BS/MS Combined Degree Program
A great opportunity!
The Combined BS/MS Program provides qualifying students the opportunity to apply credits earned as an undergraduate toward completion of Master's degree requirements. Enrolling in a combined BS/MS program can shorten the total time to earn both a BS degree and an MS degree by 1-2 terms. When enrolled in a combined BS/MS program, a student may count in-program advanced elective credits taken as a undergraduate toward the completion of a Master's degree.
In addition, students enrolled in the Combined BS/MS Program may be eligible for a Graduate Research Associateship (GRA), which includes a waiver of tuition and fees, as well as a monthly student stipend.
Minimum criteria for consideration
Applicants for the BS/MS program are required to submit documentation to demonstrate fulfillment of the following criteria:
- Completion of a minimum of 90 undergraduate semester credit hours.
- A minimum of 3.5 cumulative point-hour ratio in all previous undergraduate work (this is an inflexible minimum).
- Current registration in the MSE or WE undergraduate program.
- A rank of Senior in the MSE or WE undergraduate program at the time of proposed admission.
General timeline and application
The general process is as follows:
- The student should discuss GRA funding with faculty who share their interests. If a faculty member is willing to support the student, the student should secure email confirmation of this GRA funding.
- The student completes the BS/MS Notification form. This should occur, ideally, at least two months before the start of the proposed term of admission. Submissions less than two months before will be accepted.
- The student submits an OSU Graduate School Application and supporting documents.
- The student submits Combined Degree Program form on GradForms.osu.edu indicating which courses will be dual-counted. This is the formal "application" to the BS/MS program MSE or WE. The general process is described on the College of Engineering Combined Program page.
- The student is to email Mark Cooper(.73) once the Combined Degree Program form has been submitted.
- The MSE or WE Graduate Admissions Committee makes an admission decision by approving the Combined Degree Program form on GradForms.
- The Graduate School processes the admission with the Office of Admissions.
- The student will receive an email from the Admissions Office notifying him/her of admission. The student should then accept admission.
- The student should contact the MSE-WE Undergraduate Advisor for aid in enrolling the student in the appropriate graduate section of dual-use courses.
- GRA employment forms will be emailed to the student to complete. Around this time the student will meet with the MSE-WE Grad Studies Coordinator to go over grad student orientation information.
Application deadlines
The following are the suggested deadlines for application to the BS/MS program. Students typically apply in the middle to late in their Junior year in the MSE or WE Bachelor's program.
For admission in: |
Apply by: |
Autumn or Summer |
May 1* |
Spring |
November 1 |
* Note: Autumn term admission decisions occur as early as February of a given year. Therefore, it is beneficial for the student to apply as early as possible in the year.
Funding and the BS/MS
Funding the BS/MS
Admission to the BS/MS Combined Program may negatively effect scholarship funding. Includes information about securing a Graduate Research Associateship (GRA) position. GRA positions provide tuition payment and provide a monthly stipend for the student.
Dual-use courses--what double counts
To earn a Master's with Thesis degree in MSE or WE a student must take at least 30 semester credits of graduate-level course work, a prescribed number of which are to come from graded courses. The BS/MS program allows for fixed number of graded credits to be earned as part of the Bachelor's degree.
MSE BS/MS:
Nine dual-use credits are to come from MSE elective courses at the 5000-level or greater.WE BS/MS:
Twelve dual-use credits are to come from WE elective courses at the 5000-level or greater (i.e., graduate-level courses in WE which typically equates to 7000-level offerings).
The student must satisfy the remaining Master's with Thesis degree requirements for his/her program (MSE or WE). Students seeking to pursue a Master's non-Thesis degree must gain prior approval from the MSE or WE Graduate Studies Committee.
The "BS/PhD"--continuing on to a doctoral degree
Depending on a number of factors--advisor approval, project funding, etc.--a student admitted to the BS/MS program may continue on to pursue a PhD. The 9 (MSE) or 12 (WE) dual-use credits earned as an undergrad will be applied toward the PhD requirements. Please contact the Grad Studies Coordinator concerning pursuit of a PhD.
Changes to these guidelines
An individual's circumstances may not exactly match the above guidelines. A BS/MS applicant should keep in mind that s/he may petition the GSC to deviate from these directions. A petition should be submitted and approved prior to deviating from the guidelines. Submit such a petition using the form at the link below.