BS/MS Accelerated Program, Geological Sciences and Engineering

An accelerated BS/MS Program encourages outstanding students in the BS Geology, BS Geological Engineering, BS Hydrology and BS Geophysics undergraduate degrees to obtain a MS degree in Geology, Geological Engineering, or Geophysics in a shorter time at the University of Nevada, Reno. A student can obtain either a Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (non-thesis) MS degree.

Contact Information

Dr. Stacia Gordon
Graduate Director of the Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering
(775) 784-6476
staciag@unr.edu
Website: https://www.unr.edu/geology

Admission Requirements

Students apply for the Accelerated Program after completing at least 75 credits towards their BS degree with a 3.0 GPA (only UNR courses are included in the GPA calculation). This will typically occur during the spring of their junior year. As part of the admission process, a student must select a faculty advisor for their graduate degree. Students must reach out to a faculty member they are interested in working with for their Accelerated MS degree before applying to receive guidance on whether the Accelerated BS/MS program is the best option for the student.

Program Requirements

Students will complete all BS degree requirements and may apply up to 12 credits of 600- or 700-level courses (at least 3 courses) towards both the BS and MS degree requirements. The 600/700-level courses selected for this purpose must be approved by the student’s BS program department and their graduate advisor. Undergraduate students must receive permission from the Graduate School in order to register for 600/700-level courses. The student must receive a “B” or better in a course for it to be considered for the graduate degree. Upon completion of all BS requirements, a student will receive the BS degree. A student must complete the BS degree at UNR to be part of the Accelerated BS/MS Program. The application for the Accelerated Program must be completed before completing the BS degree, typically during their senior year.

Continuation in the Program

Continuation in the program requires that students maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. If a student’s GPA drops below 3.0, the student will be placed on academic probation within the program for one semester. If the student raises their GPA to 3.0 or higher, they will be removed from probation and returned to good status in the program. If after one semester the student is not able to raise their GPA sufficiently, they will be removed from the Accelerated Program. At such point, they may pursue BS and MS degrees through normal requirements.

Financial Impact

Students admitted to the accelerated programs may use their approved 600 and 700-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.