School of Materials Science and Engineering - BS/MS Program
The BS/MS program enables students to compress the time required to earn a bachelor's and master's degree. Participating students take graduate-level coursework as undergraduates that can be applied toward the MS degree. This program is designed to attract top undergraduate students, especially students who demonstrate an interest in, and an ability for, additional education beyond the bachelor’s degree.
Who Should Apply?
MSE undergraduate students are eligible to apply for the program after completion of 30 semester-credit hours at Georgia Tech and appropriate progress in the degree program. Students must have a Georgia Tech GPA of 3.5 or higher for admission into the BS/MS program. Once admitted, a GPA of at least 3.0 must be maintained to remain in the program. Students in the BSMS program are eligible to use the Graduate Course Option even if the cumulative GPA drops below the 3.5 but is a 3.0 or higher.
Given that the BS/MS program is intended to be a thread between the undergraduate and graduate programs, students need to apply with at least 3 semesters remaining in their bachelor's degree program.
What are the Application Qualifications?
- 3.5 GPA for acceptance, 3.0 GPA to remain in program
- 30 credits completed at Georgia Tech
- At least 3 semesters remaining in the BS
- 1 letter of recommendation from GT Faculty
When to Apply?
When you know when you will graduate with your BS, fill out the grad application. Apply for the admission term immediately following your BS graduation term. If you graduate in Spring 2024, apply for Fall 2024. If you graduate in Fall 2024, apply for Spring 2025. The application fee is waived for BSMS students upon acceptance to the BSMS program.
Students in the BS/MS program remain undergraduates until they meet the requirements for the undergraduate degree. Once you are accepted into the BS/MS program, you must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher to retain your graduate admissions status. Georgia Tech will officially enroll you as a graduate student after you receive your bachelor's degree and submit a transcript to the Office of Graduate Studies.
The application deadlines for the BSMS program are:
- Spring: September 1
- Fall: December 15
Apply online through the Georgia Tech Office of Graduate Education .
What Are the BSMS Course Requirements?
The following hours are required at the MS level:
| With Thesis | Without Thesis | |
| MSE/MSE-approved elective courses | 12 | 18 |
| *Electives taken from BS at 4000 level | 6 | 6 |
| *Electives taken from BS at 6000 level | 6 | 6 |
| MSE 7000- Master’s Thesis | 6 | 0 |
| Total Minimum hours | 30 | 30 |
The BS-MS Program allows eligible students to use six credit hours of undergraduate-level MSE courses for both BS and MS degrees and six credit hours of graduate-level MSE courses (or MSE approved courses). No course below 4xxx is permitted for counting towards the M.S. degree.
* Up to three credit hours of elective course work may be taken Pass/Fail, and applied toward the degree hour requirements.
For MSE graduate courses, please refer to the MSE 6000 level courses offered via the Schedule of Classes or via the MSE Projected Tentative Graduate Course Offerings .
Program FAQ
Table of Contents
Do BS/MS students have to take the GRE?
How do I apply to the BS/MS Program?
How much is the application fee for the BS/MS?
How many letters of recommendation are required for the BS/MS, and how are they obtained?
What kind of financial aid can I get for my MS?
Why does my DegreeWorks not show a BS/MS MSE Option for “What If Analysis?”
If I join the BS/MS program, what will my status be?
Will my MS be Thesis or Non-Thesis?
Can I double count hours between the BS and MS?
Can I double count more than 6 hours between the BS and MS?
Can I double count MSE 4699 (Undergraduate Research)?
Can I take graduate-level classes as a BS and use them towards my MS?
What is the maximum number of hours I can take as a BS to count towards the MS?
Can I petition to use more than 12 hours from BS to MS?
Do the grades I receive in courses taken as an undergraduate factor into my graduate GPA?
How do I select my MSE electives as an undergraduate to ensure they count towards my MS?
How many 4XXX level courses can I count towards my MS?
Can I take courses from other majors to count towards my MS? If so, what majors?
I have come up with my MS plan of study. When does this need to be approved/submitted?
How do I register for MS courses while still a BS student?
Do I need to register for MSE 8903 – Special problems?
Q: What is the BS/MS Program?
A: The MSE BS/MS academic program is designed to attract highly motivated undergraduate students, especially those who demonstrate an interest in, and an ability for, additional education beyond the bachelor’s degree.
Q: Do BS/MS students have to take the GRE?
A: No. The GRE is no longer required for any applicants to our program.
Q: How do I apply to the BS/MS Program?
A: Apply online through the Georgia Tech Office of Graduate Education .
Q: When should I apply for the BS/MS program?
A: When you know when you will graduate with your BS, fill out the grad application. Apply for the admission term immediately following your BS graduation term. If you graduate in Spring 2024, apply for Fall 2024. If you graduate in Fall 2024, apply for Spring 2025. The application fee is waived for BSMS students upon acceptance to the BSMS program.
Q: How much is the application fee for the BS/MS?
