The School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Academics - BS-MS Program

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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

1. 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).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Do BS-MS students have special status if they are in the program?
   No. The student will continue to have undergraduate status.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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).
9. 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)

School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, PO Box 642920, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-2920, 509-335-8654, Contact Us