bachelor's degree in their selected major and the Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) degree. A total of 16 Fletcher courses (48 credits) are required for the MALD degree. As many as four of these courses (12 credits) may be used in fulfilling requirements for the BA/BS degree. Degrees are conferred upon completion of requirements for each portion of the program; that is, a bachelor’s degree will be conferred once the BA/BS requirements are completed and a master’s degree will be conferred once the MALD requirements are completed. Students may not begin their three full-time Fletcher semesters until they have earned their bachelor’s degree. A student who has any remaining credits for the bachelor’s degree will remain enrolled in A&S, and pay tuition to A&S until their degree is completed.

Typically, the program lasts six years (12 semesters) and will not reduce the time usually required to pursue the two degrees separately. An undergraduate who is able to complete the AS&E eight-semester residency requirement by December of senior year may be able to complete the combined-degree program in five and a half years. Interested students should consult their undergraduate Advising Dean about this program.

Fletcher courses may be taken over a period of up to three years. The student must be a full-time Fletcher student during at least three semesters. While matriculated at Fletcher, students will pay Fletcher tuition and may receive Fletcher financial aid.

After being admitted to Fletcher, combined-degree students may take up to four Fletcher courses (12 credits) while still registered in AS&E and have these courses count toward the 16 courses (48 credits) required for the Fletcher degree. Fletcher courses taken through cross-registration before starting the combined-degree program are not eligible for Fletcher credit. Cross-registration for courses at Harvard or at other institutions in the greater Boston area will not be approved until the student has completed at least eight Fletcher courses (24 credits), including those taken while still an undergraduate.

No more than four Fletcher courses (12 credits) can be taken each semester, but students still completing undergraduate requirements may take a combination of Fletcher and undergraduate classes totaling 16 credits or fewer. The student's program must be coordinated in such a fashion as to satisfy both the Fletcher and undergraduate requirements.

Admissions

Students may apply for the combined-degree program once they have completed and received grades for 80 credits. All BA/BS-MALD applicants are required to participate in an on-campus evaluative Fletcher admissions interview. Once admitted, students may begin taking Fletcher courses at the start of the following semester, whether it begins in January or September. The application deadline for January enrollment is October 15. The application deadline for September enrollment is January 10.

Additional information about the Fletcher admissions process and financial aid can be found on the Fletcher website.