Accelerated BS/MS or PhD

The program allows eligible USU Mechanical Engineering BS students to begin taking courses for a MS or PhD while completing the senior year. This makes it possible to complete a MS (Plan C) in as little as one year after finishing BS degree requirements.

Program benefits include:

• Two BS technical elective courses (6 credits max) count towards the MS or PhD degree.
• Enrolling in 6xxx courses during the BS senior year.
• Starting MS or PhD research projects during the BS senior year.
• Graduate research or project experience can lead to better career opportunities.
• MS or PhD graduates typically earn higher starting salaries compared to BS graduates.

How the program works

Juniors who have asked to be considered for the program are notified of their eligibility at the end of junior year. Eligible students who want to participate must complete the application for graduate admission before the end of the first semester of senior year. At the start of the final senior semester, students apply for BS graduation and choose two senior tech electives to count as graduate credits for the MS or PhD. The BS degree is awarded when all BS requirements are complete. Students may then take up to three years to complete the MS degree, and five years to complete a PhD, and during this time pay graduate tuition. Failure to complete the MS within three years and PhD within five years, will result in termination from the program and BS tech electives not counting as graduate credits. BS tech electives designated graduate credits are not transferable to other graduate programs.

Eligibility

• Overall GPA and admission GPA of 3.5 or above. The admission GPA is calculated using all grades* from semesters or quarters covering last 60. *The grade used for repeated courses will be the average of the excluded and included (I) grades.
  • Must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or above through graduation.
• Completed 90 credits of MECH BS degree requirements.

Admissions

Students who are notified they are eligible need to complete 1 - 3 (below) before the end of the first semester of senior year:

1. Apply online for admission to USU’s School of Graduate Studies.
   • Request admission for first semester (fall or spring) immediately following senior year.
   • USU BS/MS or PhD students do not need to submit letters of recommendation; enter 'USU MAE' for contact name and email.
   • Answer yes when asked if you are a Concurrent BS/graduate student applicant
2. Apply for BS graduation at the start of your last BS semester
3. During first semester of senior year, meet with the MAE Grad Advisor to complete a split form for the BS tech electives that will count as graduate credits, and to review MS or PhD program requirements.

Eligibility to Admissions Timeline