- PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
- The BS-MS Program is designed to enable
certain undergraduates to complete a Master
of Science degree program in Materials Science
and Engineering or Mechanical Engineering in
typically three additional semesters after the
completion of the Bachelor of Science degree.
This is accomplished by students taking one
or two approved graduate courses (or a
maximum of six credits) as technical electives
in the Senior Year of their BS program.
Students in the program are also able to
begin working with a faculty member on a
MS research project during their Senior Year.
The program is available for students at the
Pullman and Tri-Cities campuses.
- ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
-
- The undergraduate student must be
majoring in Materials Science and
Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
- The student must have completed at least
75 credits at the BS program level.
- The student must have a cumulative
GPA of 3.40 or higher.
- APPLYING
-
During the last semester of the Junior Year or first
semester of the Senior Year, the student should
submit a Letter of Intent addressed to the Chair of
the MME Graduate Studies Committee (GSC). This
one or two page letter should include:
- A request to be admitted to the School of MME
BS-MS Program.
- The student's reasons for wanting to continue
into the graduate program.
- Any specific areas that the student thinks he or
she would like to do research in.
- The student's anticipated BS graduation date.
-
The letter can be mailed to the address below or
faxed or given directly to the Graduate Program
Coordinator.
-
After reviewing the letter and verifying that the
student meets the admission requirements, the
student will be sent a letter formally admitting
him or her into the program.
- RESERVE CREDIT FORM
-
- A Reserve Credit Form can be obtained from
the Graduate Program Coordinator.
- The student should meet with his or her
graduate advisor (if known) or with the
person that is going to supervise the
research (potential thesis advisor) (if known)
or with the Chair of the MME GSC to discuss
which course or courses should be taken.
A form should then be completed for each
course (up to a maximum of six credits).
- The student should sign the form and have
the Chair of the MME GSC sign it.
- If the course is Math 540, the student will
also need to obtain the signature of the
Chair of the Math Department.
- If the course is taught via Whets from the
Pullman campus and the student is at the
Tri-Cities campus, the student can mail the
form to the Graduate Program Coordinator
who will obtain the necessary signatures.
- When all signatures have been obtained,
the form should be given to the Graduate
Program Coordinator who will make a copy
for the student's file and then forward the
original to the Graduate School.
- In order for the Graduate School to approve
using a "reserve" course as part of the
student's graduate program, all the
following requirements must be met:
- The course must be an approved 400-
or 500-level technical elective that must
be able to apply to the BS MS or BS MSE
degree program.
- The course must be approved for
graduate credit.
- The student must receive a grade of
"B" (3.00) or better in the course.
- COMMON QUESTIONS
-
- When can a student enter the program?
A student can enter the BS-MS Program
after his or her Junior Year (i.e., starting
the first or second semester of the
Senior Year).
- How is a student able to shorten the MS program?
The MS ME and MS MSE programs
(both thesis and non-thesis options)
typically take two academic years to
complete. By using the approved
graduate course(s), the MS program can
typically be shortened by one semester.
- What courses qualify?
The recommended courses are
Math 540 and/or any ME or MSE 500-
level graduate course. Certain 400-level
courses can also be used; however,
there is a maximum limit of 6 credit
hours of 400-level courses that can be
used in a student's MS program. All
courses must be approved by the Chair
of the MME GSC.
- How are the courses reflected in the
student's graduate program?
When the student prepares his or her
Program of Study, he or she should list
the graduate course(s) taken while an
undergraduate. When the Graduate
School reviews the Program of Study,
they will check their file to make sure
they have a Reserve Credit form for the
course(s) and that the student has
received a grade of "B" or better in it.
- Do BS-MS students have special status if
they are in the program?
No. The student will continue to have
undergraduate status.
- How does a student find a faculty member to
begin working with on a MS research project?
The student should contact faculty members by
e-mail or in person whose research interests are
similar to his or her own. The student should
let the faculty member know that he or she is
in the BS-MS Program, provide information
about his or her educational background, any
engineering experience, and the semester the
student hopes to start graduate school. If the
student is interested in an assistantship to fund
his or her graduate studies, this possibility
should also be discussed with the faculty
member before the student asks them to be
his or her advisor.
- Is a student in this program guaranteed
acceptance to graduate school?
All students are required to submit an
application and the required application
material in order to be considered for
admission. Admission can be denied if an
application is incomplete.
- Is the student guaranteed funding if they are
accepted to graduate school?
Participation in this program does not
guarantee that financial support can or will be
provided to the student if accepted to graduate
school. However, students in this program are
usually given preference when assistantship
decisions are made (RA and TA).
- When should the student apply to graduate
school?
International students must apply by the
Graduate School deadline (April 1 for the fall
semester or August 1 for the spring semester).
Domestic students, if interested in being
considered for a scholarship, must apply for
the fall semester by the previous December or
January.
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
-
Graduate Program Coordinator
Phone: 509-335-4546
Fax: 509-335-4662
E-mail: gradapp@mme.wsu.edu
Office: Sloan 203E (Pullman)
-
Dr. Cill Richards, Chair of MME GSC
Phone: 509-335-7753
E-mail: cill@wsu.edu
Office: EE/ME 153 (Pullman)

Thomas Barlow 1957 ME graduate- former president of ASME