Other Voices: Degree Conferral Doesn’t Need to Mean “Departure”

College time isn’t real time. Whether you are pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree, a semester’s neatly organized weeks accelerate the perceived passage of time, and you’ll be at the end of your program before you know it.

For international students, nearing degree completion means more than just achieving that hard-earned academic credential. If you’re an international student, you know that your legal presence in the US is determined by your I-20, which is directly tied to your degree progress.

Let’s say you’re starting your final semester. You’ve pulled out your Form I-20, and see the Program End Date looming—about four months from now—it’s time to make some decisions.

Your time in the United States does not need to come to an end just because you’re finishing your current time. Set your sights beyond just your final semester and consider some of these pathways to further your education!

GBC’s 4 + 1 Program
GBC students, domestic or international, have the opportunity to save time and money on credits attempted and earned through our 4 + 1 Program.

Essentially, GBC undergraduate students are able to enroll in up to two graduate-level courses to count towards their undergraduate degree. This can be arranged with your Advisor during course scheduling and is something you can discuss with them at any time during your program to learn more about when would be best to schedule those graduate-level courses.

Completing two graduate-level courses during your undergraduate degree also means that you would only have 10 courses remaining to receive one of the College’s graduate degrees (with the exception of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology).

This pathway is exclusive for GBC’s undergraduate students and allows you to utilize part of your undergraduate financial aid funding to subsidize up to 6 credits of graduate coursework. For international students, this opportunity also would provide you with an additional I-20 for the graduate program.

While this opportunity is described as “Four + One,” meaning four years of undergraduate student and one year of graduate study, full-time enrollment requirements for F-1 visa holders would allow for a graduate program to take up to 20 months. Combining that timeframe with your automatic 60-day grace period could grant you an additional, almost full two-year period as an F-1 student.

Are you an undergraduate, international student considering the graduate program? Connect with your Advisor, Hannah Bakey, to discuss degree options, scheduling graduate-level courses, and arranging your I-20.

Additional Degrees
If you are a current graduate student, or an undergraduate student thinking beyond your first graduate degree, there are opportunities at GBC to pursue an additional graduate credential while maintaining an F-1 status.

How do I pursue an additional degree with GBC?
If you are current graduate student, adding an additional credential to your academic record is very straightforward. When you begin your final semester of your current program, reach out to your Advisor, Hannah Bakey, to have the additional degree requirements associated with your academic record.

You would not need to apply to GBC again to pursue an additional degree. For eligible and interested students, the opportunity to apply for Curricular Practical Training employment authorization remains with each additional credential.

Why pursue an additional graduate degree with GBC?
For students who are F-1 visa holders, there are strict regulations regarding redundant coursework. Essentially, the government is trying to prevent students from accruing many similar degrees without academic challenge or growth.

At GBC, we have a robust Multiple Degree Policy, which is fully published in the College’s Academic Catalog. This policy ensures that students who complete one degree and move on to pursue an additional one are not completing redundant coursework. The Multiple Degree Policy is narrowly prescriptive in terms of what courses and credits would be required for an additional degree with GBC.

The Multiple Degree Policy establishes the pathway for international students to pursue their education beyond a single credential in a way that is both compliant with federal regulations and grants the most efficient timeframe.

Which program should I pursue as an additional degree?
Identifying which programs would be best suited to your academic strengths and goals can be daunting. There are a few ways to choose which program would be the right choice for you.

Reflect on the different areas of study you encountered during your first program. Was there any discipline or subject that grabbed your interest? Did you excel in a course in which you were expecting to struggle? Did you uncover any previously unknown skills or passions through your exposure to different topics?

If you are still struggling to identify which program would make the most sense for you, initiate the conversation with your Advisor to explore the programmatic goals and outcomes to assist you in your decision.