Concurrent BS-MS

Purpose of the program
This is a five-year degree program which leads to both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics. It enables well-qualified and motivated students to experience graduate-level course-work earlier in their education and to obtain an MS degree in a reduced time period.


Admission to the program
This program is open only to undergraduate students who are Applied Mathematics majors. Application for admission into the BS/MS program in Applied Math may be made at any time during or after the student enters his or her junior year. Minimum requirements for admission to the joint program are:

    * Satisfactory completion of at least two APPM courses numbered 3000 or higher;
    * Have a minimum overall GPA of 3.4 or higher;
    * Have a minimum GPA of 3.4 in APPM and MATH courses;
    * Two letters of recommendation from CU Boulder Department of Applied Mathematics faculty.

GRE exams are not required for admission. An application form can be obtained from the Student Coordinator in the Applied Math office, ECOT 225.

Curriculum
Students in the program should complete all requirements for the BS degree in Applied Mathematics by the end of their fourth year. Six credit hours of Applied Mathematics graduate courses can be counted towards both the undergraduate degree requirements and towards the requirements for the MS degree. All requirements for both degrees should be completed by the end of the fifth year. If necessary, a sixth year will be allowed. For the MS portion of the BS/MS program, students may elect either the thesis or non-thesis option. In theory, the minimum number of credit hours required for the BS/MS degree is 152.   Sample Curriculum

Advising
Students in the concurrent BS/MS program must have an Applied Math faculty advisor with whom they consult to compose a degree plan. This plan will include a list of courses to be taken from the semester following admission to the BS/MS program through the end of the graduate program and will ensure that the requirements for both the BS and the MS degrees are satisfied. This plan must be filed with the APPM Department Student Coordinator by the end of the third week of the first semester in which the student has been admitted into the program.

Continuation In the Program
The student mus maintain an overall GPA of 3.4 in their undergraduate courses and 3.2 in courses numbered 5000 and above. Also, students must complete a minimum of six hours of graduate credit by the end of their senior year. (Included in these credits may be any of the "double-counting" courses described in the Curriculum section above.)

Regulations
Until a student in this program satisfies all requirements for the BS degree, he/she will be governed by the rules and regulations applicable to any undergraduate major in the Applied Math department. A student in the BS/MS program, who has satisfied the BS requirements, can choose to continue their undergraduate status or can request admittance to the Graduate School. This decision should be made after consultation with their advisor and the financial aid office as this can affect financial aid.
Due to the stream-lined nature of the Concurrent BS/MS program in Applied Mathematics, students may not pursue a double major, except with the explicit permission of the Concurrent Degree Appeals Committee of the Graduate School.


Escape Plan
Students who decide not to continue in the BS/MS program must complete the usual BS requirements to obtain that degree.