Bachelor's + 1 Year = Master's Degree
This program prepares highly motivated students for a variety of careers in geology, geological engineering, and geophysics that require advanced training beyond the bachelor's degree, such as in industry, teaching, independent research, or continued graduate work. You will earn both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in just five years of full-time study.
This accelerated degree plan allows you to combine the master's degree with a bachelor's degree from Michigan Tech the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences in geological engineering, geology, and geophysics.
Accelerated MS Requirements
Admissions
- Undergraduate students must apply for admission and be accepted to the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences Accelerated Master's program through the standard Graduate School application process prior to their bachelor's degree being awarded.
- Only students who will complete both a Bachelor's and a Master's in Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences at Michigan Tech are eligible to enroll in the accelerated program.
- Students already enrolled in a graduate program may not retroactively enroll in the accelerated master's program.
Credit Requirements
- Students must earn 30 credits past the Bachelor of Science to complete the requirements for the Master of Science in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences
- Up to six credits taken as an undergraduate student can be applied toward both the BS and MS degree, as long as they are at the 3000-5000 level and satisfy the requirements for both degrees.
- These six credits would typically be earned through electives and are independent of a maximum of six Senior Rule credits that may additionally count toward the MS, thus a total of 12 credits earned while an undergraduate could be applied toward the Master's degree. Graduate School rules on course requirements for master's degree will apply.
- A maximum of 12 credits may be taken at the 3000 or 4000 level.
- A minimum of 12 credits taken at the 5000 or 6000 level.
- Up to 3 research credits earned by an undergraduate can be applied toward a research-based (thesis or report option) master's degree as long as the credits are earned after the student has attained senior-level standing.
- All credits must meet the Scholastic Standards of the Graduate School in order to be counted toward the credit requirements.
GPA
- Only students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above are eligible to enter the accelerated master's program.
- Students who are accepted in the accelerated master's program will not be allowed to continue in this program if their cumulative undergraduate GPA drops below 3.0. However, such a student will be eligible to apply through the non-accelerated master's degree option.
Course Requirements
- The Thesis Option requires 20-24 course and 6-10 research credits.
- The Report Option requires 24-28 course and 2-6 research credits.
- The Coursework-only Option requires 30 course credits.
- Up to 6 credits with a B/C grade can be counted with department approval.
- Courses with grades less than a B/C will not be counted.
MS Plans
Accelerated MS Degree Curriculum
For each program in:
- Geological Engineering
- Geology
- Geophysics
- Mining Engineering
the following options are available:
- Accelerated MS Thesis Option
- Accelerated MS Report Option
- Accelerated MS Coursework-only Option
Contact the graduate program director for curriculum sample plans.
Advising
To help expedite the degree completion, a student should ideally begin conducting degree research with a faculty research advisor no later than during the senior year. Each student will work with a faculty who is a member of the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences graduate faculty. The advisor's primary responsibility is to supervise the student's research and academic and professional growth, as well as to work with the student to develop an academic plan for enrolling in the appropriate courses.