The Accelerated Graduate Degree Program (AGDP) allows qualified undergraduate students in the electrical engineering program to complete requirements for the master's degree at an accelerated pace. Currently, earning 126 or more undergraduate credit hours is required to receive a bachelor's degree. The master's degree requirement is 33 graduate credit hours with the course work option, or 30 hours with the thesis option. In case of the course work option at least 17 credits must be taken at the 6000-level. In case of the thesis option at least 15 hours must be taken at the 6000-level. Having enrolled in the AGDP a student may count up to 12 credit hours of 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies at WMU toward a master's degree in electrical engineering. Full-time students may be able to complete both the bachelor's and master's degrees in a five-year time period.
Application to the Accelerated Degree Program
A prospective student who meets the eligibility requirements (see Criteria for Admission below) must set up a meeting with the ECE undergraduate advisor and the ECE graduate advisor to complete the Accelerated Degree Program Planning form for the master's degree program.
Before admission to an AGDP can be finalized, a student must submit the standard application for admission to the Office of Admissions and Graduate Admissions including:
- Application
- Application fee
- Copy of all college transcripts
Criteria for Admission to the Accelerated Degree Program:
The student must apply through the Office of Admissions/graduate admissions and must also apply for admission to the electrical and computer engineering department. After admission into the AGDP, the student's record will indicate the AGDP status. Admission to the accelerated program is contingent on meeting the following eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program:
- A student must have at least junior standing and earned a minimum of fifteen (15) hours from the electrical and computer engineering department with a major GPA of 3.2/4.0 or better.
- A student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4/4.0 based upon credit hours earned at WMU. This GPA is based on at least 30 credit hours 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 bypass the bachelor's degree.
2. The Accelerated Degree Program Planning form for the master's degree must clearly indicate the 5000-level courses (a maximum of 12 credit hours) that will be counted for both the bachelor's and master's degrees.
3. Students will only be allowed to count a maximum of twelve (12) 5000-level credits taken during their undergraduate studies toward their master's degree. No more than twelve (12) hours of graduate work may be counted towards the requirements of both degrees.
4. Students must receive a grade of "B" (3.0/4.0) or better in the 5000-level courses taken during their undergraduate studies. Students who do not meet this criterion will have the earned grade applied to their undergraduate program only, and must apply for readmission into the graduate program.
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 a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0/4.0 is no longer eligible to count the 5000-level credit hours specified on the AGDP Planning form toward the master's degree.
3. A student who does not follow the approved AGDP Planning form 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 on the Accelerated Graduate Degree Program Planning form 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 ECE undergraduate advisor.
5. A student who becomes ineligible to participate in the accelerated degree program must be informed by the ECE undergraduate 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, at any time, withdraw from the accelerated degree program by informing both the ECE undergraduate advisor and the ECE graduate advisor, in writing. A copy of this request to withdraw must be sent to the Graduate College and the registrar's office.