Accelerated Masters

accelerated masters - Channel Bowen, a graduate assistant, in a biomechanical engineering lab

The Accelerated M.S. is a program available to ME undergraduate students that allows them to complete a significant portion of their M.S. degree during their undergraduate studies. Upon graduation from their Bachelor’s degree, students enroll in the M.S. program to complete the requirements. The Accelerated M.S. program is a Plan-A program, hence all the corresponding requirements apply. As such, the Accelerated M.S. program is a research-centered degree. Seniors enrolled in the program conduct research under the supervision of their future M.S. major advisor, typically as their Senior Design Project; it is possible (but less common) for students to participate in a regular Senior Design Project and conduct separately their research work, contingent on approval from the faculty advisor. This research continues after graduation from the Bachelor’s degree into the Master’s degree studies and forms the basis for the student’s Master’s thesis. 

In addition to conducting research during the senior year, undergraduate students enrolled in the program take 5/6000-level courses that satisfy the requirements of the M.S. degree to make progress towards the M.S. coursework requirements. As noted in the Graduate School’s academic regulations, the University allows up to 12 credits of these graduate-level courses to be used to satisfy the requirements of both the undergraduate degree and the M.S. degree (for example, to be used as ME electives for the undergraduate degree). It is strongly recommended that Accelerated M.S. students take at least two graduate-level courses during their senior year to satisfy the M.S. coursework requirements.  

The ability to conduct a significant portion of the research and coursework required for the M.S. degree during their undergraduate studies allows students enrolled in the program to complete the M.S. degree in a shorter time (typically one year) than the regular degree. Since this is a Plan-A M.S., students must write a Master’s thesis and defend it to graduate from the program. Note also that Accelerated M.S. students need only enroll in ME 6340 – Graduate Seminar during the graduate portion of their degree.  

Accelerated M.S. students working on research projects are financially supported during their master’s study (after finishing the bachelor’s degree) via a research, which is provided by the faculty member who supervises the student’s research. Often, they also work as undergraduate researchers on a paid, hourly basis during the summer term between the end of the bachelor’s degree and the beginning of the master’s degree. Note that participation in the program requires that there is no time gap between the undergraduate studies and the subsequent M.S. studies. 

The timeline for participating in the program is as follows:

Before the start of your senior year:

  • Strive to maintain excellent academic standing during your undergraduate degree. 
  • No later than the last Spring semester prior to starting ME 4972 - Senior Design Project I, contact faculty members in the school whose research areas interest you, express your intent to pursue the Accelerated M.S. program, and inquire whether they could serve as your research advisor and sponsor your Master’s study via a graduate assistantship. When working towards your Accelerated M.S. requirements, it is expected that the faculty research advisor will cover the graduate application fee. It is suggested you discuss this with your intended faculty advisor prior to submitting the form to enroll in the program. You should also discuss if the faculty advisor has an opportunity and/or expectation that you will conduct funded research during the summer semester in between your graduation from the Bachelor's degree and the start of the Master's degree. If you would like to pursue the (uncommon) option of conducting your senior-year research separate from your Senior Design project, you should also discuss this with the faculty advisor. 
  • By no later than June 15 prior to the semester you enroll in Senior Design Project I, submit the ME Accelerated Master's Mutual Agreement form. Once submitted, this form is sent to the research advisor for approval, indicating their agreement to serve as your research advisor and provide a research assistantship during the M.S. portion of your degree. The Director of Graduate Studies must also approve this form. 
  • Upon submission and approval of the form, and if you indicated in the form that your Accelerated M.S. research during your senior year will be performed as your Senior Design Project, the instructors of ME 4972 - Senior Design Project I are informed of the student's participation in the program so that the student is not assigned to a team working on a regular non-research based project. 

During your senior year:

  • Conduct research under the supervision of your research advisor as part of your Senior Design Project. While your work will be based on your research, you must complete all the assessments of Senior Design Project, including review presentations, reports, and participation in Senior Design Demo Day. 
  • Enroll in at least two graduate-level (i.e., 5/6000-level) courses during the year. 
  • Prepare (but do not submit yet) a regular graduate application for the M.S. program in your senior year, before the deadline for Fall admission (February 1.). Before submitting your graduate application, contact the school's Graduate Studies Coordinator at engr-me-dgs@uconn.edu to process the application fee waiver. If this step is omitted and you pay the application fee and submit the application, it is not possible to reimburse you. Also, as with any graduate application, you must provide 3 letters of reference. Typically, one of these letters is provided by the faculty research advisor. 
  • Submit your application. You will receive notice of the admission decision during your last Spring semester. 

During your M.S. studies:

  • Continue enrolling in courses to satisfy the remaining coursework requirements for the Plan A-M.S. degree, including registration in GRAD 6340 - Graduate Seminar. 
  • Continue working on your research and register for at least nine credits of GRAD 5950 - Master's Thesis Research. It is recommended you discuss with your major advisor how to distribute these credits during the semesters of your M.S. degree. However, note that you may enroll in up to nine credits of GRAD 5950 in a single term. 
  • Write and defend a Master's thesis. 
  • In the last semester of your M.S. studies, apply for graduation.