B.S./M.S. Program

School of Materials Science and Engineering - BS/MS Program

Current MSE undergraduate students may participate in the BS/MS Program offered by the School. Students may be admitted into the program after completing a minimum of 30 semester credit hours (and no more than 75 hours) at Georgia Tech and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher at time of application. Both the application fee and the GRE test score are waived. Students need to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA when receiving the B.S. degree in order to be converted into graduate student status and must continue immediately into the M.S. program in order to qualify for the 6 semester-hour “Graduate Course Credit” option.

The following hours are required at the MS level:

30 course hours required, of which 21 hours must be at 6xxx (9 hours can be at the 4xxx level):

18 hours of MSE Approved Electives (see list below)
12 hours of electives

The BS-MS Program allows eligible students to use up to six credit hours of graduate-level MSE courses (or MSE approved courses) for both BS and MS degrees. A maximum of 12 hours graduate level courses can be taken as a BS level student, but only 6 hours can double count towards the MS. 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.

*MSE Approved Elective Courses (not limited to):

MSE 6010 Functional Materials
MSE 6105 Diffraction Studies
MSE 6110 Transmission Electron Microscopy
MSE 6120 Quantitative Characterization of Microstructures
MSE 6130 Surface Characterization
MSE 6140 Computational Material Science
MSE 6403 Kinetics of Phase Transformations
MSE 6404 Scattering Theory
MSE 6405 Advanced Nanomaterials
MSE 6406 Corrosion of Materials
MSE 6407 Biological Properties
MSE 6411 Thermodynamics
MSE 6510 Polymers for Electronic and Photonic Applications
MSE 6600 Advanced Polymer Processing
MSE 6602 Tensor Anal and Math Tech
MSE 6603 Natural Polymers
MSE 6750 Preparation & Reactions of Polymers
MSE 6751 Physical Chemistry of Polymers in Solutions
MSE 6752 Polymer Characterization
MSE 6755 Theoretical Chemistry of Polymers or Statistical Mechanics
MSE 6768 Polymer Structure, Physical Properties
MSE 6774 (MSE/BMED): Biomaterials: Structure and Function
MSE 6776 Integrated Low-Cost Microelectronics System Packaging
MSE 6777 Advanced Biomaterials
MSE 6795 Mathematical, Statistical, and Computational Techniques in Materials Science
MSE 6796 Structure-Property Relationships in Materials
MSE 7140 Impedance and Dielectric Spectroscopy
MSE 7210 Dislocation and Deformation Mechanics
MSE 7420 Solidification Processing
MSE 7771 Mechanics of Polymer Solids and Fluids
MSE 7772 Fundamentals of Fracture Mechanics
MSE 7774 Fatigue of Materials and Structures
MSE 7793 Manufacture Composities
MSE 8803A Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
MSE 8803C Advanced X-ray Diffraction
MSE 8803 E Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion
MSE 8803HG Statistical Mechanics of a Heterogeneous Media
MSE 8803I Fundamentals of Nanomaterials & Energy
MSE 8803M Biomaterials Properties
MSE 8903 Special Problems
ME 6104 Computer-aided Design
ME 6124 Finite-Element Method: Theory & Practice
ISyE 6739 Basic Statistical Methods
BMED 6710 Rational Design of Biomaterials
CHEM 6172 Physical Methods in Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 6181 Chemical Crystallography
CHEM 6283 Electroanalytical Chemistry
CHEM 6382 Computational Methods in Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
CHEM 6752 Polymer Characterization
CHEM 6572 Macromolecular Structure
MATH 4247 Partial Differential Equations I
MATH 4348 Partial Differential Equations II
MATH 4255 Monte Carlo Methods
* The majority of courses must be at 6000 level or above, but up to 9 hrs credit at 4000 level can be used.

Program FAQ

What is the BS/MS Program?

Who is eligible to apply for the BS/MS?

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?

Can I defer my MS program?

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: Who is eligible to apply for the BS/MS?
A: MSE undergraduate students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher may apply to the BS/MS program after completing at least 30 semester hours (no more than 75) at Georgia Tech. Applications from students with more than 75 earned hours are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Q: Do BS/MS students have to take the GRE?
A: No. The GRE is not required for students who participate in the BS/MS program. This is one of the major benefits of the program.

Q: How do I apply to the BS/MS Program?
A: All application materials for the BS/MS are online. Visit the Graduate Studies web page and complete a BS/MS Degree Program Form, https://grad.gatech.edu/bsms-degree-program-form. Please note that this form does not replace the official graduate application. After you submit the Online Application for Graduation (OAG) for Undergraduate Students during your graduating semester, you will also go ahead and submit your official application to the MSE graduate program.

Q: How much is the application fee for the BS/MS?
A: Nothing. There is no application fee for the BS/MS. This is one of the major benefits of the program.

Q: How many letters of recommendation are required for the BS/MS, and how are they obtained?
A: Only one letter of recommendation is required. The online application will ask for the Referee's name & email address, and the application system will automatically contact the referee 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: http://www.mse.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/BS-MS%20Program%20%28Updat....

Q: If I join the BS/MS program, what will my status be?
A: Students in the BS/MS program will remain undergraduates until they meet the requirements for the BS degree after which time their status will change to graduate. This process usually takes place
sometime after the last set of undergraduate classes have been registered for and the Registrar’s final degree audit done.

Q: Will my MS be Thesis or Non-Thesis?
A: Students participating in the BS/MS program will complete the Non-Thesis option, however, MS without thesis students can take a special problems (MSE8903 – P/F) course for research experience.

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. Even if you decide to take coursework that would be eligible to count towards your MS degree, you are only allowed to double count up to 6 hours towards both your BS and MS degrees.

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 both the thesis and non-thesis MS options.

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 graduate-level classes that are not counted towards your BS that can be used towards your MS. This is common for students who only need 1-2 classes during their final semester. These students can take up to 6 additional hours (2 classes) and have them count only towards their MS degree. To qualify for this option, students must complete the undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and complete the master’s degree within a two-year period from the award date of the BS degree. (http://catalog.gatech.edu/academics/undergraduate/credit-tests-scores/un...).

Q: What is the maximum number of hours I can take as a BS to count towards the MS?
A: Up to 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 up to 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 up to 6 additional 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 9 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 course 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: http://www.mse.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/BS-MS%20Program%20%28Updat....

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 Tia Williams, tia.williams@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.

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.