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Combined Bachelor's / Master's Program

The goal of the Combined BS/Master's Degree Program, hereafter called the Combined Program, is to give qualified WPI undergraduate students an opportunity to obtain a cost-effective and time-efficient advanced degree in BME, while at the same time enhancing the quality of the graduate program by attracting WPI's most talented undergraduates. It affords an opportunity for outstanding WPI undergraduate students to earn both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in BME from WPI concurrently and in less time than would typically be required to earn each degree separately. The principal advantage of this program is that it allows for certain courses to be counted towards both degree requirements, thereby reducing total class time. With careful planning and motivation, this program typically allows a student to complete the requirements for both degrees with only one additional year of study (5 years total). However, because a student must still satisfy all graduate degree requirements, the actual time spent in the program may be longer than 5 years. There are two degree options for students: a thesis-based Master of Science (BS/MS) option and a non-thesis Master of Engineering (BS/ME) option.

Admission Requirements

To take advantage of the Combined Program, a student must:

• Be a currently registered WPI undergraduate.
• Successfully participate in and complete a two-step application process, consisting of a course approval process followed by a separate, full application for admission into one of the BME Master's Programs. Completion of the course approval process does not imply or guarantee admittance to the Combined Program.
• Have an equivalent grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 (out of 4.0) in all coursework and a minimum GPA of 3.5 (out of 4.0) in all departmental coursework (typically all BME courses) at the time of the full application. Because the Combined Program is an accelerated program, only students demonstrating very strong academic skills and potential will be admitted.
• Maintain continuous full-time registration. It is a full-time program of study.

Application Procedure

Application to the Combined Program is a two-step process: submission of a signed Course Designation Form listing the courses that will count toward both degree requirements and a Full Application to one of the BME Master's Programs.

Course Approval Process

On the Course Designation Form (available from the Office of Graduate Studies and Enrollment website), the student lists the courses that he/she plans to count towards both degrees. A maximum of four courses (12 credits) are allowed, with a maximum of three courses (9 credits) at the 4000-level (the 4th course must be a graduate course). These courses must meet the degree requirements for both the Bachelor's and Masters degree and courses designated for graduate students only cannot be listed. This form must bear the signature of each course instructor and be submitted to the Chairman of the BME Graduate Studies Committee for signature no later than the last day of registration for any undergraduate or graduate course to be used for graduate credit. This form will then be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies and Enrollment for distribution to course instructors and administrators. A grade of B or better is required for any course to be counted towards both degrees and additional work may be required for undergraduate courses taken for graduate credit. For students in the Combined Program, approved undergraduate courses are assigned graduate credit with a conversion rate of 1/3 WPI undergraduate unit = 3 credit hours, while graduate courses applied toward the undergraduate degree are awarded undergraduate credit with a conversion rate of 1 credit hour = 1/9 undergraduate unit.

The Course Designation Form serves two purposes. First, it assures the student that if he/she is admitted into the Combined Program, the courses listed will count towards both degrees. Second, the instructor in each course listed will be formally notified that the course was approved for the Combined Program. The instructor then has a right (but not an obligation) to require additional work of the student. It is important to understand that the approval of this Course Designation Form does not guarantee admission to the graduate program, nor does it obligate the student to complete the full application process or enter the program. Students who fail to submit a Course Designation Form to the Chairman of the BME Graduate Studies Committee on time will not be eligible for the Combined Program, but may still apply for one of the regular graduate programs in BME.

Formal Application

The Full Application for the Combined Program follows the same process required of all undergraduate students interested in the BME graduate programs at WPI, with the following modifications:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required. However, because acceptance into the Combined Program is competitive and not guaranteed, an interested student should still consider taking the GRE and applying to other graduate programs where the GRE may be required. If desired, GRE scores may be submitted to strengthen an application to the Combined Program.
• The application and transcript fees are waived.
• The application should not be submitted before the student has completed, or is actively involved in, their MQP project. A Full Application submitted earlier than this will not be considered.
• The Full Application will be evaluated by the BME Departmental Admissions Committee in exactly the same manner as any application from an undergraduate at another university. A student should not assume that he/she will be admitted to the Combined Program based on approval of the Preliminary Application or submission of the Full Application and should consider and plan for other career options. A student admitted into the Combined Program is considered a graduate student only after the successful completion of the Bachelor's degree.

Financial Aid

Fellowships, research assistantships (RAs), and teaching assistantships (TAs) are available to outstanding graduate students in the Combined Program. Fellowships are awarded by WPI, national organizations, and corporate sponsors. RAs are awarded to graduate students by individual faculty members. A student requiring financial aid is urged to discuss the possibility of obtaining a fellowship or RA first with their MQP advisor(s), and then with any faculty member with whom they might be interested in working. Teaching assistantships (TAs) are awarded on a competitive basis to support undergraduate teaching in the BME Department. Decisions regarding departmental TAs are made during the spring semester for the following academic year. However, because a TA is required to commit 20 hours per week during the academic year to teaching support, a student with TA support will find it more difficult to finish the Combined Program in 5 years. Students should consider this possibility before accepting a teaching assistantship.

Additional Information

Because students in the Combined Program must independently meet the degree requirements for both the Bachelor's and Master's degree, a Combined Program student should consult the appropriate section of the WPI Graduate Catalog (either MS or ME Degree Program) for more detailed information on the specific BME Graduate Degree Program being sought.

Summary

A student interested in the Combined Program should complete the following steps:

1. Early in the junior year, complete and submit a Course Designation Form on which the courses to count towards both degrees are listed. This form must bear the necessary signatures. Students who fail to complete this step will not be eligible for the Combined Program, but may apply for the regular graduate programs in BME.
2. For the BS/MS Combined Program option, choose an MQP that can be extended into an MS thesis. Discuss this possibility with your prospective MQP advisor before you sign up. The earlier you start looking, the better your chances of finding the right MQP. Success in the BS/MS program hinges on the ability of the student to extend their MQP project into a quality master's thesis. There is little likelihood that the Combined Program can be completed in 5 years without the MQP as a preliminary effort.
3. Take the GRE general test. While not a requirement for the Combined Program, it may be necessary for other graduate programs.
4. In the fall of your final (senior) year, submit a Full Application for admission to a BME master's program. Remember that you must meet the minimum GPA requirement (3.2 in all coursework and 3.5 in departmental coursework).
5. Work hard on your MQP. A strong performance will increase the likelihood that you will be able to complete the BS/MS program in 5 years.

As with all decisions regarding your educational objectives and career, you should discuss the appropriateness of the Combined Program with your academic advisor and knowledgeable colleagues. While there are many advantages to the Combined Program, there are situations where it may not be appropriate. For example, a student who plans to pursue a PhD degree at another institution and has a strong academic record (GPA well above 3.2, GRE scores in the 70th percentile or better) may be better served by skipping the master's degree at WPI.

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Last modified: November 19, 2007 16:40:16