Graduate Track Pathway

GPT allows the student to complete the MS program in one year after earning the BS degree (4+1 years), which takes less time and at less expense than pursuing each degree sequentially (typically 4+2 years). Undergraduate students enrolled at EE or CpE program may opt to apply for the GTP program after completing 60 hours of BS program. In addition, students must formally apply for MS admission (separate from the GTP application) the semester following award of BS degree. The final BS/MS degrees may be EE/EE, EE/CpE, CpE/CpE, or CpE/EE.

Benefits of the GTP program

  • Undergraduate and graduate courses may be chosen with greater flexibility,
  • Up to 9 lecture credit hours of ECE lecture courses (5xxx-level or above) may apply to both the BS and MS requirements,
  • The 9 hours taken for shared BS/MS credit may be taken at the lower undergraduate tuition rate,
  • The GRE is not required for MS admission, and
  • Work on an MS thesis research may begin before the BS requirements are completed. In such cases, students are encouraged to enroll in EE/CpE 4099 while engaged in such research.

Admissions criteria

To be eligible for applying for the GTP program, an ECE undergraduate must: 

  • Complete 60 credit hours of undergraduate study (typically the first semester of junior),
  • Have a GPA of at least 3.0 cumulative GPA,
  • Have a GPA of at least 3.5 in all ECE courses taken (at least 18 hours), and
  • Identify an ECE faculty member who agrees to serve as the MS thesis advisor and recommend the applicant for the GTP program (for thesis option only).

To enroll in the MS program of ECE, an ECE undergraduate must: 

  • Complete the requirements of a BS degree of the ECE department,
  • Meet all criteria for regular MS admission except the GRE requirement, and
  • Formally apply for MS admission by the regular deadline to enroll as an MS student in the term immediately following the semester in which the BS degree is awarded (summer break acceptable).

 

  • If the student exits the program before completion of the MS degree requirements or fails to maintain continuous enrollment at Missouri S&T, the designated shared-credit courses (9 lecture credit hours of 5xxx-level or above) will not apply toward MS requirements in the event of future readmission.
  • If a student switches from thesis option to non-thesis option, then the designated shared-credit courses will not apply toward MS requirements, but only toward BS requirements.
  • The student is responsible for checking on how graduate coursework will affect scholarships and other financial aid. Once the student becomes a graduate student, he/she is not eligible for Federal Pell Grants, though is still eligible for Federal Financial Aid and will be eligible for fellowships and teaching/research assistantships. 
  • International students should check with International Affairs during completion of the GTP program to ensure immigration status will be maintained throughout the duration of the program.
  • All other policies are subject to those of the campus GTP Program. For more information, please see Grad Track Pathway Admission and Standards  

To be admitted into the GTP program, the student must submit the GTP Admission and Course Approval Form (Fillable) with the advisor’s approval to the Graduate Secretary. The department chair (or designee) and the Graduate Education Office review the application. Graduate coursework taken for GTP of nine ECE lecture credit hours (5xxx-level or above) must be identified on the Admission and Course Approval Form.

Courses approved for shared credit may also be applied toward one or more graduate certificates in addition to the MS degree (courses used for a specific certificate cannot be counted toward an additional certificate).  The student must include the name(s) of the intended certificate program(s) as well as the name of the intended MS program on the GTP Admission and Course Approval Form when applying for the GTP.  The student must have already applied and been admitted to the intended MS program before applying for admission to the graduate certificate program(s).  The student must receive the MS degree in order to also receive the graduate certificate(s) in the same or future semester/session.

Further Information

More details on the graduate programs and certificates are available at:

 

If you have questions, please contact Dr. Chang-Soo Kim, the Associate Chair for Research and Graduate 
Coordinator, or your undergraduate advisor.