Combined BS/MS Program
Overview
The accelerated BS/MS degree program allows both degrees to be completed within five years. In some cases, the BS portion may take longer than four years but the MS portion is strictly limited to one calendar year immediately following completing the BS.
Program Requirements
By autumn quarter of the junior year students must begin working in the lab where they plan to complete the senior capstone project. This early start in the lab is necessary to finish a master’s thesis within an additional year. The project needs to fulfill the engineering design requirement for the BS plus be taken a step further for the master’s thesis. The summer following senior year and the fifth year are spent completing coursework, research, writing and defending the thesis.
Progression through Program
Individual schedules vary depending on the students’ advanced credit, and ability to simultaneously carry a heavy course load, maintain high grades, and conduct research. Most students use summers to complete the combined degree.
BS/MS - Five-year Sample Curriculum: OPTION 1
| Freshman | |||||||
| Autumn | cr | Winter | cr | Spring | cr | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MATH 124 | 5 | MATH 125 | 5 | MATH 126 | 5 | Apply to BIOE by July 1 | |
| CHEM 142 | 5 | CHEM 152 | 5 | CHEM 162 | 5 | Research Experience | |
| BIOEN 215 | 3 | ENGL COMP | 5 | AMATH 301 | 4 | ||
| VLPA/I&S | 2 | General Elective (Seminar) | 1 | ||||
| Quarter Total | 15 | Quarter Total | 15 | Quarter Total | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||||||
| Autumn | cr | Winter | cr | Spring | cr | Summer | |
| BIOL 180 | 5 | BIOL 200 | 5 | BIOL 220 | 5 | Research Experience | |
| PHYS 121 | 5 | PHYS 122 | 5 | MATH 308/AMATH352 | 3 | ||
| CHEM 223/237 | 4 | MATH 307/AMATH 351 | 3 | BIOEN 315 | 3 | ||
| General Elective | 2 | BIOEN 316 | 3 | ||||
| BIOEN 317 | 2 | ||||||
| Quarter Total | 14 | Quarter Total | 15 | Quarter Total | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||||||
| Autumn | cr | Winter | cr | Spring | cr | Summer | cr |
| BIOEN 325 | 3 | BIOEN 335 | 3 | BIOEN 345 | 4 | BIOEN 402 | 2 |
| BIOEN 326 | 3 | BIOEN 336 | 3 | BIOEN 401 | 3 | Continue Research | |
| BIOEN 327 | 2 | BIOEN 337 | 2 | BIOEN Sr Elective | 3 | ||
| STAT 390/IND E 315 | 3 | ENGR Elective | 3 | ENGR Elective | 3 | ||
| VLPA/I&S | 5 | VLPA/I&S | 5 | VLPA/I&S | 2 | Take GRE | |
| Start Capstone Research | Continue Research | Continue Research | |||||
| Quarter Total | 16 | Quarter Total | 16 | Quarter Total | 15 | Quarter Total | 2 |
| Senior | |||||||
| Autumn | cr | Winter | cr | Spring | cr | Summer | cr |
| BIOEN 402 | 3 | BIOEN 402 | 2 | BIOEN 402 | 3 | Optional MS Research (may take as BIOEN 600 - Discuss with PI) | |
| BIOEN Concentration -Elective 1 | 3 | BIOEN Concentration -Elective 3 | 3 | BIOEN Concentration -Elective 4 | 3 | ||
| BIOEN Concentration -Elective 2 | 3 | ENGR Elective | 3 | BIOEN 5xx (graded) | 3 | ||
| VLPA/I&S | 5 | VLPA/I&S | 5 | General Elective | 3 | ||
| BIOSTAT 5xx (graded) | 3 | General Elective | 5 | ||||
| Apply to UW graduate program |
Graduate with BS in SPR or SUM (186 cr at time of graduation because 6 cr are taken in advance) | ||||||
| Quarter Total | 14 | Quarter Total | 16 | Quarter Total | 17 | Quarter Total | |
| 5th Year - Begin MS | |||||||
| Autumn | cr | Winter | cr | Spring | cr | Summer | cr |
| BIOEN 530 BPS 2* | 2 | BIOEN 531 BPS 2 (graded)* | 2 | Elective 5xx | 4 | ||
| BIOEN 700 | 5 | BIOEN 700 | 5 | BIOEN 700 | 6 | ||
| BIOEN 5xx (graded) | 3 | Elective 5xx (graded) | 3 | ||||
| Finish Research | Finish Research/Draft | Complete and defend thesis | |||||
| Graduate with MS in SPR or SUM | |||||||
| Quarter Total | 10 | Quarter Total | 10 | Quarter Total | 10 | ||
*BPS = Bioengineering Professional Series. BPS 1 = literature review (2 CR/NC). BPS 2 = grant writing (2, Graded). BPS 3 = networking (1, CR/NC) (elective for BS/MS).
