Ladder Option Towards Master's Degrees

The ladder option allows undergraduate students to take select graduate courses that will count toward their undergraduate and graduate degrees at Antioch University Seattle. Up to 12 credits can be counted in Psychology and Education, and 10 in the Center for Creative Change (C3). When combined with the ability for B.A. students to document life experience for credit (20 to 30 credits on average), you could shorten your combined tenure in the B.A. and master's programs by up to one year, saving both time and money.

All of AUS's eight master's degrees are included in the ladder option:

If you plan to pursue a graduate degree after completing your B.A., the ladder option is a great way to integrate and accelerate your education goals.

Curriculum

Students who choose the Ladder Option for a particular graduate degree must select from eligible courses to receive dual credit. These courses are designated by the academic centers as ones that are appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate study. Course descriptions may be found in the Catalog.

Eligible graduate courses in the Center for Creative Change
Eligible graduate courses in the School of Education
Eligible graduate courses in the School of Applied Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy

Graduate Courses in the Center for Creative Change (C3) Available to Ladder Option Students

(10-credit maximum)

Communication — Environment and Community — Management and Leadership — Organizational Development — Whole Systems Design

Fall and spring start only. Two years of experience in the area of focus are generally required for admission. Because this is a cohort-based program and classes are offered in sequence across quarters, your final quarter in the B.A. program needs to occur during spring or fall quarters and be comprised of the following classes in the Center for Creative Change. Also, ladder option students must attend a two-day off-campus gathering at the beginning of the quarter.

CHNG530: Systemic Thinking for a Changing World (3 cr.)
CHNG510: Sustainability (3 cr.)
CHNG611: Methods for Sustainable Change (3 cr.)
CHNGXX: Program Caucus (1 cr.)

Deadlines for Applications:	Fall	Priority - Aug. 1 Final - Aug. 31
	Spring	Priority - Feb. 15 Final - Feb. 28

Admissions Counselor — Wendy Olsen (206-268-4208)

WHO	All B.A. students are eligible. Must be conditionally accepted into a graduate program. Must be in academic good-standing.
WHEN	Talk to your B.A. adviser at least three quarters before you intend to graduate from the B.A. program. Plan for a fall or spring start. Contact the admissions adviser to get more information about the application process, information about prerequisites, if any, and arrange an admissions interview. Attend an Open House. Attend the C3 Symposium and Global Issues events. Once conditionally admitted, students will be assigned a graduate adviser.
COST	Ladder credits are priced at the undergraduate rate. Students are eligible for undergraduate financial aid. Up to 10 credits can be taken on the ladder option. Contact Financial Aid and Student Accounts to inform them of your ladder option status.

Graduate Courses in the School of Education Available to Ladder Option Students

(12-credit maximum)

M.A. in Education

EDUC504: Diversity and Equity (4 cr.)
EDUC511: Curriculum Studies and Reflection (4 cr.)
EDUC546: Leadership and Reform (4 cr.)
EDUC608: Inquiry and Research (4 cr.)

Deadlines for Applications:	Fall	Aug. 1
	Winter	Nov. 1
	Spring	Feb. 1
	Summer	May 1

Graduate Teacher Preparation (Summer and Winter start only)

EDUC502: Educational Foundations (3 cr.)
EDUC506: Technology in the Classroom (3 cr.)
EDUC509: Child Development and Learning (3 cr.)
EDUC510: Curriculum and Instruction (3 cr.)

Deadlines for Applications:	Winter	Nov. 1
	Summer	May 1

Admissions Counselor — Cynthia Swenson (206-268-4206)

WHO	All B.A. students are eligible. Must be conditionally accepted into a graduate program. Must be in academic good-standing.
WHEN	Talk to your B.A. adviser at least three quarters before you intend to graduate from the B.A. program. Plan for a fall, winter or spring start for the M.A.Ed. Plan for a summer or winter start for the GTP program. Contact the admissions adviser, Cynthia Swenson, to get more information about the application process, information about prerequisites, if any, and arrange an admissions interview. Attend an Open House. Once conditionally admitted, students will be assigned a graduate adviser.
COST	Ladder credits are priced at the undergraduate rate. Students are eligible for undergraduate financial aid. Up to 12 credits can be taken on the ladder option, a savings of $5,600. Contact Financial Aid and Student Accounts to inform them of your ladder option status.

