Academic programs
Five-Year BS/MS
Looking to accelerate your path to a graduate degree while maximizing your time and investment at UT? The Five-year BS/MS program offers high-performing undergraduates a seamless way to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. This accelerated option is ideal for students who want to deepen their technical skills, engage in advanced research, and strengthen their career prospects—all in less time than earning both degrees separately.
Program Overview
The department offers the five-year BS/MS program for qualified students who are looking to accelerate their path toward a graduate degree. Students begin taking graduate coursework during their senior year which counts toward both their BS and MS degrees. Use the drop downs below to learn more about the programs:
Aerospace Engineering
This program combines the solid fundamentals of undergraduate study with graduate-level depth in areas such as aerodynamics, propulsion, orbital mechanics, and aerospace structures. Students can participate in research alongside faculty and collaborate with industry leaders and government labs like NASA and the UT Space Institute. Earning your master’s just one year after your bachelors boosts your qualifications for competitive roles in aerospace engineering and opens doors for doctoral study or leadership in industry.
The primary component of the program is that qualified students may take up to 9 hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Tennessee. This program is designed for students attending the University of Tennessee for their Master of Science degree because other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree.
Mechanical Engineering
The department offers a five-year BS/MS Mechanical Engineering Program for qualified students who may take up to nine hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Tennessee.
Students in the five-year program often engage in research with faculty, collaborate with partners like Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and graduate with enhanced skills that make them more competitive in the job market or better prepared for doctoral study. Whether you’re focused on innovation, research, or leadership, the BS/MS program positions you for long-term success in mechanical engineering.
Program Requirements
This program is designed for students attending the University of Tennessee for their MS degree because other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for their BS degree. Significant components of the program are:
- Students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.4 to be admitted to the program. Conditional admission may be granted after completing 64 hours of required course work while full admission is granted after completing 96 hours of required course work with a minimum overall GPA of 3.4 in required course work.
- Students must at least have conditional admission before taking graduate courses for both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the departmental chair of the program. Students admitted to the program must request permission from the Graduate School to take approved courses for graduate credit. Students admitted to the program must also follow the normal procedure for admission to the Graduate School.
- Admission of students into this program must be approved by the department and the Graduate School.
- Students will not be eligible for graduate assistantships until they are enrolled as graduate-level students in the Graduate School.
To learn more about the program, contact your department advisor or the departments graduate program assistant, Julie Knoefel.