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Accelerate into Master's (AIM)

Accelerate into Master's (AIM)

The Accelerate Into Master’s (AIM) program allows undergraduate students who qualify to complete graduate-level courses that fulfill requirements for both their undergraduate program and a future master’s program. AIM enables students to shorten the time required to complete a master’s degree once they have graduated from their undergraduate program.

AIM courses are (5000-level) graduate courses* that also meet requirements for completion of an undergraduate degree. In course-based programs, students pay tuition for AIM courses at the undergraduate rate. For Tempo Learning® AIM courses are included in the program’s subscription cost.

AIM participation requirements are designed to help students successfully complete a bachelor’s degree and meet admissions requirements for a master’s degree. Taking AIM courses does not guarantee admission into a master’s program. Students should always speak to their academic advisor when they have questions about admissions or degree completion requirements.

 

Requirements

1. To be eligible to begin AIM courses, students must:

a. Have an overall GPA equal to that required for admission to the associated master’s degree.* BS AIM track students must maintain a 2.5 GPA and have a transfer GPA of at least 2.5 (if transferring credits).

b. Have completed core requirements for their bachelor’s program. (Individual programs may determine additional prerequisites.)

c. Be in good financial standing.

d. Not have any incompletes.

2. While participating in AIM, students must:

a. Earn a grade of “B” or better in each AIM course to have that course applied to the master’s program. Students who do not earn a “B” in an AIM course may retake it once to raise their grade so it can be applied to the master’s.

b. Earn a grade of “C” or better in each AIM course in order to continue taking 5000-level courses. AIM courses completed with a grade of “C” will satisfy undergraduate degree requirements but not master’s degree requirements. Later admission to the master’s program requires that the student must take that course as a master’s student. Students who do not pass an AIM course may retake it once; they must earn a grade of “C” or better the second time in order to stay in the AIM track program.

c. Maintain the undergraduate GPA expected for admission to the associated master’s program.

3. Upon completion of the undergraduate program requirements, students should file an Intent to Graduate Form.

4. Upon admission to the master’s program, all AIM graduate courses completed with a “B” or better are applied to graduate program. AIM courses completed with a grade below “B” must be retaken as part of the master’s program. The graduate GPA is calculated based only on those graduate courses taken as a graduate student.

Students who successfully complete AIM courses are not required to pursue the master’s degree and/or may defer enrollment to a future date. Transfer of credit policies, including those related to expiration, would apply. Institutional coursework expires within 10 years unless otherwise notated by the individual academic unit or program.

Individual programs may determine the specific eligible AIM courses and some programs may limit the number of courses available. AIM coursework should not account for more than 50% of the credits needed for master’s degree completion. Additional limitations may apply for courses taken towards a graduate certificate as part of a master’s program. Practicum or Capstone requirements for the master’s program are not eligible to be satisfied by AIM coursework.

Undergraduate students may complete AIM courses to fulfill elective credits, as course substitutions approved by the program director, or they may elect a second concentration within their program of study that is designed for AIM completion. Students are encouraged to consult with their Student Success Advisor (if in the course-based learning format) or their Academic Coaching (if in the Tempo Learning® format) on the most appropriate plan for their program and academic goals, such as their future master’s program and time to completion.

*Note: Graduate students cannot register for AIM courses.

AIM Program Chart

Master’s Program

Eligible Courses
(specific course availability may differ within the Tempo Learning® format)

The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Services

MS in Health Education and Promotion

 

Choose up to four courses.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

  • HLTH 5005 - Perspectives on Health and the Developing Professional*
  • HLTH 5110 - Exploring Health Education in the 21st Century  
  • HLTH 5205 - Assessing Community Needs for Health Education 
  • HLTH 5412 - Health Education and Communication Strategies**

*This course MUST be taken first.

