BAM Program

The Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's (BAM) in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology is designed to encourage the highly motivated undergraduate who is majoring in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology to take advanced courses at an accelerated pace, engage in an independent research project, and obtain their bachelor’s (BA) and master’s (MAI) degrees in 5 years. Those interested should speak with the EBIO Graduate Program Coordinator early in their undergraduate career. 

Considerations 

Academic

Students should begin considering the BAM Program early in their undergraduate careers. Prospective students may be admitted as early as their sophomore year, spring semester. Undergraduate students in their senior year will not be admitted to the BAM Program.

The BAM program requires students to take 30 hours of graduate-level (5000+ range) courses in addition to their undergraduate requirements to graduate with a MAI degree. 6 undergraduate credits in the 4000 range may count for both undergraduate and graduate-level credit requirements. Up to 6 graduate credits (5000 range) should be completed prior to the completion of the bachelor’s degree and cannot be counted for the undergraduate credit requirements.

The BAM program follows the structure of the MAI, thesis-track program. Visit the EBIO Graduate Regulations to learn more about the degree requirements.

Contact the EBIO Graduate Program Coordinator to plan coursework and learn more about the MAI program requirements.

Financial

Funding for the MAI program is not guaranteed. This means that you are responsible for covering all associated costs, including tuition, student fees, and health insurance. We strongly encourage you to plan accordingly.

Application Requirements

Applicants considering entering the BAM Program should:

  1. Declare EBIO as their Major
  2. Have completed 12 credit hours of EBIO courses
  3. Have completed EBIO-2040, EBIO-2070, EBIO-3080 at the time of application
  4. Be on track to fulfill the Arts & Sciences core requirements
  5. Have an overall GPA of 3.0, and a 3.0 or greater GPA within the EBIO major
  6. Contact the EBIO Graduate Program Coordinator to schedule a meeting and determine if this program is right for you
  7. Contact faculty members within the department and identify a prospective research advisor that is willing to take you on as a BAM student
  8. Submit the BAM Application  before the application deadlines, March 15th and October 15th
    • Application Requirements
      • Gather letters of support from:
        • The prospective research advisor that is willing to take you on as a BAM student
        • Two additional individuals who can comment on the your performance and potential
    • Compose an essay detailing the your interest in the BAM Program. An adequate essay includes the prospective student's long-term professional goals, research interests, and how the BAM Program would assist in those endeavors. Research experience should also be included.

After Applying

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis after the application deadline by the EBIO Graduate Admissions Committee. The Committee will contact the prospective research advisor. Once applications are reviewed, the EBIO Graduate Coordinator will contact applicants with information about the Committee’s decision.

Upon admission, you are expected to complete 6 undergraduate credits in the 4000 range, 6 graduate credits in the 5000 range, begin developing your thesis project, and complete your first-semester meeting in addition to your undergraduate requirements and prior to completing your bachelor’s degree.

Contact the EBIO Graduate Coordinator at the start of the semester in which you will graduate from your bachelor’s degree to begin your transition into the MAI program.