BS-MS_program

	Integrated Systems Engineering
	Industrial & Systems Engineering
	Welding Engineering

BS/MS Program

What is this program? The combined BS/MS program allows undergraduate students to work towards a Master's degree while concurrently completing their Bachelor's degree. If accepted into the program, students are classified as graduate students and can enroll in certain courses that can be simultaneously credited towards both the BS and MS degrees.

Why consider this program? The goal of the program is to encourage academically strong students to obtain an advanced degree in an efficient time frame. The BS/MS program allows up to 15 credit hours of BS technical elective credits to be applied to the 45 credit hour (minimum) requirement of the MS degree. This "double-counting" can shorten the total time to graduation by 1-2 quarters.

Why consider a Master's degree? One or more of these reasons may apply to you...

a strong interest in research
a desire to gain expertise in a particular topic
a desire to teach at the high school or, eventually, college level
a desire to achieve a competitive edge in the job market
meeting requirements of a specific desired job

What two of our students say about their decision to pursue a master's degree through the combined BS/MS option:

--Melissa Rubal, WE Program

I chose the BS/MS option because it was a great way to get a head start on the MS requirements. I already knew I wanted to pursue an MS so it seemed obvious to enter a program that allowed me to double-count classes!

I returned to Ohio State after working for many years. Unlike most undergraduates who work for several years and then return to complete their master's, I knew I would not be returning in five or ten years. The BS/MS allowed me to complete both my undergraduate and master's at an accelerated rate, so I could start my new career more quickly. I had been interested in ergonomics and safety in my previous careers, and now I am completing my master's in the Industrial and Systems Engineering training program in Occupational Safety and Ergonomics.

--Dawn Chandler, ISE Program

Who is eligible to enter the BS/MS program? All ISE and WE undergraduate students who meet these requirements:

All current OSU Graduate School admission reqirements (described here)
Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA to enter the BS/MS program
Completion of at least 135 undergraduate quarter credit hours prior to starting the program

How it works and a timeline:

Winter quarter of junior year - an informational meeting, hosted by the ISE Honors and Scholarship Committee, is held for students who are eligible for the BS/MS program.
Typically winter or spring quarter of junior year - students submit a regular application for admission to the OSU Graduate School.
Quarter prior to enrollment - submit a course tracking form ("information sheet") to Judith McDonald in the College of Engineering (access the information sheet via a link on this page)
Start of senior year - most students enter the program at this point.
Quarter that BS is received - submit a revised course tracking form to Judith McDonald in the College of Engineering
Quarter that MS is received - submit a revised course tracking form to Judith McDonald in the College of Engineering

Some important points to understand about this program:

Double-counting of courses - Only courses taken while students are enrolled in the combined BS/MS program (i.e., while officially a graduate student) may count towards the MS degree or towards both degrees. So students must apply for, be admitted to, and enroll in a combined BS/MS program before realizing this benefit.
Tution and fees - Once enrolled in the combined BS/MS program, students are charged graduate tuition and fees. These are higher than undergraduate tuition and fees. The ISE Department has a history of covering the difference in cost between undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees for some period; check with Ms. Pam Hussen (Undergraduate Students' Academic Counselor), Dr. Brevick (Integrated Systems Engineering Graduate Studies, ISE co-chair), or Dr. Rokhlin (Integrated Systems Engineering Graduate Studies, WE co-chair) for information about current practice. Students are encouraged to pursue funding support through grants and other support opportunities.

Additional important information and resources:

OSU College of Engineering BS/MS information page
Financial support for graduate studies - ISE information
OSU Graduate School
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Handbook - Engineering - projected growth; starting salaries for BS, MS, PhD; etc.

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