The University of Dallas offers more than just undergraduate degrees for its students. It is also home to the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts and the Satish and Yasmin Gupta College of Business. The BGS offers master’s degrees in subjects like philosophy, English and theology. The COB also offers many programs, from finance and accounting to marketing and cybersecurity.
Both graduate colleges offer the ability to pursue master’s programs through the use of 4+1, which allows undergraduates to begin taking graduate level courses during their senior year, thus fast-tracking the process to a master’s degree, saving time and money. Many UD students have pursued the Masters 4+1 programs and found success.
Andre Brkic, business administration major in the class of 2024, is currently enrolled in the Satish and Yasmin Gupta College of Business, pursuing his MS in business analytics.
“The 4+1 program was one of the key factors that drew me to UD when I first applied four years ago,” said Brkic. “I think the program is fantastic, and I highly recommend it to any current undergrad. I’ll have my master’s by the age of 22, which feels like a major accomplishment. Completing a bachelor’s in business administration was great, but having the option to further specialize with a master’s degree opens up so many more opportunities.”
Lisa Cashion, interdisciplinary studies major in the class of 2017, attended the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts to graduate with her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2018, making her one of the first three students to graduate from the 4+1 M.A.T program.
“I loved being able to continue my graduate education right after my undergraduate degree,” said Cashion. “I know myself, and if I would have taken a gap between the two degrees, I would’ve never gotten around to completing my master’s degree. Doing the 4+1 allowed me to seamlessly continue my education. I was able to work while doing my master’s degree, as most of my classes were in the evening. I would absolutely recommend it to students if they are considering a master’s degree.”
Kassandra Prieto, politics and Spanish double major in the class of 2017, attended the COB graduate school for the 4+1 MBA program, completing it in half the time by taking as many classes as she could during her last few semesters as an undergraduate.
“I think the opportunity UD provides its students to get a head start on pursuing a master’s program, whether in business or one of their other graduate programs, is phenomenal,” said Prieto. “It truly highlights how the university collaborates with the graduate school to give students the right tools and experiences to stand out from other applicants once they’re out of school, offering them a significant advantage.”
Prieto currently serves as the Director of Application Management for TECO NexE.
Edward Gramling, English major in the class of 2022, attended the BGS for his MA in English, completing it in 2024.
“I would strongly recommend the 4+1 to students who are certain they intend to pursue a graduate degree simply for the pragmatic reason that it saves substantial amounts of time and money. Knowing your professors and understanding the culture at UD is also a huge plus, as you do not need to acclimate to a new place to get a graduate degree,” said Gramling.
Paiten Baesa, business major in the class of 2023, completed her MBA at UD in 2024. She is currently the Chief Operations Officer of the USA branch of Knockout Sportswear LLC, a family-owned athletic gear manufacturer that operates in both the USA and New Zealand.
“Without my MBA through the 4+1 program at UD, I would not have felt prepared to step into this role,” said Baesa. “I have and will continue to recommend this path to others as I have found it extremely beneficial to my success. I love the fact that you have a great opportunity to earn a higher degree at such a young age without having to go back to school later on if you don’t choose to.”
Hannah Kneen, English and drama double major in the class of 2022, completed her MA in English in the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts in 2024 and is currently in Japan working as an assistant language teacher.
“I would definitely recommend [the 4+1] to current undergraduate students,” said Kneen. “You might not complete your graduate degree in the one year after getting your undergraduate diploma, though it is definitely possible to do. However, even if you take longer like I did, I think it’s a beneficial program and spreads the work out nicely.”
UD is ready and willing to guide its undergraduates through the graduate process, especially with its 4+1 programs.