**HLTH 5005, HLTH 5110, and HLTH 5205 must be taken before HLTH 5412.

MS in Developmental Psychology

 

Students may select up to four of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

  • DPSY 5111 - Themes and Theories of Developmental Psychology 
  • DPSY 5218 - Gender and Human Development 
  • DPSY 5121 - Development in the Digital Age 
  • PSYC 5215 - Lifespan Development 

MS in Psychology

 

Students may select up to five courses for the listed specializations. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

Applied Psychology

  • PSYC 5100 - Themes and Theories of Psychology 
  • PSYC 5215 - Lifespan Development 
  • PSYC 5225 - Biopsychology 
  • PSYC 5701 - Culture and Psychology  
  • PSYC 5781 - Psychopathology From a Clinical Perspective 

Digital Psychology

  • PSYC 5121 - Development in the Digital Age 
  • PSYC 5123 - Personal and Social Life in the Digital World 
  • PSYC 5122 - Understanding Digital Data in the Changing Economic Landscape 
  • PSYC 5215 - Lifespan Development 
  • PSYC 5100 - Themes and Theories of Psychology 

Educational Psychology

  • PSYC 5100 - Themes and Theories of Psychology 
  • PSYC 5131 - Theories of Learning 
  • PSYC 5215 - Lifespan Development 
  • PSYC 5701 - Culture and Psychology 
  • PSYC 5765 - Educational Psychology 

General Psychology

  • PSYC 5100 - Themes and Theories of Psychology 
  • PSYC 5215 - Lifespan Development 
  • PSYC 5220 - Psychology of Personality 
  • PSYC 5245 - Social Psychology 
  • PSYC 5701 - Culture and Psychology 

Health Psychology

  • PSYC 5100 - Themes and Theories of Psychology 
  • PSYC 5215 - Lifespan Development 
  • PSYC 5242 - Changing Health Behavior: Theory and Practice 
  • PSYC 5701 - Culture and Psychology 
  • PSYC 5745 - Health Psychology 

Social Psychology

  • PSYC 5100 - Themes and Theories of Psychology  
  • PSYC 5215 - Lifespan Development 
  • PSYC 5245 - Social Psychology 
  • PSYC 5296 - Social Cognition and Attitudes 
  • PSYC 5701 - Culture and Psychology 

Self-Designed

  • PSYC 5100 - Themes and Theories of Psychology 
  • PSYC 5215 - Lifespan Development 
  • PSYC 5245 - Social Psychology 
  • PSYC 5701 - Culture and Psychology 

College of Health Sciences and Public Policy

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

 

Students may select up to five of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

  • MMPA 5200 - Principles of Public Administration 
  • MMPA 5405 - Ethics and Social Justice 
  • MMPA 5420 - Organizational Management and Leadership  
  • MMPA 5431 - Finance and Budgeting for the Public Sector 
  • MMPA 5435 - Human Resource Management: Building a Capable Workforce 
  • MMPA 5451 - Public Policy Analysis 
  • MMPA 5480 - Evidence-Based Evaluation Methods 

MS in Nonprofit Management and Leadership

 

Students may select up to five of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

  • NPMG 5200 - Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector  
  • NPMG 5405 - Ethics and Social Justice 
  • NPMG 5420 - Organizational Management and Leadership 
  • NPMG 5431 - Finance and Budgeting for the Nonprofit Sector 
  • NPMG 5435 - Human Resource Management: Building a Capable Workforce 
  • NPMG 5480 - Evidence-Based Evaluation Methods 

College of Management and Human Potential

Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

 

Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

  • MMHA 5050 - U.S. Healthcare Delivery System 
  • MMHA 5200 - Principles of Population Health in Healthcare Administration 
  • MMHA 5300 - Law, Ethics, and Policy in Healthcare Administration 
  • MMHA 5500 - Human Resource Management and Organizational Development and Leadership for Healthcare Administrators 

Students can take no more than two master’s-level courses per term.

Students must complete all general education and core requirements before beginning AIM courses.

MS in Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology

 

Students may select up to five courses for the listed specializations. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

General Practice

  • IPSY 5100 - Themes and Theories of I/O Psychology 
  • PSYC 5214 - Consulting for Organizational Change  
  • PSYC 5480 - Psychology of Organizational Behavior 
  • PSYC 5706 - Ethics and Standards of Industrial Organizational Psychology 
  • PSYC 5755 - Leadership and Leader Development 

Consulting Psychology

  • IPSY 5100 - Themes and Theories of I/O Psychology 
  • PSYC 5005 - Business Concepts for the Organizational Development Professional 
  • PSYC 5214 - Consulting for Organizational Change  
  • PSYC 5216 - Dynamics of Contemporary, International, and Virtual Organizations  
  • PSYC 5480 - Psychology of Organizational Behavior   

