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Combined BS/MS Degree Program

The combined BS/MS degree program allows qualified students to simultaneously earn both a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering degree.  Qualified students can begin their master's degree course work while undergraduate seniors and double count up to twelve credit hours of specific graduate chemical engineering courses for both the bachelor's and master's degree requirements. The intention of the program is to provide a way for students to complete requirements for both degrees in significantly less time than would normally be required if both degrees were pursued separately.

The combined BS/MS degree program also affords greater flexibility in scheduling course work than is available through the traditional BS degree followed by the MS degree program.  By working towards both the bachelor's and master's degrees simultaneously, students have the opportunity to:

1. Take graduate courses during the fourth year and defer some senior courses to the fifth year.
2. Engage in two-years of research extending through the fourth and fifth years.

The goal of the program is to produce skilled engineers who will have a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of chemical engineering as well as a broader set of professional skills. Students seek industrial positions or placement in graduate programs at other universities upon graduating from this program.

Requirements for Admission

The general requirements for admission to the combined BS/MS degree program include:

1. Senior status (4EG)
2. Completion of 6 ECH-prefixed BSChE core courses at the University of Florida
3. Upper division grade point average of at least 3.3
4. A minimum GPA of 3.2 in chemical engineering courses
5. A minimum score of   (Verbal + Quantitative = 1,100) on the GRE
6. Satisfaction of Graduate School and Chemical Engineering Department graduate studies admission requirements
7. Three letters of recommendation from professors within the Chemical Engineering Department

This program is directed toward students seeking a non-thesis MS degree. Students applying for admission to this program should consult with their faculty mentor for guidance and additional information as needed.

Application for Admission

Admission to the program requires two applications. The first application is to the Chemical Engineering Department Graduate Committee requesting permission to participate in the combined BS/MS degree program. The second application is to the Graduate School. The application to the Chemical Engineering Department may be made at the same time or earlier than the application to the Graduate School.

Application Procedure
Typically, students apply to the Chemical Engineering Department during the second semester of the junior year or the first semester of the senior year.  Application to the Graduate School occurs one or two semesters later. 

Note:

1. Students must specify that he/she is applying to the combined BS/MS degree program on the graduate application form.
2. The GRE must be taken prior to graduate studies admission.

Combined BS/MS Degree Requirements

The requirements of the combined degrees do not differ from those for the two degrees pursued separately.

1. All Chemical Engineering BS requirements must be met.
2. All Chemical Engineering MS requirements must be met.
3. Up to twelve credit hours of prior-approved course work may be double-counted toward each of the two degrees.
4. The BS and MS degrees may be awarded simultaneously upon completion of all requirements.  A student who leaves the program before completing all requirements, but who has completed all BSChE degree requirements, will be awarded the BSChE degree. 

Double-Counted Graduate Level Courses

The following courses may be double counted for credit as undergraduate chemical engineering technical electives and for the master's degree:

• ECH 6270 Continuum Basis of Chemical Engineering
• ECH 6272 Molecular Basis of Chemical Engineering
• ECH 6285 Transport Phenomena
• ECH 6847 Mathematical Basis of Chemical Engineering

Academic Performance Requirements

All credit to be counted towards the master's degree must carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Students unable to maintain a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 will be dropped from the BS/MS program with the accumulated graduate course hours applied to the BSChE degree.

Financial Aid

Students should be aware that most undergraduate financial aid covers only undergraduate courses and programs. See Combined Degree Programs.

Expected Completion Time

The combined BS/MS degree program provides the opportunity for qualified undergraduate students to obtain a master's degree in Chemical Engineering with one additional academic year. And, depending on the number of advanced placement courses,  students may be able to complete both degrees one or two semesters earlier than completing the two degrees separately.

Additional Information

Students interested in this program should contact Cynthia Sain in ChE Student Services, 219 Chemical Engineering.