Accelerated Degree

Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Accelerated)

The accelerated degree program allows undergraduate students currently in the civil and construction engineering programs an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor's and master's degrees at an accelerated pace.

The undergraduate students qualifying for the ADP may count up to nine (but not less than six) credit hours of 500 level courses taken during their undergraduate studies toward a master's degree in civil engineering within 30 months of completing their bachelor's degree in civil engineering or construction engineering. These students may choose to pursue a master of science in engineering (civil) degree under options one, two and three described in the graduate catalog.

The ADP will allow an undergraduate student majoring in civil or construction engineering to complete an accelerated bachelor or master of science in engineering (civil) by completing either 147 combined graduate and undergraduate credit hours (in the master’s program by selecting option one and option two, or 153 combined graduate or undergraduate credit hours by selecting option three).

Application

Students typically apply for an AGDP in their junior year but are also welcome to apply as early as their sophomore year of the undergraduate program. Up to 12 credit hours can be counted for both the bachelor’s and master’s programs, making the master’s program accelerated. These 12 credits are completed while an undergraduate student but will also be applied toward the master’s program. 

If a student completes the 12 credit hours that are double-counted and has not yet completed the bachelor’s degree, dual enrollment is an option. Dual enrollment allows an undergraduate student to take graduate-level courses, if eligible. The student simply emails admissions-graduate@wmich.edu to request dual enrollment for a specific term.

Students work with their college advisor to apply for graduation for their undergraduate degree program upon completion of a minimum of 88 credits.

The graduation audit must be completed by the Registrar’s Office, not just submitted. Audits can take between 6 to 8 weeks to be completed.

Once the graduation audit is complete, the student submits an Application for Admission with the appropriate accelerated degree major listed.

• Students must select an application term after which the bachelor’s degree will be awarded.
• Students will submit any additional departmental application requirements. 
• Once admitted to the AGDP, the student meets with his or her advisor to complete the AGDP Course Approval Form. Please note: the student’s undergraduate program and degree code will remain the same until completion of the bachelor’s degree.
• The AGDP Course Approval Form must be on file with the Registrar’s Office before the student can enroll in any graduate-level courses as an undergraduate student.
• Students must register for graduate-level courses in the Registrar’s Office.

Criteria for admission

Permission to pursue an accelerated degree program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate College. Admission is contingent on meeting the following eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program:  

1. Students must declare their interest before completing 96 credit hours in their undergraduate programs, including credits earned from advanced placement.
2. Transfer students must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours as a full-time student at Western Michigan University.
3. Students must have a minimum accumulated grade point average GPA of 3.0 at WMU.

Requirements for participation and graduation

1. Students must complete the bachelor's degree prior to entering the master's program. Students in the ADP may not elect to by-pass the bachelor's degree.
2. Students will only be allowed to count a maximum of nine 5000 level credits taken during their undergraduate studies toward their master's degree.
3. Students must receive a grade of B, 3.0 or better in the 5000 level courses taken during their undergraduate studies. Courses with a grade of CB or below cannot be counted toward their master's degree.
4. No more than nine hours of 5000 level coursework may be counted towards the student’s bachelor degree.
5. Students must complete the master's degree within 30 months from the completion of the bachelor's degree. If the master's program could not be completed within these time limits, none of the 5000 level courses specified in Section 2.3.1 can be counted toward the master's degree.  Extension of this timeline may be granted by the graduate advisor and only under special circumstances.

Continuing eligibility

1. It is the responsibility of the student to recognize his or her eligibility status.
2. A student completing the bachelor's degree requirements with an accumulated GPA of less than 3.0 is automatically terminated from the ADP .
3. A student who does not follow the approved plan of graduate work may become ineligible to participate in the ADP.
4. A student who is ineligible to participate in (or withdraws from) the ADP no longer qualifies for transfer of courses specified in Section 2.3.1 towards a master's degrees. These courses, however, may be counted toward the student's bachelor's degree upon the discretion of the undergraduate adviser.
5. A student who becomes ineligible to participate in the ADP must be informed by the graduate advisor in writing of his or her ineligibility. A copy of this letter to the student shall be sent to the Graduate College.

Withdrawal

A student may at any time withdraw from an approved ADP by informing the director of undergraduate programs and the graduate advisor in writing. A copy of this request to withdraw must be sent to the Graduate College.