Accelerated Master’s Degree Programs
Pursue a master’s degree in less time with less financial commitment.
Designed for the dedicated and driven SESE or FSE student, our accelerated degree pairings are a great option for those who want to continue onto a master’s degree and potentially complete it faster than a traditional degree. Students should be aware of the prerequisite courses listed below, as it might mean taking extra classes while you are an undergraduate student (in addition to the courses required for the accelerated degree). Students should also be aware that there is no guarantee that they will be able to finish the accelerated degree in 5 years. To learn more about the possible combinations of accelerated degrees and the prerequisites, please refer to the information below. Meet with your SESE academic advisor for more information.
Exploration Systems Design MS Accelerated Program Information
The accelerated Exploration Systems Design, MS degree is available to students in the following degrees:
Earth and Space BS (any concentration).
Students in the Earth and Space Exploration (Exploration Systems Design) BS degree should not do the ESD MS degree. Instead, they should do the ECEE accelerated degree.
Electrical Engineering BSE (general or Electric Power & Energy Systems) degrees.
Pre-requisites must be taken prior to applying for the Exploration Systems Design MS degree.
Students will need the following:
EEE 202 (Pre- or coreq(s): MAT 274 or 275 AND PHY 131, all with C or better)
SES 330 (Pre-req: EEE 202 AND MAE 201 or 212 AND PHY 131/132 or PHY 151, all with C or better)
SES 405 (Pre-req: MAT 266 or 271 AND PHY 121/122 or PHY 150, all with C or better)
Astrophysics & Astronomy MS Accelerated Program Information
The accelerated Astrophysics and Astronomy, MS degree is available to students in the following degrees:
Earth and Space BS (any concentration)
Electrical Engineering BSE (general or Electric Power & Energy Systems) degrees.
Pre-requisites must be taken prior to applying for the Astrophysics & Astronomy MS degree.
Students will need the following:
PHY 201 (Pre-req: MAT267 or 272 AND PHY 131/132 or PHY 150, all with C or better)
PHY 252 or PHY 241 & PHY 202 (Pre-req: MAT267 or 272 AND PHY 131/132 or PHY 150, all with C or better)
PHY 314 (Pre-req: PHY 201 AND either PHY 252 or both PHY 202 and 241, all with C or better)
AST 321 (Pre-req: MAT 266 or 271 AND PHY 121/122 or PHY 150, all with C or better)
AST 322 (Pre-req: MAT 266 or 271 AND PHY 121/122 or PHY 150, all with C or better)
Other than ESE Astrophysics majors, most SESE or engineering students will need to plan to take these on top of their major requirements.
Eligibility and BS Requirements for the Accelerated Master’s Programs
3.25 cumulative or major GPA and at least 90 credits completed.
Important Information
- Shared classes are classes that will be used towards both your BS and MS degree. There is a limit on shared classes. You may have the opportunity to share 4 classes or a max of 12 credits between the BS and MS. Depending on your situation, there may not be room in the BS degree to share 12 credits. Students must be officially accepted to the accelerated program prior to their last semester of their undergraduate degree to be eligible to share credits.
- There is no guarantee that a student will finish the accelerated degree in 5 years.
- Reserved classes are classes that you would take while you are an undergraduate student and reserve them for future use in the graduate program. These classes would not count towards your bachelor’s degree. Reserved courses must have grades of “B” or better for use in a future graduate program and have been completed within 3 years.
- Shared + Reserved credit limit: No matter what, you cannot exceed a total of 12 credits of shared + reserved classes. For example, if you share three classes that are 3 credits each (total of 9 shared credits), you can reserve an additional class if it is also 3 credits. If you are sharing three classes and at least one of them is 4 credits (so, you would be sharing 9-11 credits), you are not able to reserve a class since that would exceed 12 credits.
- If accelerated students are interested in taking a course that has both 494 and 598 sections, it is recommended that they take the 598 section.
- Students can take a max of 6 400-level credits during their undergraduate program to be shared with the graduate program.
- SES 410/411 or other culminating experiences (field GLG or Senior Thesis in lieu of capstone) cannot be shared between the BS and MS.
- Students cannot share SES 499 or 484 between BS and MS degree. However, if students have SES 499 or 484 that is extra, they might be able to reserve these credits to apply to the MS if there is a need for these credits in the MS and if they have not already exceeded their 6 credits of 400-level courses.