Coterminal Degrees at Stanford

What is a Coterm?

The Coterminal Degrees program offers a special admissions process where undergraduates at Stanford apply to participating master's degrees offering coterminal admission. Once matriculated, "Coterminal" or "Coterm" students may begin enrolling directly on their graduate careers, typically in the junior or senior year. Coterms are both undergraduate AND graduate students at the same time for at least one quarter prior to undergraduate degree conferral. Coterms must complete all required undergraduate units and all required graduate units. Units applied to one degree may not also be used to fulfill requirements for the other degree. Double counting of units across careers is not permitted.

Students may only enter one graduate program via coterminal admission. Students wishing to add a second graduate program to their academic plans may only do so after the conferral of the undergraduate degree. See adding or changing master’s degree programs. The only exception is for students changing from one coterm program to another while the undergraduate degree is still open. If a matriculated coterm student applies for graduate admission via the coterm application to a subsequent program and is admitted, withdrawal from the initial program is necessary prior to matriculation into the new graduate program. See coterm program changes.

Coterminal Admission allows students to begin completing graduate units while they are still undergraduates. Most coterms complete some number of units of their master’s degrees during what would otherwise be undergraduate quarters. However, many factors can impact the number of units applicable to the graduate degree (if any) an individual coterm student will complete in addition to their undergraduate work during their undergraduate timeframe. The bandwidth a student will have to begin graduate units during their undergraduate quarters can be influenced by factors such as having completed units via transfer or test credit prior to matriculation at Stanford, the number of quarterly units earned each term, as well as enrollment considerations such as sequencing and scheduling for the various undergraduate majors and graduate programs. Additionally, pursuing other opportunities such as minors, honors, research, extracurricular activities, etc., can influence how long it will take a coterm student to finish both degrees.

Coterms may move units between their graduate and undergraduate transcripts via coterminal course transfer. This allows undergraduates to try out units before applying to the program and, within a certain number of quarters before coterminal matriculation, subsequently move them to the graduate degree. For students with units potentially applicable to either their UG or GR degrees, it also allows flexibility for planning their degrees.

Undergraduates typically apply for coterminal admission in the junior or senior year. Before applying, it is essential applicants review and understand the following:

Application Process
General eligibility requirements
Coterminal tuition assessment
Program specific application requirements
The program’s specific quarters back rule

Note: application deadlines vary by program. A program may allow students to apply during one or more quarters each year.

Short Coterm Advising Videos

Coterm applications and considerations
What are coterminal degrees/how do they work?
Coterm tuition and funding
Still have questions? You can also make an appointment with our UAD for Coterminal Degree Programs, Paula Aguilar.

Inquiry and New Coterm Events

General Coterm Information Sessions

Wednesday, October 1st, 5:00-6:00 PM (PST) via Zoom

Recently accepted to a Coterm?

All students accepted to coterms will receive an email invitation to join one of multiple orientation sessions options, typically immediately prior or at the start of the next term. The same information will be covered in all orientation sessions.

Coterm Sessions by Program

Communication (Media Studies or Journalism)

The COMM Department encourages interested students and prospective applicants to the media studies or journalism coterm programs to schedule a meeting with the student services manager.

Community Health and Prevention Research (CHPR)

Join us for Information sessions! Alumni, faculty, and staff will be available to answer your questions about the program and how to apply.

Virtual Session: 9/24/2025, 4:00-5:00 pm, online only

Hybrid Session: 11/17/2025, 4:00-5:00 pm, Zoom link, see CHPR website for in-person location when available

Public Policy

DATES, TIMES, LOCATIONS: TBD

Sociology

Thursday, Nov. 6 at 4 pm in McClatchy Hall, Mendenhall Library.

Our program is largely self-designed with few requirements. If you are interested in applying, we encourage to attend the info session where you can meet the director, the student services officer, and current and former coterms. For information, please contact Patricia Jacobus, pjacobus@stanford.edu