MAE Department Rules

Concurrent BS/Master's Program

The concurrent BS/Master's program allows engineering students to begin taking graduate-level classes during their senior year. This permits them to complete requirements for both the BS degree and the Master's degree concurrently. Students in this program have a greater selection of graduate courses since many graduate courses are taught in alternating years. Both the BS and the Master's degree can generally be earned with 150 total credits, although students should note that a Plan C MS requires 3 extra credits. Concurrent students can select a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, or Masters of Engineering program. Students should refer to the respective checksheets for detailed requirements.

Students must complete their junior year in engineering with a 3.5 GPA, both overall and during the last 60 semester credits. Students accepted into the Concurrent graduate program must maintain a 3.0 GPA every semester, or they will be dropped from the concurrent program. No later than the beginning of the first semester of their senior year, they must apply to the department and be accepted into the concurrent program. Students should contact the department advisor (ENGR 417) for application forms. Students must meet with their approved faculty advisor to prepare a plan of study. Students must take the GRE exam and submit scores to the School of Graduate Studies.

Admission into the BS/MS program is a two step process.  In Step 1, students complete the department application and receive approval to apply to Graduate School.  Formal application to Graduate School is Step 2 of the application process.  Once Graduate Studies has a completed application, the department makes an admission decision.  If accepted, the student will then meet with the department advisor to finalize the Program of Study for the MS degree and complete the graduation packet for the BS degree.  A Split Registration Form, which also indicates departmental acceptance into the concurrent program, is filled out and submitted for each semester the student is taking classes for both the BS and MS degree in the same semester.

Formal acceptance into the School of Graduate Studies is required. The student then selects a graduate committee and submits the Master's Program of Study for approval by the department and the School of Graduate Studies.

A student accepted in the Concurrent BS/MS becomes an 'official' graduate student the semester he or she begins the last 21 credits of both degrees.  See the department advisor in ENGR 417 for clarifications.