Chapter V: Special Degrees and Pre-Professional Studies Several special degree programs are offered by the joint cooperation of LS&A and some other college or school within the University. Admission to some of these programs is highly competitive. Because many of these programs require specific courses for admission, it is important for students to identify program interests early in their undergraduate careers, and often at the freshman level. Although the basic requirements are summarized in this chapter, students should consult academic advisors associated with the various programs. Many LS&A students are interested in applying for admission to a professional school either after two years of liberal arts studies or after completing an LS&A degree. The second half of this chapter describes several pre-professional courses of study. Pre-professional advising is available at both the Academic Advising Center and the Office of Career Planning and Placement. Special Joint Degree Programs The Concurrent Undergraduate-Graduate Studies (CUGS) Program The Concurrent Undergraduate-Graduate Studies (CUGS) Program enables a few students each year to enroll simultaneously in LS&A and the Rackham Graduate School and to apply a maximum of 15 credits toward both an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree. To be considered, a student must have at least 90 credits toward an undergraduate degree, must have satisfied the distribution requirements, and must have an overall grade point average of at least 3.7. Admission to CUGS is limited and depends heavily on the student's having exhausted the undergraduate resources of his or her department so that graduate study is the appropriate and logical next step in the student's program. The admissions process begins with encouragement to proceed from the graduate admissions committee of the department in which the student wishes to do graduate work. The student must then receive the recommendation of the chairperson of the undergraduate department/program, as well as the Assistant Dean for Student Academic Affairs for regular LS&A Students, or one of the Directors of the Honors Program for Honors students, or the Director (Director's representative) in the Residential College for RC students. An admission application is completed and submitted to the Graduate School for approval of both the graduate admission committee and Rackham Associate Dean of Admissions. University of Michigan | College of LS&A | Student Academic Affairs | LS&A Bulletin Index This page maintained by LS&A Academic Information and Publications, 1228 Angell Hall Copyright © 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA +1 734 764-1817 Trademarks of the University of Michigan may not be electronically or otherwise altered or separated from this document or used for any non-University purpose.