Graduate Courses in the School of Applied Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy Available to Ladder Option Students

(12-credit maximum)

Mental Health Counseling (MHC) — Couple and Family Therapy (CFT )

PSYC-506: Communication & Counseling Skills
PSYC-503: Family of Origin
PSYC-505: Systems Perspectives in Family Therapy
PSYC-504: Multicultural Perspectives (prerequisite: Family of Origin)

Deadlines for Applications:	Fall	April 1
	Winter	Oct. 15
	Spring	Jan. 10

MHC or CFT with Art or Drama Therapy Concentration

PSYC-506: Communication & Counseling Skills
PSYA-503: Family of Origin / Art or Drama Therapy
PSYC-505: Systems Perspectives in Family Therapy
PSYA-504: Multicultural Perspectives in Art or Drama Therapy (prerequisite: Family of Origin/Art or Drama Therapy)

Deadlines for Applications:

Fall

Feb. 1

Admissions Counselor — Liliana Belmont (206-268-4211)

WHO	All B.A. students are eligible. Must be conditionally accepted into the graduate program. Must be in academic good-standing.
WHEN	Talk to your B.A. adviser at least three quarters before you intend to graduate from the B.A. program. For MHC or CFT , plan for a fall, winter or spring start. For Art or Drama Therapy, plan for a fall only start. Contact the admissions adviser, Liliana Belmont, to get more information about the application process, information about prerequisites, if any, and arrange an admissions interview. Attend an Open House. Once conditionally admitted, students will be assigned a graduate adviser.
COST	Ladder credits are priced at the undergraduate rate. Students are eligible for undergraduate financial aid. Up to 12 credits can be taken on the ladder option, a savings of $5,600. Contact Financial Aid and Student Accounts to inform them of your ladder option status.

FAQ

What are the benefits of the ladder option?
If you are planning to advance to an Antioch University graduate program, participating in the ladder option will save you time and money. When combined with the opportunity to receive college credit for life experience, you may be able to reduce your combined B.A. and graduate degree program by up to one year.

Who is eligible?
All Antioch University Seattle B.A. students are eligible once they have been conditionally accepted into one of the graduate programs and if they are in academic good-standing. The ladder option is ideal for those who have accumulated fewer than 168 undergraduate credits.

If for any reason, students lose academic good standing (i.e., they are put on academic concern, academic warning, or academic hold), they will lose their conditional acceptance into one of the graduate programs and must reapply once satisfactory academic standing is retained.

How many graduate credits can I earn as an undergraduate?
As an undergraduate student, you can select graduate courses that count toward your undergraduate and graduate degrees at Antioch University. Up to 12 credits can be counted in Psychology and Education, and 10 in the Center for Creative Change (C3). Check the curriculum page for information on courses in each master's program.

When can I begin?
Current B.A. students can start the ladder option process by talking to their B.A. adviser at least three quarters before they intend to graduate from the B.A. Program. Be aware of different start times for the various AUS graduate programs. Some programs admit students fall, winter and spring quarters, where others only admit in the fall. The B.A. adviser will assist you in creating an initial plan that includes both B.A. and graduate studies.

Am I automatically admitted if I am a B.A. student?
No. B.A. students must go through the regular admissions process and be conditionally admitted to the master's program to take advantage of the ladder option. Once students are conditionally admitted, they will be assigned a graduate program adviser. They should arrange to meet with this adviser prior to beginning the "ladder" portion of the B.A. program.

What does it cost?
B.A. students pay undergraduate tuition and are eligible for undergraduate financial aid. Students can save a maximum of 12 credits (10 credits in the C3), or up to $5,600.

When do I get the B.A., and then the graduate degree?
Like any B.A. student, ladder option students must complete at least 180 credits as well as all other degree program requirements established by the B.A. program. Once the B.A. degree is awarded, a student will have their "conditionally accepted" status in their graduate program removed and be completely and officially accepted.

Completion of the graduate degree depends on requirements set by the various graduate programs—namely, the number of credits required for the master's degree. What is important is that the ladder option courses count toward both degrees.

How do I find out more?

Contact the admission adviser for the graduate program you are interested in. The admission advisers can give you detailed information about the application process, information about prerequisites, if any, and arrange an admissions interview. You might also want to attend an Open House to learn more about the program you are interested in.