Advisor: Peter A. Gustafson
The Accelerated Graduate Degree Program (AGDP) allows undergraduate students in aerospace engineering an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor's and master's degrees at an accelerated pace. These undergraduate students may count up to 9 (but not less than 6) credit hours of 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies toward a master's degree in aerospace engineering within 24 months of completing their bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering. These students may choose to pursue a master's degree in aerospace engineering under either the Thesis Option or the Non-Thesis Option.
This program will allow an undergraduate student majoring in Aerospace Engineering to complete an accelerated bachelor's/master's in aerospace engineering by completing either 146 combined graduate/undergraduate credit hours (if choosing the Thesis Option), or 152 combined graduate/undergraduate credit hours (if choosing the Non-Thesis Option).
The University processes for application, admission, and registration can be found at www.wmich.edu/registrar/students-forms-accelerateddegree.
Application to the AGDP Program
1. A prospective student who meets the eligibility requirements (see Criteria for Admission) must set up a meeting with the MAE undergraduate advisor and the graduate advisor to develop Plans of Work for the bachelor's and master's degree programs.
2. Before admission to an AGDP can be finalized, students must submit the standard application for admission to the Office of Admissions/Graduate Admissions including:
- an application
- an application fee
- a Plan of Graduate Work, signed by the prospective student, the undergraduate advisor and the graduate advisor
3. The Plan of Graduate Work for the master's degree must clearly indicate:
- the 5000-level courses (a maximum of 9 graduate credit hours) that will be counted for both bachelor's and master's degrees,
- the graduation date for the master's degree that meets the time limit for the AGDP (i.e. obtaining a master's degree in aerospace engineering within 24 months of completing the bachelor's degree). Any changes to the AGDP Plan of Graduate Work must be submitted in writing and approved by the graduate advisor and graduate dean.
Criteria for Admission to the AGDP
Permission to pursue an AGDP does not guarantee admission to the Graduate College. Admission is contingent on meeting the following eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program:
- Students must have completed a minimum of 80 and a maximum of 96 credit hours in their undergraduate programs, including credits earned from advanced placement.
- Transfer students must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours as a full-time student at WMU.
- Students must have a minimum accumulated grade point average (GPA) of 3.5/4.0 at WMU.
Requirements for Participation and Graduation
1. Students must complete the bachelor's degree prior to entering the master's program. Students in the AGDP may not elect to by-pass the bachelor's degree.
2. Students will only be allowed to count a maximum of nine 5000-level credits taken during their undergraduate studies toward their master's degree. Students must consult with the aerospace engineering graduate advisor to determine which courses may be applied towards the master's degree. Ordinarily, the selectable courses are those from the non-accelerated aerospace engineering master's degree program.
3. Students must receive a grade of "B" (3.0/4.0) or better in the 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies. Courses with a grade of "CB" or below cannot be counted toward their master's degree.
4. Students must complete the master's degree within 24 months from the completion of the bachelor's degree. If the master's program is not completed within these time limits, none of the 5000-level courses specified in the Plan of Graduate Work and used to meet the requirements of the undergraduate degree can be counted toward the master's degree.
Continuing Eligibility
1. It is the responsibility of the student to recognize his/her eligibility status.
2. A student completing the bachelor's degree requirements with an accumulated GPA of less than 3.25/4.0 is no longer eligible to count the 5000-level credit hours specified in the Plan of Graduate Work toward the master's degree and is automatically terminated from the AGDP.
3. A student who does not follow the approved Plan of Graduate Work may become ineligible to participate in the AGDP.
4. A student who is ineligible to participate in (or withdraws from) the AGDP cannot count any of the courses specified in the Plan of Graduate Work for both bachelor's and master's degrees. These courses, however, may be counted toward the student's bachelor's degree upon the discretion of the undergraduate advisor.
5. A student who becomes ineligible to participate in the AGDP must be informed by the graduate advisor in writing of his/her ineligibility. A copy of this letter to the student must be sent to the Graduate College.
Withdrawal
A student may withdraw from an approved AGDP at any time by informing the advisor of undergraduate programs and the graduate advisor in writing. A copy of this request to withdraw must be sent to the Graduate College for approval.