BS/MS - Five-year Sample Curriculum: OPTION 2 (with PTC)
| Freshman | |||||||
| Autumn | cr | Winter | cr | Spring | cr | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MATH 124 | 5 | MATH 125 | 5 | MATH 126 | 5 | Apply to BIOE by July 1 | |
| CHEM 142 | 5 | CHEM 152 | 5 | CHEM 162 | 5 | Research Experience | |
| BIOEN 215 | 3 | ENGL COMP | 5 | AMATH 301 | 4 | ||
| VLPA/I&S | 2 | General Elective (Seminar) | 1 | ||||
| Quarter Total | 15 | Quarter Total | 15 | Quarter Total | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||||||
| Autumn | cr | Winter | cr | Spring | cr | Summer | |
| BIOL 180 | 5 | BIOL 200 | 5 | BIOL 220 | 5 | ||
| PHYS 121 | 5 | PHYS 122 | 5 | MATH 308/AMATH352 | 3 | ||
| CHEM 223/237 | 4 | MATH 307/AMATH 351 | 3 | BIOEN 315 | 3 | ||
| BIOEN 316 | 3 | ||||||
| BIOEN 317 | 2 | ||||||
| Quarter Total | 14 | Quarter Total | 13 | Quarter Total | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||||||
| Autumn | cr | Winter | cr | Spring | cr | Summer | cr |
| BIOEN 325 | 3 | BIOEN 335 | 3 | BIOEN 345 | 4 | BIOEN 402 | 2 |
| BIOEN 326 | 3 | BIOEN 336 | 3 | BIOEN 401 | 3 | Continue Research | |
| BIOEN 327 | 2 | BIOEN 337 | 2 | BIOEN Elective | 3 | ||
| STAT 390/IND E 315 | 3 | ENGR Elective | 3 | ENGR Elective | 3 | ||
| VLPA/I&S | 5 | VLPA/I&S | 5 | VLPA/I&S | 2 | Take GRE | |
| Start Capstone Research | Continue Research | Continue Research | |||||
| Quarter Total | 16 | Quarter Total | 16 | Quarter Total | 15 | Quarter Total | 2 |
| Senior | |||||||
| Autumn | cr | Winter | cr | Spring | cr | Summer | cr |
| BIOEN 402 | 3 | BIOEN 402 | 2 | BIOEN 402 | 3 | Optional MS Research (may take as BIOEN 600 - Discuss with PI) | |
| BIOEN Concentration -Elective 1 | 3 | BIOEN Concentration -Elective 3 | 3 | BIOEN Concentration -Elective 4 | 3 | ||
| BIOEN Concentration -Elective 2 | 3 | ENGR Elective | 3 | BIOEN 504 PTC(graded) | 4 | ||
| VLPA/I&S | 5 | VLPA/I&S | 5 | General Elective | 3 | ||
| BIOSTAT 5xx (graded) | 3 | General Elective | 5 | ||||
| Apply to UW graduate program |
Graduate with BS in SPR or SUM (186 cr at time of graduation because 7 cr are taken in advance) | ||||||
| Quarter Total | 14 | Quarter Total | 16 | Quarter Total | 18 | Quarter Total | |
| 5th Year - MS | |||||||
| Autumn | cr | Winter | cr | Spring | cr | Summer | cr |
| Elective 5xx (graded) | 3 | Elective 5xx (graded) | 3 | Elective 5xx (graded) | 3 | ||
| BIOEN 700 | 3 | BIOEN 700 | 7 | BIOEN 700 | 7 | ||
| Elective 5xx (graded) | 4 | Elective 5xx (graded) | 3 | ||||
| Finish Research | Finish Research/Draft | Complete and defend thesis | |||||
| Graduate with MS in SPR or SUM | |||||||
| Quarter Total | 10 | Quarter Total | 10 | Quarter Total | 10 | ||
How to Apply
Candidates must be nominated by a faculty supervisor in a letter to the Graduate Admissions Committee. The student makes a normal application to the graduate program during autumn of the senior year, with the letter of nomination serving as one of the faculty letters of reference. The letter of nomination should describe the student’s aptitude for graduate study, state the advisor’s willingness to have the student continue in his or her laboratory, and attest that the thesis can be completed within one further year of study. The letter should also specify whether the advisor could provide funding for the student. Funding is not guaranteed.