Evidence-Based Coaching

  • IPSY 5100 - Themes and Theories of I/O Psychology 
  • PSYC 5214 - Consulting for Organizational Change 
  • PSYC 5480 - Psychology of Organizational Behavior   
  • PSYC 5755 - Leadership and Leader Development  

Human Resource Management

  • IPSY 5100 - Themes and Theories of I/O Psychology   
  • PSYC 5214 - Consulting for Organizational Change   
  • PSYC 5480 - Psychology of Organizational Behavior   
  • PSYC 5755 - Leadership and Leader Development   

International Business

  • IPSY 5100 - Themes and Theories of I/O Psychology 
  • PSYC 5214 - Consulting for Organizational Change  
  • PSYC 5216 - Dynamics of Contemporary, International, and Virtual Organizations  
  • PSYC 5480 - Psychology of Organizational Behavior   

Self-Designed

  • IPSY 5100 - Themes and Theories of I/O Psychology 
  • PSYC 5214 - Consulting for Organizational Change 
  • PSYC 5480 - Psychology of Organizational Behavior 
  • PSYC 5755 - Leadership and Leader Development   

College of Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

 

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

  • NURS 5050 - Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health 
  • NURS 5051 - Transforming Nursing and Healthcare Through Technology 
  • NURS 5052 - Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice 

Students must be admitted to the RN-BSN-MSN track to complete these AIM courses.

College of Psychology and Community Services

MS in  Forensic Psychology

 

Students may select up to five of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

  • FPSY 5102 - Intersection of Crime, Psychology, and the Law 
  • FPSY 5115 - Understanding Forensic Psychology Research 
  • FPSY 5126 - Understanding Violence, Risk, and Threat Assessment 
  • FPSY 5135 - Criminal Behavior  
  • FPSY 5720 - Abnormal Behavior 

MS in Human Services

 

Students may select up to four of these courses. Individual prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

  • HUMN 5162 - Cultural Humility and Diversity   
  • HUMN 5160 - The Advanced Human Services Practitioner in a Changing World 
  • HUMN 5210 - Management and Leadership Development in Human Services 
  • HUMN 5161 - Assessment, Triage, and Motivational Interviewing 
  • HUMN 5205 - Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector  

MS in Criminal Justice

 

Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

  • CRJS 5137 - The Nature of Crime and Criminology  
  • CRJS 5203 - Victimology  
  • CRJS 5215 - Controversies in Criminal Justice  
  • CRJS 5217 - Technological Solutions and 21st-Century Crime 
  • CRJS 5511 - Special Populations   

MS in Criminal Justice Leadership and Executive Management

 

Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

  • CRJS 5137 - The Nature of Crime and Criminology   
  • CRJS 5215 - Controversies in Criminal Justice   

College of Social and Behavioral Health

School of Counseling 

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

 

These courses are open only to students in the BS in Human Services and BS in Psychology programs. Students may select up to five of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

 

These courses must be taken in the order listed.

  • HUMN 5100 - Introduction to Mental Health Counseling* 
  • HUMN 5722 - Theories of Counseling   
  • HUMN 5316 - Techniques of Counseling   
  • HUMN 5723 - Multicultural Counseling   

 

  • PSYC 5101 - Foundations for Graduate Study in Counseling * 
  • PSYC 5102 - Introduction to Mental Health Counseling * 
  • PSYC 5722 - Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories   
  • PSYC 5316 - Techniques in Counseling   
  • PSYC 5306 - Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling   
  • PSYC 5723 - Multicultural Counseling  

* Students are required to take PSYC 5101 along with PSYC 5102 or HUMN 5100.

Note on Endorsement, Licensure, or Certification

This program does not lead to an endorsement, certification, or licensure. Walden makes no representation, warranty, guarantee, or commitment that successful completion of this program or coursework for graduate credit within this program will permit a graduate to obtain state certification or licensure.

The graduate degree program and coursework within the program in which you are enrolling may be accepted by many states toward upgrading or renewing a license or obtaining a salary increase (depending on state or district policy). Teachers are advised to contact their individual school districts as to whether this program may qualify for salary advancement. Walden enrollment specialists can provide guidance on program requirements; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with all state and school district requirements.