A: There is no application fee for the BS/MS.
Q: How many letters of recommendation are required for the BS/MS, and how are they obtained?
A: Only one letter of recommendation from a GT faculty member is required. The online application will ask for the recommender’s name & email address, and the application system will automatically contact the recommender for the letter.
Q: What kind of financial aid can I get for my MS?
A: Students admitted into the MS graduate program are not provided with financial aid. Exceptions are only possible where faculty have a specific requirement for a MS student on a research project.
Q: Why does my DegreeWorks not show a BS/MS MSE Option for “What If Analysis?”
A: DegreeWorks has no display option for the BS/MS. You will fill out a proposed program of study with the MSE Academic Offices that you will keep for your records and use as your guide. You can access a writeable PDF version of the program of study at: MSE BSMS POS - Writable
Q: If I join the BS/MS program, what will my status be?
A: Students in the BS/MS program will remain undergraduate BS students until they graduate with their BS. After which, they will automatically become MS students for the following semester.
Q: Will my MS be Thesis or Non-Thesis?
A: Students participating in the BS/MS program typically complete the non-thesis option. MS without thesis students can take a special problems course (MSE8903 – P/F) for research experience. However, if a student has a professor willing to serve as their thesis advisor, they can pursue the thesis route.
Q: Can I double count hours between the BS and MS?
A: Yes. Students completing both a BS and MS in the same discipline at Georgia Tech may use up to 6 credit hours of 4000-level coursework in the major discipline for both degrees.
Q: Can I double count more than 6 hours between the BS and MS?
A: No.
Q: Can I double count MSE 4699 (Undergraduate Research)?
A: Yes, you can double count MSE 4699 towards your BS and MS degrees. This is allowed for the non-thesis MS option.
Q: Can I take graduate-level classes as a BS and use them towards my MS?
A: Yes. As an undergraduate, you are eligible to take up to 6 credit hours of graduate-level courses during your senior year as long as you meet the requirements stated by the Institute. As long as those courses are not counted towards your BS, they can be used towards your MS.
Q: What is the maximum number of hours I can take as a BS to count towards the MS?
A: 12 hours can be taken as an undergrad and applied toward the 30 hours required for an MS non-thesis. This includes the 6 hours of double counted classes, plus 6 additional hours of classes that did not count towards the BS.
Q: Can I petition to use more than 12 hours from BS to MS?
A: No. Under no circumstance will a student be allowed to bring more than 12 hours over from their BS degree. This includes the 6 hours of double counted classes, plus up to 6 additional hours of classes that did not count towards the BS.
Q: Do the grades I receive in courses taken as an undergraduate factor into my graduate GPA?
A: No. The grades you receive in courses taken as an undergraduate will only count towards your undergraduate GPA. This includes the 6 hours of graduate-level classes that did not count towards the BS.
Q: How do I select my MSE electives as an undergraduate to ensure they count towards my MS?
A: The MSE Graduate Handbook has a list of approved electives that you can choose from. Once you have identified the courses you would like to take you will need to work with your BS advisor to ensure that the courses are annotated in the notes section of DegreeWorks.
Q: How many 4XXX level courses can I count towards my MS?
A: You can count up to 6 hours of 4XXX level courses towards your MS. Students completing both a BS and MS in the same discipline at Georgia Tech may double count up to 6 credit hours of 4000-level coursework in the major discipline for both degrees. These courses will count as “regular” electives not “MSE Approved Electives.”
Q: Can I take courses from other majors to count towards my MS? If so, what majors?
A: With prior approval from the MSE Academic Offices, 4XXX or above courses may be selected from almost any major at Georgia Tech. Management courses are also allowed with approval.
Q: I have come up with my MS plan of study. When does this need to be approved/submitted?
A: A proposed program of study must be submitted to the School office by the end of the BS degree coursework. The program of study can be modified as many times as necessary if there are conflicts or scheduling issues. You can access a writeable PDF version of the program of study at: MSE BSMS POS - Writable
Q: How do I register for MS courses while still a BS student?
A: As an undergraduate student you need a registration permit to sign up for graduate coursework. Please reach out to Dr. Renita Washington at renita.washington@mse.gatech.edu, in MSE for a “departmental” permit and then work with the Registrar to get a “level” permit to take 6000 (and above) level courses as an undergraduate. The Registrar’s permission can be obtained by emailing: comments@registrar.gatech.edu.
Q. Do I need to register for MSE 8903 – Special problems?
A: No, however, MS without thesis students can take a special problems (MSE8903 – P/F) course for research experience. If you plan to pursue a thesis, the MSE 8903 will not count towards your MS.
Q: Can I defer my MS program?
A: Students are required to start the MS program immediately after completing their BS degree. The only exception to this is summer semester. Students who graduate in the spring are allowed to take the summer semester off and start in the fall semester. If you need to defer your admission outside of these rules, you will need to apply to the MS program through the regular admission process.
