Students interested in pursuing a combined B.S./M.S. degree must apply to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in their third or fourth year of matriculation. Only applicants with a departmental (i.e. CH #### classes) GPA of 3.7 or higher will be considered. However, in exceptional circumstances candidates with a lower departmental GPA may petition the graduate committee by contacting Prof. Grimm prior to submitting an application. The department will only consider applicants to the combined B.S./M.S. program that are pursuing an undergraduate degree in chemistry or biochemistry.
For a combined four-year B.S./M.S. degree, students should apply in the spring of their third year of matriculation. The department does not have a strict cut-off date, however applications received prior to these start of D-term will receive the strongest consideration and preference.
Applicants need not solicit recommendation letters concurrently with the submission of an application, but rather should include in their personal statement the names of three WPI professors from whom the graduate committee may request such letters. Letter writers should be WPI (or WPI-affiliated) professors who can speak positively towards the applicant's scholarship, work ethic, and ability to handle the rigors of a four-year combined B.S./M.S. degree.
First step:
Students wishing to initiate an application should apply here and make sure that you select "B.S./M.S. application" in that process. Remember that this should happen in the spring (C or D terms) of the third year of matriculation.
Second step:
Once the application is received and entered into the university's graduate application system, the student must develop a schedule of courses for their final year that successfully navigates the B.S./M.S. dual-degree requirements. A representative from the departmental graduate committee will supply each student with a spreadsheet that is designed to help the students navigate their previously taken and anticipated courses. Each applicant will have to fill this spreadsheet out and indicate which 4000-level courses are meant for double counting, and what remaining courses will count towards the M.S. degree requirements.
Students must fill out an actual schedule based on upcoming university course schedules for the following school year, and this must be submitted to a departmental representative. Students will not be accepted into the program until a viable course schedule exists.
While 9-credits of Ch 598 (directed graduate research) may be taken for this coursework-based M.S. degree, the department strongly discourages concurrent registration of Ch 598 and MQP work.
Third step:
Once admitted to the program, students must fill out a "Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program Course Designation Form" document from the registrar's office. This must be signed by the instructors of all 4000-level classes that are being double counted for the combined B.S./M.S. degree. While this form is supposed to be filled out prior to registration for each courses, many students often choose to double count courses that they have already completed or are currently taking. To accommodate this issue, have instructors sign the form for any upcoming double-counted classes, but have instructors sign off on all previous/current courses that apply as well.