University General Course Catalog 2023-2024 
    
    Oct 14, 2024  
University General Course Catalog 2023-2024 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

BS/MS Accelerated Program, College of Engineering


The accelerated BS/MS program encourages outstanding students in the College of Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno to obtain a MS degree in a shorter amount of time. A student can obtain either a Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis) MS degree. Graduate programs available within the College of Engineering include:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Computer Science and Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

Applicant Criteria


  • At least 75 credits toward bachelor’s degree completed
  • Basic science courses completed
  • At least 30 credits of engineering science or design coursework completed (minimum of 24 of these at the University of Nevada, Reno)
  • Minimum 3.2 GPA

Timeline for Accelerated Program


  • Select a graduate advisor prior to submitting the Accelerated BS/MS program application.
  • Submit program application, after completing 75 credits toward your B.S. (typically, spring of junior year).
    • The application is due one month prior to course registration (Oct. 1 for Spring and March 1 for Fall).
  • Take the GRE one or two semesters before the graduate program application deadline
  • Apply to Graduate School

Accelerated BS/MS Process


Although the deadlines can be flexible, it is strongly recommended the program application (please use this DocuSign link) is submitted prior to October 1st for Spring acceptance and March 1st for Fall acceptance.

Step 1 - Students must meet with undergraduate faculty mentor AND graduate advisor to choose the classes the will take. You will list both and their email addresses on the program application form above. It can take a few days for each person to sign off on the document if the student chooses two different faculty members.

Step 2 – The form is automatically routed to the College of Engineering Advising Center to determine if the student has met the criteria for admission (1-2 business days).

Step 3 – The form is automatically routed the Associate Dean for the final signature in the College of Engineering if everyone has approved it (3-5 business days).

Step 4 - The application is automatically routed to the Graduate School requesting that the student be given permission to enroll in the specific graduate courses listed on the form (2-5 business days).

Step 5 - The student enrolls in the approved classes when their MyNEVADA registration appointment time arrives.

For any questions, please contact coenadvising@unr.edu.

Note A: To make changes to their approved course list, students must resubmit the program application, which will require them to start from Step 1.

Note B: All times are approximate and are based on using the DocuSign form. Though students usually list two semesters of classes on the application, the Graduate School can give enrollment permissions only for the first semester classes. Students must contact the College of Engineering Advising Center prior to the opening of registration for the second semester to get enrollment permissions for the second semester classes. For example, if the student has Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 classes listed on the form, once approved, the Graduate School will give permissions to enroll for Fall 2022 classes. The student must contact the College of Engineering Advising Center in October 2022 to request enrollment permissions for the Spring 2023 graduate classes.

Graduate Application Deadline


View program-specific admission requirements, deadlines and directors.

I. Program Requirements


The accelerated BS/MS program is typically five years total. Students ordinarily apply and are admitted to the accelerated BS/MS program at the end of their junior year and enroll in graduate courses (more detail below) starting their senior year. To enable students to earn both degrees in five years, the accelerated BS/MS program allows students to apply up to nine units (exceptions include: (i) twelve units for Materials Science and Engineering and (ii) three units for Civil and Environmental Engineering) of 600- or 700-level coursework to their bachelor’s degree requirements. An important note is that 700-level courses may not be suitable for everyone, and not every department allows undergraduates to enroll in 700-level courses; students must get approval from their faculty advisor to enroll in 700-level courses. These 600- or 700-level courses may also be applied to the master’s degree, provided the student passes each of these courses with a “B” or better. The courses that students select for this purpose must be approved by their undergraduate faculty advisor, graduate academic advisor, the College of Engineering Advising Office, the College of Engineering Dean’s Office, and the Graduate School.

Continuation Requirements


The Graduate School requires students to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in all courses applied to the master’s degree. The College of Engineering requires all students participating in the accelerated program to maintain a GPA of 3.2 or higher in all courses to be applied to the master’s degree.

Students whose undergraduate and graduate GPA drops below 3.2 will be placed on academic probation for the accelerated program for one semester. If they raise their GPA to meet the standards above, they will be removed from probation and returned to good standing. If after one semester, students are not able to raise their GPA sufficiently, they will be removed from the accelerated program. Students who are removed from the accelerated program may continue to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees under the normal requirements.

IV. Financial Impact


Students admitted to the accelerated programs may use their approved 600-level classes towards their full-time undergraduate status.

However, students must pay graduate credit tuition and the associated differential fees for the graduate-level courses. Not all scholarships can be used for graduate credit, but some financial support may be available through the graduate program. Students should consult with the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships regarding financial aid eligibility.

Program Requirements for the BS and MS
Biomedical Engineering, B.S. in B.M.E.   Biomedical Engineering, M.S.  
Chemical Engineering (Biomedical Emphasis), B.S. in Chem. E. 

Chemical Engineering (General Emphasis), B.S. in Chem. E.  
Chemical Engineering, M.S.  
Civil Engineering, B.S. in C.E.   Civil and Environmental Engineering (Environmental Engineering Specialization), M.S.  
Computer Science and Engineering, B.S. in C.S.E.   Computer Science and Engineering, M.S.  
Electrical Engineering (Biomedical Engineering Emphasis), B.S. in E.E.  

Electrical Engineering (General Emphasis), B.S. in E.E. 

Electrical Engineering (Renewable Energy Emphasis), B.S. in E.E. 

Electrical Engineering (Robotics, Autonomous/Aerial Vehicles, and Embedded Systems Emphasis), B.S. in E.E.  
Electrical Engineering, M.S.  
Materials Science and Engineering (Extractive Metallurgy Emphasis), B.S. in M.S.E. 

Materials Science and Engineering (Nuclear Materials Emphasis), B.S. in M.S.E.  

Materials Science and Engineering, B.S. in M.S.E.  
Materials Science and Engineering, M.S.  
Mechanical Engineering, B.S. in M.E.   Mechanical Engineering, M.S.