Bachelor's–Accelerated Master's (BAM) Program

The BAM program offers current CU Boulder Mechanical, Environmental, and Integrated Design Engineering (emphasis in ME) undergraduate students the opportunity to receive both bachelor’sÌýand master’s degrees in a shorter period of time. Students receive the bachelor’s degree first, but beginÌýtaking graduate coursework as undergraduates, typically in their senior year. Because some courses are allowedÌýto double-count for both the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees, students receive a master’s degree in less timeÌýand at a lower cost than if they were to enroll in a stand-alone master’s degree program after completion ofÌýtheir BS. In addition, staying at CU Boulder to pursue a BAM program enables a studentÌýto continueÌýworking with their established faculty mentors.Ìý

Admissions

Students apply to the BAM ME program after completing all admission eligibility requirements. Eligibility requirements vary based on UG major. Students must apply to graduate with their bachelor’s degreeÌýand apply to continue with the master’s degreeÌýearly in the semester whenÌýthe undergraduate requirements will be completed or as soon as they complete all eligibility requirements by submitting the .

More information regarding admissions eligibility and application deadlines can be found on the BAM ME Admissions webpage.Ìý

Academics

All students admitted to the BAM ME program are automatically an MS Professional student. The MS Professional track is a coursework based degree plan, no final project or comprehensive exam is required.Ìý

There is an MS Thesis, research-based, degree track as well. However, most BAM students who are pursuing the thesis program extend their MS tenure past the "accelerated" timeline of one-year.

Both degree tracks earn an MS in Mechanical Engineering, the curriculum and degree requirements are different and outlined on the following websites:Ìý

For the BAM ME professional and thesis program, students may takeÌýup to 12-13 credit hours (official policy on the Registrar website) which can later be used toward the master’s degree while in the undergraduate program. However, only sixÌýcredits out of those 12-13 may be double-counted toward the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree (talk to UG Advisor about double-counting towards BS). To have courses count towards the master's degree, they must be 5000-level or higher and completed with a C or higher. The remaining six credits can be applied to the master's degree only.

The amount of credits brought in (courses identified on the supplement form, see below) determine how many credits a student will need to complete in their MS tenure to meet the 30 cumulative credit minimum. For example, if a student brings in 3 double-counted credits (BS+MS counting) and 3 master's only credits, the student will need a total of 24 credits in their MS tenure to meet the 30 cumulative credit minimum. Additional requirements for the thesis or professional program are outlined in the webpages linked above.Ìý

Note: Students who were admitted to the BS/MS program prior to July 2019 follow a concurrent Bachelor’s/Master’s structure, and the two degrees are awarded simultaneously when requirements for both degrees are met.

BS to MS Transition

In the final semester of your bachelor’s degree work,Ìýcomplete these steps toÌýcontinue with the master's degree:

  • Ìýwith your bachelor's degree.
    • Deadlines and information will come from your UG advisor
  • .
    • Designates when you will begin your MS tenure
      • Students must begin the master's program within one year of completing theirÌýbaccalaureate degree (three semesters, including summer)
        • ex/ Graduate from UG in Spring 2030, must begin MS coursework and complete a graduate semester in Spring 2031 at the latest
      • Can be resubmitted if MS tenure start term changes (ex/ Fall 2030 start instead of originally submitted Summer 2030)
        • Many students find a job and decide to push their BAM MS start term a semester later (must still be within 1 year of completing BS degree)
    • Identifies which courses you're double counting and which you're using toward the master's degree.

The last day to complete all three steps is:

  • Oct. 1 for fall graduates
  • Feb. 1 for spring graduates
  • March 1 for summer graduates

Students will matriculate into the master’s program withoutÌýadditional departmental review, asÌýlong as they meet the basic continuation requirement of a 3.00 cumulativeÌýGPA. International students must have approval from International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)Ìýprior to matriculation.Ìý

More may be found on the Registrar’s Office website.

Financial Information

Prior to completing the baccalaureate degree, students areÌýassessed undergraduate tuition rates. Once admitted to the master's program, studentsÌýare assessed graduate tuition rates. (In-state graduate students are assessed residentÌýgraduate tuition, but do not receive COF.)ÌýIn addition, graduate students receivingÌýfinancial aid are considered for different types and amounts of aid. Graduate students are primarily offered student loans.

More information about funding and fellowships can be found on the ME website.

Withdrawal/Discontinuation from BAM

If you're a BAMÌýstudent at undergraduate statusÌýand yourÌýexpected graduation term has changed, or if you've decided not to continue with the master's degree, submit aÌý.

If you’re a BAMÌýstudent at graduate statusÌýand you no longer want to continue with the master's degree, please submit aÌýwithdrawal form.

There is no punitive mark on your transcript that denotes that you withdrew from the BAM program. Please pay attention to the withdrawal dates for any possible financial implications.Ìý