Applicants will be evaluated on graduate program admission criteria and the following factors:
Strong letter of recommendation from faculty adviser
Commitment of supervision from faculty adviser
Student must submit the UW graduate school application by the deadlines (Dec 1st for international and Domestic)
Students are offered admission to the graduate program Winter Quarter. They graduate with a BS in spring or summer of their senior year (negotiated with PI), and then matriculate in the master's program Autumn Quarter.
Standards for Admission:
- The BS/MS is suitable for students whose research projects are advanced.
- Normally it is necessary to begin researching early in the Junior year in the lab that will become your capstone lab.
- The MS portion of the BS/MS must be completed within 1 calendar year.
- BS/MS students will likely be slightly ahead on coursework; they should take biostatistics and/or another graded elective in the senior year.
- When the student's application is up for review, the committee will contact the PI for an assessment of project progress.
- Expected GRE scores are 700 (155+ on the new GRE scoring system) or better in Math, 500 (153+ on new GRE scoring system) or better in verbal reasoning, and 4.5 on Analytical Reasoning.
- Students admitted for BS/MS typically have GPA's of 3.3 or above.
- The academic record will be evaluated to assess the potential to complete graduate coursework.
- The Department does not require TOEFL scores for BS/MS students (MS or PhD application requires TOEFL minimum as set by the Graduate School: http://www.grad.washington.edu/policies/memoranda/memo08.shtml)
The Department stipulates the following:
- A minimum of 4 credits of BPS or 4 credits in PTC (at least 2 must be graded)
- A minimum of 3 credits from: BIOSTAT 517, 524; STAT 502, 504, 512; or BIOEN 599 (Statistics)
- 9 graded credits selected from courses within one or more of BIOE's 5 new research themes
- A minimum of 4 graded credits of additional elective coursework (not research credits)
- Of the 13 total themes/electives credits, 13 credits must be graded at the 500-level.
The Graduate School requires the following:
- 18 credits total must be at the 500-level
- 18 graded credits are required at the 400 or 500-level
- The MS will consist of not fewer than 9 research credits (BIOEN 700). *No credits will be counted toward both degrees.
- Students will fully satisfy the requirements of each degree separately. The program provides for efficient completion of these two degrees; it does not alter the academic requirements for either.
- Although 6 credits towards the MS can be earned prior to the completion of the BS, these credits will not count toward the BS degree.
- Students will be awarded the BS prior to actually entering the graduate program.
- A breakdown of courses showing which should apply toward the MS degree must be submitted with the Master’s application to graduate.
