Students at the University of Georgia now have more than 100 opportunities to earn both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in five years or less through a new linked-degree program known as Double Dawgs.

The Double Dawgs program enables students to save time and money by earning a master's degree in one year instead of two. Upon graduation, they enter the workforce with a more advanced complement of knowledge and skills.

Faculty members in 14 of the university's schools and colleges have created 113 Double Dawgs programs to date, giving UGA one of the nation's largest selections of accelerated master's programs. The complete list of Double Dawgs programs is online at DoubleDawgs.uga.edu, and additional programs will be added as they are approved.

"The Double Dawgs program was created to give our ambitious students a competitive advantage after graduation while helping lower the overall cost of obtaining a graduate degree," said President Jere W. Morehead. "It also helps to meet the demand across the state-and beyond-for highly qualified workers with advanced, specialized knowledge."

Vice President for Instruction Rahul Shrivastav explained that students who hold two degrees from UGA have long referred to themselves as "Double Dawgs." By streamlining the process for creating new linked-degree programs, the university has built on that legacy and dramatically expanded the number of accelerated master's programs it offers. Through the Double Dawgs program, students accelerate their progress toward a master's degree by taking rigorous, graduate-level coursework during the final year of their undergraduate studies.

"Our faculty are enthusiastic about this opportunity for students, evidenced by the more than 100 programs that have been approved so far," Shrivastav said. "We have incredibly talented undergraduate students, and our faculty are looking forward to having them as graduate students in programs that will further advance their opportunities after graduation."

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten noted that the demand for the specialized knowledge that graduate education provides continues to grow, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 18 percent growth in careers requiring a master's degree compared to 12 percent for degrees requiring a bachelor's degree alone.

"The demand for graduate education is expected to grow in the coming years in response to the needs of the labor market," Whitten said. "With more than 100 accelerated master's programs offered through the Double Dawgs program, the University of Georgia is taking a leadership role in expanding access to graduate education."