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Contact: Harriet Laird

STARKVILLE, Miss.ā€”The time it takes to earn two degrees just got shorter at Mississippi State with the introduction of the Thrive in Five accelerated degree program.

MSUā€™s Thrive in Five accelerated degree options can help students earn both a bachelorā€™s and masterā€™s degree in only five years. Also, the new Thrive in Five website can put students in touch with the appropriate program coordinators who can help start the enrollment process, explain requirements and answer questions. Visit for more details.

ā€œRather than spending an extra year to complete two baccalaureate degrees, these programs put you on the fast track to entering the workforce in only five with a bachelorā€™s and masterā€™s, so you can start earning a salary or increasing your earning potential sooner,ā€ said Peter Ryan, executive vice provost and Graduate School dean.

For the Fall 2020 semester, the university is adding seven programs to Thrive in Five offerings:

• Animal and Dairy Science/Agribusiness Management
• Fashion, Design, and Merchandising
• Human Development and Family Sciences
• Landscape Architecture
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Educational Psychology
• Veterinary Medical Science

Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that employees with a masterā€™s degree earn anĀ average of about $700 more per week than workers with only a high school diploma. Over the course of a lifetime, this can make a significant difference in earnings and quality of life, Ryan said.

Each degree program is designed to help undergraduate students earn both undergraduate and graduate credit concurrently.Ā Up to 15 graduate hours can be applied toward each undergraduate and graduate degree. Requirements may vary depending on the program students choose.

Current Thrive in Five programs include:

• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Plant and Soil Sciences
• Poultry Science
• Biological Sciences
• History
• Public Policy and Administration
• Management and Information Systems
• Instructional Systems and Workforce Development
• Aerospace Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Interdisciplinary Master of Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Industrial and Systems Engineering/Master of Business Administration

Thrive in Five options are great for a variety of students, including self-motivated high school graduates who may have already completed Advanced Placement courses or highly skilled community college graduates looking for a flexible and faster way to enter the workforce. Current Ļć½¶Ö±²„students who have completed some degree coursework but havenā€™t found the right degree program can benefit as well.

For more information, contact the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Office of the Graduate School at 662-325-7400 or email gradapps@grad.msstate.edu.

Ļć½¶Ö±²„is Mississippiā€™s leading university, available online at .