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Session 3255

The Accelerated BS/Master’s Industry Program In Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University

Ron Darby Texas A&M University

ABSTRACT - This paper describes a program, started in 1991, which enables the better students in Chemical Engineering to begin work toward a Master’s degree at the end of their junior year. These students can receive their BS degrees at the end of the normal four-year curriculum, and complete the requirements for a Master’s degree after one additional year. A unique feature of the program is a two- summer research or engineering project requirement which the student conducts in industry. About 30 students have participated in the program to date, which has been well received by both industry and the students.

HISTORY - In 1991, the Chemical Engineering department at Texas A&M established an Accelerated BS/Master’s Industry Program, which enables students with a GPA of 3.25 or better to begin work toward the Master’s degree at the end of their Junior year. The BS degree can be completed in the usual four years, and all requirements for either the Master of Science or Master of Engineering degree can be completed in one additional year. A key feature of the program is a research or engineering project which is conducted in industry, during two summer periods or equivalent. A total of twenty students have been accepted into the program in the first four years - five in the first year, four in the second year, six in the third year, and five in the fourth year. An additional ten students are expected to be accepted into the program this year, who will start their industry projects in the summer of 1996. Ten of these students have graduated, five with the MS degree and five with the ME degree, and another one or two should be finishing within the next six months. Three left the program before finishing to accept a job with the BS degree. Feedback from both the students and companies participating in the program so far has been uniformly very positive.

HOW IT WORKS - The accelerated aspect of the program is a provision by which these students may take up to three graduate courses during their regular senior year, and also qualify for credit-by-exam for corresponding undergraduate electives required in their curriculum. The industrial project requirement is normally done during the summers preceding and following the senior year, at the company location. This project may be either a research project for the MS degree, or an engineering project for the ME degree. Since graduate credits are also earned for the project work periods, the student can earn up to 13 hours of graduate course credit prior to receiving the BS degree, and an additional 4 hours in the following summer.

Program Requirements - The only requirements for the students to enter the program are junior level (or higher) standing in the Chemical Engineering curriculum, and a GPA of 3.25 or better. Students who qualify for the program are contacted directly at the beginning of their junior year, and asked to submit a resume’ to the program director if they are interested in participating. They are then matched with a

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Darby, R. (1996, June), The Accelerated Bs/Master's Industry Program In Chemical Engineering At Texas A&M University Paper presented at 1996 Annual Conference, Washington, District of Columbia. 10.18260/1-2--5877