Physics, Accelerated 4+1 BS/MS

Introduction

The five-year B.S.+M.S. program draws on two existing degree programs:  the B.S. in Physics and the M.S. in Physics (the “Optics and Materials” and the “Optics and Medical Imaging” tracks).  The program will provide an efficient path for highly qualified advanced undergraduate students from the B.S. in Physics progam to complete both a B.S. and an M.S. degree in five calendar years, instead of the six years required of students completing conventional programs, while completing the same number of graduate classes.  The program allows for 12 credits earned for the B.S. degree to be applied towards the M.S. degree.  Upon the completion of this program, a student will be prepared for entry into a professional career or into a Ph.D. program in physics or a related discipline.  This program should appeal to those CSU students in the Honors and Scholar Programs and to students that hold jobs at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation or NASA and have degrees from two-year colleges and/or significant professional experience.

Admission Procedures

The admissions procedures for students in the 4+1-year program are the same as for conventional M.S. program admission.  Typical full-time CSU students should submit the following materials by the end of year three:

• Application to the M.S. Program
• Application fee
• Two letters of recommendation from faculty
• Undergraduate transcript

The minimum qualifications for undergraduate students to be admitted to the 5-year B.S.+M.S. program are as follows:

• 90 credit hours earned
• Enrolled in the B.S. program in physics at CSU
• Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better
• Completion of the double-counted courses (below) with grades of “B” or higher in each course

Academic Requirements

For students in the 4+1 program, the B.S. is awarded after the completion of a minimum of 120 credit hours and all General Education, University, College and Major Field requirements, as is the case for students in the conventional B.S. program.  The M.S. degree is earned, after the students have completed a minimum of 32 graduate credit hours and all coursework required of students in the conventional M.S. in program.

Students complete the following courses to be double-counted during the transition year (year 4) and must earn grades of “B” or better in each 500-level course in order to be admitted to the M.S. program and the Graduate College.

Note:

Students who have been admitted to the 5-year program after the completion of 90 hours but fail to meet subsequent 5-year program requirements, revert to conventional student status and must meet all B.S. in Physics requirements.