The accelerated master’s degree program allows undergraduate students in mechanical engineering an opportunity to complete the requirements for the master’s degree at an accelerated pace. Undergraduate students may count up to 12 (but not less than six) credit hours of 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies towards a master’s degree in mechanical engineering within 24 months of completing their bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Students may choose to pursue a master’s degree in mechanical engineering under either the thesis option or the non-thesis option.

This program allows an undergraduate student, majoring in mechanical engineering, to complete an accelerated master’s degree in mechanical engineering by completing either 147 combined undergraduate/graduate credit hours (if choosing the thesis option), or 153 combined undergraduate/graduate credit hours (if choosing the non-thesis option).

Criteria for Admission

Permission to pursue the accelerated degree program (AGDP) 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 have completed a minimum of 80 and a maximum of 96 credit hours in the undergraduate program, including credits earned from advanced placement.
2.  Transfer students must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours as a full-time student at WMU.
3.  Students must have a minimum accumulated grade point average (GPA) of 3.5/4.0 at WMU.
 

Admission Requirements

All prospective students must read and comply with the requirements outlined by the registrar’s office (www.wmich.edu/registrar/students/forms/accelerated-degree/).

1.  A prospective student, who meets the eligibility requirements (see Criteria for Admission), must set up a meeting with the MAE undergraduate advisor and graduate advisor to develop plan for the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
2.  Before admission to the accelerated master’s degree program can be finalized, students must complete an undergraduate audit and submit the paper application for admission to the Office of Admissions (in that order). All applicants to this program are required to take and submit the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
3.  Following successful admission to the AGDP, the student must meet with the graduate advisor to complete the AGDP Course Approval form (found on the registrar’s Web page). The form must clearly indicate the 5000-level courses (a maximum of 12 credit hours) that will be counted towards the accelerated master’s degree. Any changes to the AGDP Course Approval form must be submitted, in writing, and approved by the graduate advisor.

Requirements for Participation and Graduation

1.  Students must complete the bachelor’s degree prior to entering the master’s program.
2.  Students will only be allowed to count a maximum of twelve (12) 5000-level credits taken during their undergraduate studies toward this master’s degree.
3.  Students must receive a grade of “B” (3.0/4.0) or better in the 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies.
4.  No more than 12 hours of work may be counted towards the requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degree.
5.  Students must complete the master’s degree within 24 months from the completion of the bachelor’s degree. If the master’s degree is not completed within these time limits, none of the 5000-level courses used for the bachelor’s degree may be counted toward the master’s degree.
6.   In an exceptional case where following the completion of the bachelor’s degree, the student is admitted into the mechanical engineering doctoral program, the credits earned as a part of the AGDP program will be applied to student’s doctoral coursework (specified in the requirements for completion of a doctoral degree for students admitted with a bachelor’s degree).

Continuing Eligibility 

1.  It is the responsibility of the student to recognize his/her eligibility status.
2.  A student completing the bachelor’s degree requirements with an accumulated GPA of less than 3.25/4.0 is no longer eligible to count the 5000-level credit hours specified toward the master’s degree and is automatically terminated from the accelerated master’s degree program.
3.  A student who does not follow the program, laid out in the approved AGDP form, may become ineligible to participate in the accelerated degree program.
4.  A student who is ineligible to participate in (or withdraws from ) the accelerated program may not count any of the 5000-level courses specified in the AGDP form towards a master’s degree.
5.  A student who becomes ineligible to participate in the accelerated master’s degree program must be informed by the graduate advisor, in writing, of his/her ineligibility. A copy of this letter must be sent to the Graduate College.

Withdrawal

A student may, at any time, withdraw from an approved accelerated program by informing the graduate advisor in writing. A copy of this request to withdraw must be sent to the both the Graduate College and the registrar’s office.