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Combined BS/MS Program
The Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering offers a combined Bachelor of Science and Master of Science program. This program allows students who wish to earn both degrees to become involved in graduate coursework and thesis research during their fourth year of study. It also offers the possibility to earn both degrees on an accelerated schedule. The educational objectives of the combined program are the same as for the individual degrees.
Course Requirements:
The combined program requires 120 hours of undergraduate credit and 32 hours of graduate credit. This compares to 132 hours of undergraduate credit and 32 hours of graduate credit when the BS and MS degrees are earned separately. The undergraduate requirements are identical to the four-year BS program, except that the following requirements are eliminated:
- One MechSE elective 3 hours
- One technical elective 3 hours
- Free electives 6 hours
In addition, independent study project courses may not be used as MechSE or technical electives in the BS portion of the combined program.
In the MS portion of the program, 32 hours of credit and a thesis are required. There must be at least 24 hours of formal graded coursework at the 400 level or greater, eight of which must be at the 500 level, and four of the eight must be in the major field. A Master's thesis, for which at least four and no more than eight hours of ME 599 credit is required. Students must also register for the graduate seminar course (ME 590) every semester following formal admission in to the graduate portion of the program and complete MSE 492 – Lab Safety. The non-thesis option is not available to students in this combined program.
A student in the combined program must spend at least two academic years in residence, full time in the combined degree program, and at least one of these years must be with graduate status. Students must maintain a graduate GPA of 3.0 in order to remain in the combined program.
The BS and MS degrees are granted simultaneously at the end of the program.
Admission:
Formal admission to the combined program normally occurs late in the junior year or early in the senior year and is by invitation only with the following provisions:
- Students must have a minimum UIUC GPA of 3.70 or higher, and have earned 96 credit hours towards the BSME requirements at the time they are invited to apply (60 of these hours must have been earned at UIUC).
- A special BS/MS application is provided to the student with the invitation. This application along with supporting documents must be submitted to the MechSE Graduate Programs Office, Room 164 MEB. There are two annual application deadlines: October 15 and March 15.
- GRE scores are not required for admission to the program. However, students are strongly encouraged to take the GRE in their senior year in order, for example, to be eligible for national fellowship competitions.
- Students in the combined program will be recommended by the department for admission to the Graduate College after they complete the 120 hours required for the BS portion of the combined program.
- The department will pay the application fee ($60 US/$75 International) for these students.
- Each student is required to identify a graduate adviser and file a graduate course plan in the semester the student is granted formal admission to the graduate portion of the program.
- Once admitted into the BS/MS program, the Head of Graduate Programs will act as the student's adviser until a permanent adviser is found.
Withdrawal:
Students may withdraw from the program at any time by notifying the Undergraduate Programs Office. Students who do not meet the Graduate College and departmental requirements for admission to the graduate program at the time they complete the 120-hour BS portion of the combined program will be required to leave the program.
Students who withdraw from the program for any reason may continue in the regular four-year BS degree program, which currently requires 132 hours, provided they meet the normal GPA requirements of that program. Students who withdraw from the combined program after they have taken courses for graduate credit may petition to have those credits counted toward their undergraduate program requirements.
Continued Graduate Study:
Students who complete the combined program may petition to continue in graduate school for a PhD. These students will hold the same status (post MS) as students entering the PhD program with an MS degree, and will be required to take the department's qualifying examination no later than the second calendar semester after graduation from the combined program.