4PLUS

Hood undergraduate students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, interested in applying to the 4PLUS dual degree program should follow these easy steps:

1. Indicate interest in the 4PLUS program on the Major Declaration Form by the second semester of your sophomore year; if you have already declared a major, skip to number 2.

2. By your second semester of  your sophomore year, complete the 4PLUS Dual Degree Request Form. 

3. Once approved to pursue the 4PLUS program, complete the 4PLUS Undergraduate/Graduate Dual Degree Enrollment Form with your academic adviser for programs that allow the use of 9 graduate credits to be used for both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

4. At the start of your final semester of senior year, apply to your Hood graduate program of choice by completing the graduate online application form.

To learn more about the 4PLUS program, contact:
Nick Masucci '17, Assistant Director of Graduate Admission
4PLUS Grad School Liaison
4PLUS@hood.edu
(301) 696-3601

Open to undergraduate biology and biochemistry majors, first-year and transfer students.

Entrance into the booming biomedical field is competitive, but achievable, with this master's degree in biomedical science. Thinking about medical school? This is another path that will make your med school application more competitive than your peers. Research partnership with government and private labs in the region permit a variety of research and thesis options.

Open to all undergraduate majors, first-year and transfer students.

An MBA remains the gold standard for advancement in many corporations. In every class working toward your MBA, you’ll be in the driver’s seat, looking at actual organizations in real time through projects that examine organizations’ strategies, finances, operations or management. Group projects prepare you for team initiatives, analytical and integrative competencies, as well as the collaboration and communication skills necessary in the workplace.

Open to undergraduate Art Therapy majors, first-year and transfer students.

The Art Therapy/Counseling program is designed for highly motivated students pursuing an Art Therapy major who desire to earn a master's degree in Counseling at an accelerated pace. It is not appropriate for students who wish to call themselves art therapists professionally.

Students can follow either the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track or the School Counseling Track within the Hood Counseling program. 

Open to undergraduate psychology majors, first-year and transfer students.

The opportunities for employment are great in the current market. There are many different fields for you upon graduation, all offering the distinct possibility to engage in a rewarding and challenging career for many years to come.

The counseling/clinical mental health program will prepare you to work in community mental health programs, hospitals, substance abuse clinics, at-risk youth programs, social services agencies, private counseling practices and similar settings. 

Open to undergraduate psychology majors, first-year and transfer students with special application.

School counselors are agents of change and empower their students and advocate on their behalf. A degree in counseling will help you embark on a successful and rewarding career.

The master's in counseling/school counseling is highly competitive and selective and will prepare you to provide meaningful student counseling services and contribute significantly to education teams in elementary, middle and secondary schools. It includes the opportunity for specialty training in thanatology, knowledge that is increasingly helpful in student crisis response and grief/bereavement counseling situations.  

Open to all undergraduate majors, first-year and transfer students.

The cybersecurity program deepens knowledge of the procedures, tools, and standards used in the field. Students learn systems and network security, computer forensics, cryptography, ethical hacking, and contemporary technologies and techniques in web, wireless and mobile security.

Grounded in a thorough understanding of the technical and managerial aspects of cybersecurity, graduates leave Hood ready to tackle the complex cyber challenges in business, industry, government, education, health, and other fields.

For eligibility, requirements, and timeline, see the specific program details here.

Open to undergraduate environmental science and policy majors, first-year and transfer students.

You’ll be educated in processes that keep our air, water, land and their respective resources clean and sustainable. You will become well versed in the latest research on environmental biology’s most pressing issues, which include climate change and invasive ecology. You’ll learn current, effective techniques for analyzing these pressing environmental issues. As you were accustomed to during your undergraduate studies, you will continue to value close partnerships with faculty with multiple opportunities for research and field work.

Entrance into the booming environmental field is competitive, but achievable, with Hood's master's degree in environmental biology. Hoping to work for a non-profit or federal agency, like the EPA or National Park Service? This master's will strengthen your undergrad degree and put you ahead of the competition for those rigorous placements.

The information technology master's degree is open to all undergraduate majors, first-year and transfer students.

Employment in computer and information technology is one of the fastest growing fields. Get ahead by earning your master’s degree, which will help you differentiate yourself from the competition.

The elective sequence may include a thesis, fieldwork or software engineering project.

About this Program

An accelerated five-year, dual degree (B.A./M.S.) for highly motivated students.

Program Overview

The Departments of Biology and Nursing have partnered to offer the 4PLUS program in sustainability studies and sustainable nutrition. Students pursuing a B.A. in sustainability studies who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible to apply for a subsequent M.S. in sustainable nutrition. The combined degree program may be completed in as little as five years. However, this timeline may vary based on course availability, completion of requirements and student preference.

You will study the relationship between natural resources, the environment, food systems and nutritional health. The B.A. is the only undergraduate sustainability studies program in Maryland, while the M.S. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Both programs feature hands-on fieldwork and research opportunities. The M.S. is designed as a hybrid model (combination of online and in-person courses) for added flexibility.

Interested students must apply to the program by the drop-add deadline of the first semester of their junior year. 4PLUS students must meet the M.S. in sustainable nutrition admission requirements, which includes two chemistry courses, two biology courses and one principles of nutrition course for 11 undergraduate credits towards their degree. These requirements may be met by carefully choosing elective courses. For example:

• Two chemistry courses: CHEM 101 and BIOL 412
• Two biology courses: BIOL 201 and BIOL 411

In some cases, students (including transfer students with strong biology/environmental science backgrounds) may apply for the 4PLUS program after the first semester of their junior year. These students may be admitted but will usually need at least one additional semester of graduate coursework to complete both degrees.

Students accepted into the 4PLUS program can take up to five graduate-level courses during their junior and senior years. Due to the condensed nature of this program, accepted students are strongly encouraged to plan their coursework with a faculty adviser as early as possible.