Master's Along the Way

Did you know you can earn a master’s degree while completing your doctoral program?

Known as a Master’s Along the Way (MALW) or Master’s en Passant, this option allows eligible doctoral students in select Florida Atlantic University doctoral programs to earn a master’s degree in the same program of study while completing their doctoral degree. The MALW option is available to doctoral students who were admitted directly from a bachelor's degree and have not already earned a master's degree.

The MALW is awarded after the student completes the coursework and other degree requirements established for the applicable master’s degree in the university catalog.

To be eligible for a MALW, a student must:

• Be enrolled in a doctoral program with an approved MALW option, and have not earned a master’s degree in the same program of study.
• Earn the MALW in the same program of study as the doctoral degree.
• Satisfy the admission, coursework, and other degree requirements established for the applicable master’s degree in the university catalog.
• Complete at least 30 unique graduate credit hours that satisfy the requirements of both the master’s and doctoral degrees. 

Credits from a previously earned master’s degree that are accepted as transfer credit toward the doctoral degree cannot be used to satisfy the MALW. The MALW therefore requires 30 unique graduate credit hours that are shared between the master’s and doctoral degree requirements. Doctoral dissertation research credits are excluded from the 30 unique credit hours required for the MALW.

University policy does not permit the same credit hours to be counted toward more than two degrees.

If you are currently enrolled in an eligible doctoral program at Florida Atlantic University, consult your academic advisor to determine whether the MALW option is available in your program and to review the applicable degree requirements.

Participating Programs