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 during two years. Students in this program have a greater selection of graduate courses, since many graduate courses are taught during alternate years. In addition, the student's senior design project could be a start for a graduate design project or thesis. After completing their BS degree, students in the program can earn a master's degree in only one additional year. 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 3.4 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 their department office for application forms. Students must meet with their approved faculty advisor to prepare a two-year completion plan of study. Students must take the GRE exam and submit scores to the School of Graduate Studies.

Students must fill out an application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies, with departmental acceptance into the concurrent program indicated in the upper-right corner of the first sheet. A Split Registration Form, which also indicates departmental acceptance into the concurrent program, must be 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 must select a graduate committee, which must be approved by the School of Graduate Studies. The proposed master's program must be approved by the committee and the School of Graduate Studies.

During the second year of the concurrent program the student must pay graduate tuition. When the student is within 21 credits of completing both degrees, he or she will be coded as a graduate student. Thereafter, the student will pay graduate fees and will be eligible for loans, but not grants. An application for graduation with a BS degree must be completed. The student must maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA in courses approved for his or her concurrent program.

For a complete list of Graduate Rules for MAE, please see the link under Graduate Students on the MAE Website.