Accelerated Master's Programs in Engineering

The Accelerated Master’s (AM) Program provides qualified students with the opportunity to begin working on a master’s degree while completing their bachelor’s degree. Students can take graduate level courses along with their undergraduate courses as their schedule permits.

Admissions

We strongly recommend students review their course plan with their undergraduate advisor(s) – both faculty and academic – as they become interested in the AM Program and before submitting the application. This will help immensely with the curriculum planning process. Applicants should apply during their sophomore or junior year. Students may submit an application as early as their third semester in the undergraduate degree. For application procedures, deadlines, and eligibility, visit Accelerated Master’s Programs Admissions.

 

Academic Policies

Credits and Double Counting Courses
Students may double count up to three course units (CUs) of graduate courses to fulfill both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. This is subject to approval by program chairs/directors.

50% Rule: Students admitted in the AM program should make sure 50% or more of their enrolled course units (CUs) in a term satisfy requirements for the undergraduate degree. At no time should a student be taking more than four graduate level CUs (5000+ level) in a single term.

  • If more than 50% of enrolled CUs in a term are graduate course units that satisfy requirements for the graduate degree only, the student is not eligible for undergraduate financial aid in that term. Students should plan carefully with their academic advisors to avoid this scenario.
    • Example A: A total of 5 CUs in one semester made up of 3 CUs that fulfill undergraduate (UG) requirements only and 2 CUs that fulfill Master’s (Grad) requirements only. This follows the 50% Rule because 2 out of the 5 credit units (i.e., less than half) are applied towards the graduate degree only.
    • Example B: A total of 6 CUs in one semester made up of 2 CUs that fulfill UG requirements only, 3 CUs that fulfill Grad requirements only, and 1 CU that is double counted between UG and Grad. This follows the 50% Rule because 3 out of the 6 course units (i.e., not more than half) are applied towards the graduate degree only.
    • Example C: A total of 5 CUs in one semester made up of 1 CU that fulfills UG requirements only, 3 CUs that fulfill Grad requirements only, and 1 CU that is double counted between UG and Grad, This does NOT follow the 50% Rule because 3 out of the 5 course units (i.e., more than half) fulfill graduate requirements only.

Students may apply a maximum of three course units (CUs) that were taken prior to matriculation in the AM degree towards the master’s degree.

  • The three graduate level courses taken prior to matriculation into the AM must be double counted.
  • Cross-listed courses taken at the 4000 level prior to matriculation into the AM may be used for the graduate degree if the course content is identical to the 5000+ level course and is cross-listed in the term it was taken. Note: Students from outside of Engineering should check with their home school on this policy, specifically as to whether the home school allows any courses to be taken prior to acceptance and matriculation into the AM.

After a student matriculates into the AM, they must only take classes at the 5000 level and above towards the master’s degree. No exceptions.

  • No course may be triple counted, i.e., counted for more than two credentials. For example, if a course is counted towards two undergraduate degrees, it cannot be counted towards a graduate degree as well. Certificates are considered credentials so these courses also cannot be triple counted. Minors are not considered a credential and do not factor into triple counting. One course could be counted towards a minor, undergraduate degree and graduate degree, for example.
  • Students will have their graduate level courses reflected on the master’s transcript during the term taken. The Office of Academic Services (OAS) Registrar Team will contact students each term regarding this. Upon matriculation into the AM program, students will be contacted to collect any of their double-counted courses (3 CUs) taken prior to the current term. Once a course is finalized, it cannot be altered on the transcript.
  • Engineering recognizes matriculation into one Accelerated Master’s program across the schools; there are no dual-degree AM programs. An AM student may enroll in a graduate certificate, but would need to be careful to avoid triple-counting.

Eligibility

  • Must be a Penn undergraduate that entered Penn in Fall 2018 or later with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. (BIOT requires a cumulative GPA of 3.5, CIS requires a cumulative GPA of 3.2, and ROBO requires a minimum STEM GPA of 3.2.)
  • Both BSE and BAS degree students in Penn Engineering may apply for the Accelerated Master’s program. Qualified undergraduates in Penn’s other schools may apply for an Accelerated Master’s into any of the Engineering Master’s degree programs, subject to their home school’s rules and regulations.
  • Uncoordinated dual degree students are not eligible for the Accelerated Master’s degree.
  • If a student is unable to apply for the AM while the student is an undergraduate, the student can still apply for a Penn master’s program through the standard admissions process as an external applicant following application rules and requirements. If admitted, the student must complete ten graduate level CUs, as double counting rules will not apply.
  • Penn Engineering Online does not allow matriculation into their programs through Accelerated Master’s. Interested students must apply externally to start after completion of the undergraduate degree.

Coursework Completion Requirements

All coursework counting toward the master’s degree must be completed at Penn. Transfer, study abroad, or ‘credit away’ courses are not permitted.

  • For single undergraduate degree students, the undergraduate degree must be completed in eight (8) semesters, or the student will not be eligible to continue with the Accelerated Master’s degree.
  • Students pursuing a coordinated dual degree (e.g., M&T, VIPER) program must complete their Engineering Undergraduate degree in ten (10) semesters.
    • While there is no penalty for completing your undergraduate degree sooner, students are not allowed to overload (7/7.5 CUs) to accomplish this.
  • If a student is terminated from the AM, they will lose the privilege to double count courses between the undergraduate and graduate degrees and must apply to the master’s program externally, submitting all relevant application materials.

 

Questions? Contact the OAS Grad Advising team at grad-affairs@seas.upenn.edu.