Advanced Studies, MAS

Yes, students pursuing graduate certificates and master’s degrees must meet all graduate admission requirements.

The MAS in advanced studies is a great option for students who may not be ready to commit to a master’s degree and want to try a graduate certificate, or students who wish to customize a master’s degree by selecting two areas of advanced knowledge.

See the “Admission” section above. Once students have identified their main and stackable certificates, applied and been admitted to both, and submitted an iPOS for both programs, they should contact the advisor of their main certificate to add the MAS.

The application deadlines for graduate certificates are indicated in ASU Degree Search. The deadline for admission to the MAS in advanced studies is the Last Day to Register or Add a Class Without College Approval for Session B each fall, spring, and summer semester.

The ASU tuition estimator is an easy-to-use tool that shows you what you can expect to pay. You can also determine your cost of attendance, which includes the average amount you can expect to pay for tuition and fees, housing and food, books, course materials, supplies, equipment, transportation, and personal expenses.

Students must be active in the MAS in advanced studies to qualify for financial aid (unless their active certificate(s) are also financial aid eligible). Students must be active in or have completed both certificates to be admitted to the MAS.

The list below includes a variety of resources for funding your graduate studies. We also encourage you to reach out to your academic department to learn more about additional funding opportunities that may be available.

• ASU Graduate College
• ASU Financial Aid
• ASU Scholarship Portal
• ASU Graduate Student Government (GSG)
• National/international Competitive Awards
• Student Employment
• ASU Employment (search for "management intern")

Students can find their advisor and advising contact information in My ASU in the “Academic Advising” section of the “Academic Support Team” box. Students have an assigned advisor for each graduate certificate and the MAS degree program. The advisor for the main graduate certificate also serves as the advisor for the MAS in advanced studies. The advisor for the stackable certificate does not serve as an advisor for the MAS.

Students may complete one certificate at a time; however, students may not add the MAS until they have been admitted to and submitted an iPOS for both certificates. Please note that most graduate certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid, so most students who need financial aid must pursue both certificates simultaneously and add the MAS to be eligible.

Yes, certificates can be completed in different semesters. Both certificates and the culminating experience must be completed before the master’s degree can be conferred.

Yes, a completed certificate may be used if it is an eligible certificate completed within the last three years and does not include credits shared with another program.

Yes, but you must apply for admission to the certificate and then work with your MAS advisor to submit a change form. You will also need to update the iPOS for your MAS.

The minimum total credit hours for the MAS in advanced studies is 30 credits, which are unique to the certificates and MAS. The main and stackable certificates must include at least 15 credit hours each. If either certificate requires more than 15 credit hours, students will need to complete more than 30 credit hours to earn the MAS degree.

No, there is no sharing of credits allowed between the two certificates or with any other program. If a course is required for both certificates, students must complete an additional, pre-approved course for one certificate.

No, certificate coursework cannot be shared with another degree and applied to the MAS in advanced studies. 

If pursuing two graduate certificates simultaneously, the modality of the active programs must match. To complete certificates offered in different modalities, students must complete one certificate and then apply for and complete the second certificate. The MAS modality must match the modality of the active certificate(s).

All work toward a master’s degree must be completed within six consecutive years. Graduate courses taken prior to admission that are included on the iPOS must have been completed within three years of the semester and year of admission to the program. The six-year period begins with the term of admission to the program OR the earliest term of applied pre-admission credit. 

Yes, students may submit the voluntary withdrawal form to withdraw from a graduate program.