College of Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering
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Concurrent Degrees

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Concurrent Degrees

The concurrent BS/MS classification offers an opportunity for well-qualified Iowa State juniors and seniors to begin working on a master’s degree before completing a bachelor’s degree.

These students can be eligible to receive graduate assistantships and/or scholarships. Once the student enters the BS/MS program, they can continue on or switch to a PhD degree.

Note: Concurrent BS/MS classification does not change any of the rules for either the BS or MS degree. Specifically, it does not reduce the number of credits that are required for either the BS or MS degree. It allows the student to get a head start in completing his or her master’s degree.

  • Up to two semesters of concurrent enrollment are allowed.
  • Students must take at least 3 credits of graduate course work each semester during concurrent enrollment.
    • 500-level and above ME courses
    • Qualified 400-level and above in other majors labeled nonmajor graduate credit
  • Students can count up to 6 credits of 500-level courses in mechanical engineering for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
  • Concurrently enrolled students pay graduate tuition and fees and are eligible for graduate assistantships.

  • You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  • Students must be within 18 credits of completing the requirements.
  • An ME professor must agree to serve as your major professor.

The details for all of these concurrent programs are located in Chapter 4 of the Graduate College Handbook. Students must complete the Iowa State University graduate application at https://apps.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/online/ There are two concurrent program options available for ME undergraduate students. Students interested in the B.S./M.S. in Mechanical Engineering must have an ME graduate faculty member agree to serve as their major professor.

If a student is interested in a concurrent program not listed in Chapter 4 of the Graduate College Handbook must:

  • submit a detailed written proposal for an individualized program, co-signed by their advisers, to the Graduate College for review and approval.
  • complete the application process in Workday

The graduate certificate or degree will only be awarded at the same time as, or after, the undergraduate degree is conferred.

Students admitted to the BS/MS program will be eligible for at least a 1⁄4-time research assistantship. In some cases, students may qualify for up to a 1⁄2-time graduate assistantship. The graduate assistantship will be determined by your major professor in consultation with the DOGE. Graduate assistants receive partial tuition scholarship funds to help defray the cost of a graduate program of study.

Concurrent BS/MBA Degrees

The Iowa State University College of Engineering and the College of Business offer an integrated, concurrent program leading to a Bachelor of Science degree and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. The Engineering/MBA program is available to undergraduate students majoring in agricultural, civil, computer, electrical, industrial, or mechanical engineering. The Engineering/MBA concurrent degree program reduces by one year the normal time period for completing both degrees separately.