Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's of Science in Electrical Engineering

The Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's degree program in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE) offers the opportunity of pursuing the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Electrical Engineering  and Master of Science (MS) in  Electrical Engineering, leading to award of both degrees at the completion of the joint program. The main benefit of the program is that it allows for up to six credit hours to be used for both the BS and MS.  The program is normally a 5-6 year program designed for currently enrolled University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) students.

The requirements for the concurrent program are equivalent to aggregate of the BS and MS degrees, except that up to six credits hours can be applied toward both the BS and MS requirements. Students admitted to the concurrent degree program will maintain their undergraduate standing until the mid-program review which will determine the student's eligibility to continue in the concurrent degree program. The mid-program review will be conducted the semester in which the student will complete the BS requirements.  A student will be considered eligible to continue upon meeting the following minimum standards and criteria: completion of the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, maintenance of a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.25 or better, and maintenance of full­ time status (defined below).

Upon determination of eligibility to continue, the student will be recommended for formal admission to the Graduate School. Such a recommendation must be made by the ECE Graduate Committee. Upon approval of the recommendation, the office of the Dean of the Graduate School will complete the necessary procedures to admit the candidate as a graduate student for the completion of their program. Any students not recommended for continuation in the concurrent degree program will be eligible to complete their Bachelor's degree. Upon successful completion of the concurrent degree program, both the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering will be awarded simultaneously.

The concurrent degree program will be administered jointly by the Graduate School and College of Engineering and Applied Science (EAS). ECE will assume primary administrative authority and responsibility reflecting the full authority and standards of both the BS and MS in Electrical Engineering.  The ECE Graduate Chair will serve as the program administrator for the concurrent degree program.

Process for Declaring Intent

1. Students in the concurrent degree program must be full-time continuously enrolled students (average 24 undergraduate credits or more per year, or 18 graduate credits per year, or equivalent combinations thereof such as 12 undergraduate and 9 graduate credits). Students must maintain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.25 throughout their enrollment. 
2. Only currently enrolled UCCS students in the Electrical Engineering program may be considered for admission to the program. Transfer students must complete at least 24 credit hours in the BS in ME program before applying to the concurrent program. 
3. Students may apply for the concurrent program after they have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours of the electrical engineering core courses.  Applications will be accepted up until the graduate school admissions deadline for the department for the final semester of the undergraduate program. Minimum standards for admission require a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.25. The ECE Graduate Committee will be responsible for admissions procedures and decisions. 
4. Issues of satisfactory academic progress, petition/appeal, transfer credit and grievance will be the responsibility of the concurrent program administrator with participation by the ECE Chair, EAS Dean, and Graduate Dean as appropriate.  The concurrent program administrator will be responsible for dismissing or placing on probation those students who do not maintain the minimum requirements stated above.
5. Students who drop out or are dismissed from the concurrent program and have not yet had their mid­ program review will be eligible to complete their Bachelor's degree, subject to the normal rules of that program.  Students who drop out or are dismissed from the concurrent program after having had a successful mid-program review will be awarded the Bachelor of Science.    They will be eligible to apply to the ECE Master's program and transfer credits (subject to normal limitations) that were not used toward the Bachelor of Science. 
6. Students who are admitted to the concurrent program may not pursue a double degree or double major.  Minor programs may be pursued. 
7. Concurrent degree students may not be admitted to a Ph.D. program prior to completion of both the Bachelor's  and the Master's degrees. 
8. Students in the concurrent degree program may be eligible for RAfT A appointments at the discretion of their department. Undergraduate students are eligible, under the normal rules of appointment or eligibility, for RAfTA appointments, scholarships, fellowships or other types of support or recognition which would normally be available to undergraduate students. Likewise, students who have been approved and admitted to graduate student status will be eligible for RAfT A appointments, scholarships, fellowships or other types of support or recognition which would normally be available to graduate students.