BE/MS Accelerated Program

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers an “Accelerated (Five-year) Bachelor of Engineering/Master of Science Program” to qualified Stony Brook undergraduate ME students. If admitted, students are able to take a specified number of graduate courses that will be counted towards both their undergraduate and graduate degree requirements; subsequently reducing the total time needed to obtain the M.S. degree.

The benefits of the program are:

• It allows students to apply graduate courses taken during their undergraduate years toward both undergraduate and the graduate degrees. As a result, students can complete the both degrees in five years (i.e., just one extra year/two semesters). Generally, three or four semesters are needed to obtain a M.S. degree in the graduate program.
• The application process is simple as it does not involve submission of a formal application form or letters of recommendation as required for regular graduate program admissions.

About the Program

The Accelerated BE/MS program is designed to allow mechanical engineering students with good academic standing to graduate with both a Bachelor's and  Master's degree in five years. This is enabled by allowing undergraduate students in the program to take multiple graduate courses as their undergraduate technical electives. These graduate courses will also be counted towards their Master's degree. Due to the Graduate School policy, up to two courses taken during an undergraduate student may be counted for the both degree.  Note that if the third elective is taken during a graduate student, up to three courses may be double counted. However it is not generally recommended as it would delay a student to satisfy the B.E. requirement as well as require to take nine courses during the fifth year as a graduate student.

*Please see our list of "Frequently Asked Questions" below for more information about the application process, registering for graduate courses, and more. 

The table below shows a typical course sequence for the last two years of study.  Note that the M.S. degree requirements as described in the MS Degree Requirements Page must be satisfied.

*Mechanical Engineering Seminar (0 credit) course required for full-time ME graduate students.

Frequently Asked Questions for Accelerated BE/MS Students 

• What are the requirements for Admission to the Accelerated BE/MS Program?
  Admission to the program is determined by cumulative GPA at the end of the most recently completed semester. You must be a Mechanical Engineering student with a cumulative 3.2 GPA at the time of application.  The Graduate School also requires a minimum 3.0 GPA at the end of senior year in order to matriculate into the Master's portion of the program. 
  
  Application forms should be submitted between spring semester junior year and fall semester senior year. Students must have taken all of the required junior-year courses at the time of application. 
• I am interested in the Accelerated BE/MS Program - How can I apply?
  Please email the Graduate Program Coordinator to declare your intention to apply.  You should include your full name and SBU ID# in the email.  If you request is approved, you will be sent an offer letter which you will sign and return by email.  GPC will then submit the "Declaration Form"  and Signed Offer Letter to the Graduate School on your behalf.  Once your application has been forwarded and processed by the Graduate School, you will need to complete an additional Google Form to request enrollment in the graduate-level classes. 
• I have been accepted to the Accelerated Program - How do I enroll in Graduate Classes?
  During each semester of senior year, you will need permission to enroll in graduate classes on SOLAR while you are still in undergraduate student status. To enroll in graduate classes, please submit the Permission to Enroll in Graduate Classes (APP) Google Form.  Please note: students must obtain written email permission from the Undergraduate Program Director and Graduate Program Director to submit this form. 
  
  To obtain an email permission from the Program Directors, please include the following in your email: 
  -Your full name
  -Your SBU ID#
  -Exact name/number of the course you are requesting to enroll 
  -Number of credits you want to enroll 
  (Failure to include the information above may result in a delay to receive approval for your request.)  
• I am planning to begin my graduate career next semester - How does the process work?
  In their final undergraduate semester, students in the Accelerated/Combined Program will complete an "Application to Graduate School for the Accelerated Bachelors/Masters Degree" form.  *This is different from the application to the accelerated program you would have completed initially. 
  
  Please Note: You will need to upload an email approval from the Graduate Program Director and signed admission letter along with this form. Once approved by the Director,  the Graduate Program Coordinator may send you an offer letter. If all is approved by the Graduate School, you will then be matriculated into the graduate portion of your career.  Once you are matriculated as a graduate student, you will be able to register for graduate courses without the Permission to Enroll form.  
• What if I am no longer interested in pursuing the MS degree?
  You will earn your BE degree once you have fulfilled all the requirements regardless if you continue in the accelerated program or not.  If you plan to withdraw from the MS portion of the program, please email mechanicalengineeringgraduate@stonybrook.edu for the necessary forms. 
• Can I attend the graduate portion of the program as a part-time student after completing the B.E. degree?
  Yes. In this case, you will not be able to finish both degrees in five years.  However, you will still be able to pursue the MS portion of the program as a part-time student.
• Am I required to attend "New Graduate Student Orientation" as an Accelerated MS Student?
  Yes. Once you become a graduate student in your fifth year, you are required to attend the "New Graduate Student Orientation" session that is generally given one week before the start of the Fall semester.
• Is campus housing available?
  If you are living on campus, you are expected to move from Undergraduate to Graduate Housing once you begin your Graduate Career during the fifth year.  However, a grace period of six months may be granted.  For more information please contact Campus Residences Office directly. 
• What about financial support?
  In general, you are expected to be self-funded and would not normally be considered for a Tuition Scholarship. You cannot be considered for  Teaching Assistant (TA) positions since TA positions are only offered to graduate students in the Ph.D. program, according to the Graduate School policy.  Research Asisstant (RA) positions may be offered, but only in special cases due to the shortened length of the program. However, the SPIR program may offer opportunites to work part-time at local companies with a stipend and tuition waiver. Please contact Lisa Chichura, Ph.D., for more information (lisa.chichura@stonybrook.edu). 
• I have additional questions, who should I contact for more information?
  You may contact the Graduate Program Director (GPD) for specific program or course-related inquiries or the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) for administrative inquiries. 
  
  The best way to contact the department is by email: 
  mechanicalengineeringgraduate@stonybrook.edu