The Accelerated Graduate Degree Program (AGDP) allows undergraduate students in manufacturing engineering technology an opportunity to complete the requirements for both a bachelor’s and master’s degree at an accelerated pace. These undergraduate students may count up to 12 (but not less than 6) credit hours of 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies towards a master’s degree in manufacturing engineering within 30 months of completing their bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering technology.

This program allows an undergraduate student majoring in manufacturing engineering technology to complete an accelerated bachelor’s/master’s in manufacturing engineering by completing 142 credit hours of undergraduate/graduate coursework.

AGDP Admission Requirements

All prospective students must read and comply with the requirements outlined for accelerated graduate degree course approval on the Registrar’s Office webpage at wmich.edu/registrar/students-forms-accelerateddegree.

1. A prospective student must be admitted and enrolled in courses at WMU and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 based on at least 45 earned hours, 15 of which shall be earned at Western Michigan University.
2. 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 Office webpage). 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.

Criteria for Admission to Graduate Program

Permission to pursue an AGDP does not guarantee admission to the master’s program. Students who complete the undergraduate degree including a “B” or above in the AGDP courses will be admitted as graduate students (with the relevant graduate credit) in the next semester or session after receiving the bachelor’s degree.

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 twelve (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 30 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.

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 3.00/4.0 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.