Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Pathways

The Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Pathways are accelerated programs designed for outstanding undergraduate students currently enrolled in the College of Engineering & Computing. Students are able to complete both degrees in less time by taking advantage of the overlapping courses which would be used to satisfy both the bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements.

Benefits of the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Pathways include:

Complete nine to twelve credits of graduate study while completing your
undergraduate degree.*
Save on tuition with a reduced credit load.
Benefit from graduate funding opportunities.**
Have a competitive edge over bachelor’s graduates while competing for job openings.
Obtain both a bachelor’s and master’s degree within five years.
^{*Number of credits vary by program.}
^{** Dependent on availability.}

“…Only about 25 percent of engineers have master’s degrees and those who do earn around 10 percent more than those with only bachelor’s degrees.”

– Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019

General Admissions Requirements

To be considered for admission to an accelerated pathway, applicants must have a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA, have completed at least 75 credits of bachelor’s degree requirements at the university, and meet the admissions criteria for the graduate degree program to which they are applying. Students need only apply once to the accelerated degree program; the application is submitted to Graduate Admissions typically before the student starts the last 30 credits of the bachelor’s degree program.

Combined Degree Programs Available

Please view the available combined degree program options below:

B.S. in Biomedical Engineering

M.S. in Engineering Management or
M.S. in Biomedical Engineering or
M.S. in Data Science

B.S. in Civil Engineering

M.S. in Civil Engineering or
M.S. in Environmental Engineering or
M.S. in Data Science

B.S. in Computer Engineering

M.S. in Computer Engineering or
M.S. in Engineering Management or
M.S. in Data Science

B.S. in Computer Science

M.S. in Computer Science or
M.S. in Engineering Management or
M.S. in Data Science

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

M.S. in Electrical Engineering or
M.S. in Engineering Management or
M.S. in Biomedical Engineering or
M.S. in Telecommunications and Networking or
M.S. in Data Science

B.S. in Environmental Engineering

M.S. in Environmental Engineering or
M.S. in Data Science

B.S. in Information Technology

M.S. in Engineering Management or
M.S. in Data Science

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or
M.S. in Engineering Management or
M.S. in Biomedical Engineering or
M.S. in Data Science

Application Process

1. Must meet the minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA and have no fewer than 75 credits of bachelor’s degree requirements completed.

2. Meet with your undergraduate advisor to confirm that you qualify for the program, meet the minimum GPA requirements, and the list of graduate courses that qualify as electives in the undergraduate degree.

3. Initiate the online Application for Admission to the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Pathways.

4. Meet with the graduate program director (GPD) for the master’s degree program of interest to discuss a plan of study and to acquire the GPD’s signature on the paper application. Please refer to the list of GPDs at https://cec.fiu.edu/academics/graduate-advisors.

5. Interested students should apply and pay the $30 graduate application fee through their MyFIU portal.

6. Meet with your undergraduate advisor to discuss your new plan of study.

7. Complete any other graduate admission requirements for the master’s degree program.

8. Applicants will be notified by the Graduate Admissions office of the final admission decision.

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FAQs

What are the benefits of the Accelerated Degree Pathway versus a traditional bachelor’s and master’s degree program path?

The Accelerated Degree Pathway allows undergraduate students to pursue a bachelor’s degree (BS) and master’s degree (MS) simultaneously and thus shortening the time required to earn a master’s degree. In addition, students can pursue a master’s degree in the same department as their bachelor’s or in a different department. This provides students with an opportunity to broaden their studies more quickly and efficiently and gives them a competitive edge when applying for the workforce.

What degrees are available within the Accelerated Degree Pathway?

Enterprise and Logistics Engineering:

BS in Electrical Engineering/MS in Engineering Management
BS in Computer Engineering/MS in Engineering Management
BS in Mechanical Engineering/MS in Engineering Management
BS in Computer Science/MS in Engineering Management
BS in Information Technology/MS in Engineering Management
BS in Biomedical Engineering/MS in Engineering Management

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering:

School of Computing and Information Sciences:

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering:

Department of Biomedical Engineering:

Department of Mechanical Engineering:

BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering

Refer to the catalog for further information.

Is there a separate application for the Accelerated Degree Pathway?

Yes, students interested should print out and complete the Application for Admission to the Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Program application available online on the University Graduate School’s website. To download the application form, click here.

Are there additional costs associated with applying to the Accelerated Degree Pathway?

Aside from the required application fee, there are no additional costs.

When should/can I apply to the Accelerated Degree Pathway?

An application can be submitted, once the student completes their sophomore year and reached a credit count between 75-90. The start date for the Accelerated Degree Pathway must be prior to the expected bachelor’s graduation term. Example: If expected bachelor’s degree graduation is Fall 2020, the application must be for Spring 2020. Please review the requirements to apply to the Accelerated Degree Pathway.

What are the requirements to apply to the Accelerated Degree Pathway?

To be considered for admission to the Accelerated Degree Pathway, students must have completed at least 75 credit hours including all lower division requirements, have at least 30 credit hours remaining in the program, and meet the admissions criteria for the graduate degree program to which they are applying. Students need only apply once to the combined degree program, but the application must be submitted to Graduate Admissions before the student starts the last 30 credits of the bachelor’s degree program.

Which graduate level courses and how many credits can be applied to both the BS and MS degrees upon admission into the Accelerated Degree Pathway?

Only 5000-level or higher courses, and no more than the number of credits specified by the program catalog, may be applied toward both degrees.

Are students in the Accelerated Degree Pathway eligible for graduate assistantships?

A student admitted to the combined degree program will be considered to have undergraduate status until the student applies for graduation from their bachelor’s degree program. Upon conferral of the bachelor’s degree, the student will be granted graduate status and be eligible for graduate assistantships.

When should I speak with my advisor about the Accelerated Degree Pathway?

The sooner the better! It is never too early to speak with your Undergraduate Advisor about the program. You can start planning for the Accelerated Degree Pathway as early as the first year of your bachelor’s degree.

Are international students eligible for the Accelerated Degree Pathway?

Yes, as long as they meet the admission requirements for the program.

Do international students in the Accelerated Degree Pathway receive an updated I-20 once accepted?

No, but upon conferral of the bachelor’s degree, the student will be granted graduate status hence an updated I-20 may be issued.

Are international students eligible to complete OPT under the Accelerated Degree Pathway at both the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels?

International students in the Accelerated Degree Pathway are only eligible to complete OPT at the master’s degree level as there is no break in courses between the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Please consult with a college Undergraduate Advisor on eligibility to the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Pathways. You may also meet with the Graduate Program Director to learn about the graduate program and available courses before completing the application form.

For additional questions, contact the Graduate Education and Admissions team located in the Office of the Dean, EC 2429, via email at grad_eng@fiu.edu or by phone at 305-348-1890.

Valentina Gari

Accelerated Degree Pathway Alumnus

“Completing the combined bachelor’s and master’s degree program in environmental engineering at FIU was the best decision I could have ever made and one that significantly impacted the success in my career. I was able to use the momentum I had from my undergrad studies and complete my master’s degree in one short year. Having my master’s degree not only allowed me to get hired, but it also represented a higher title and salary increase.”

Jorge Caripidis

Accelerated Degree Pathway Student

“My experience with the Accelerated Degree Pathway program has been excellent. Not only has the Accelerated Degree Pathway program saved me time, it has also helped me financially as certain courses count towards the fulfillment of both the bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements. Being able to take graduate courses so early in my career has allowed me to meet several professors who work in different research labs. Thanks to these new relationships, I am now working at the college’s RFCOM Lab where we research antennas, radio frequency systems and more.”