The dual degree program provides an opportunity for academically talented undergraduate students who are enrolled in Bachelor of Science degree programs in the College of Natural Science to enroll in graduate courses and conduct research toward the Master of Science degree while completing the last two years of their bachelor's degree programs.
All of the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree programs in the College of Natural Science are available for inclusion in the dual degree program. Although most of the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree programs are administered by departments and schools within the college, a few such programs are administered by the college. During the second semester of the sophomore year, the student should contact the unit or units that administer the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree programs that the student plans to pursue while enrolled in the dual degree program and apply for admission to those programs.
A student who is accepted into the dual degree program can be admitted to both the Bachelor of Science degree program and the Master of Science degree program as early as the beginning of the junior year. Upon completion of the requirements for both the Bachelor of Science degree and the Master of Science degree, both degrees are awarded simultaneously. The Master of Science degree will not be awarded until the student has completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree.
To be admitted to the dual degree program, an applicant must:
- Have a grade–point average of 3.00 or higher in all undergraduate course work.
- Have a grade–point average of 3.00 or higher in all courses in the College of Natural Science.
- Be accepted for admission by the graduate admissions committee of the College or department or school.
Departments and schools may specify additional requirements for admission to the dual degree program. The student should contact the appropriate department or school for additional information.
Within the first semester of enrollment in the dual degree program, the student's master's advisor must be identified and the student's master's guidance committee must be established. The advisor and the committee assist the student in developing a program of study for the Master of Science degree.
The student's program of study must be approved by the committee.
A student who is admitted to the dual degree program must:
- Satisfy all of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree program to which the student was admitted.
Although a minimum of 120 credits is required for the Bachelor of Science degree, more than 120 credits may be required for a given degree program.
- Satisfy all of the requirements for the Master of Science degree program to which the student was admitted after being admitted to that program.
Although a minimum of 30 credits is required for the Master of Science degree, more than 30 credits may be required for a given degree program.
The credits and courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree may not be used to satisfy the requirements for the Master of Science degree.
Departments and schools may specify additional requirements for the dual degree program. The student should contact the appropriate department or school for additional information.