The BAM program offers currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students the opportunity to receive both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a shorter period of time. Students receive the bachelor’s degree first, but begin taking graduate coursework as undergraduates, typically in their senior year. Because some courses are allowed to double-count for both the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees, students receive a master’s degree in less time and at a lower cost than if they were to enroll in a stand-alone master’s degree program after completion of their BS. In addition, staying at CU Boulder to pursue a BAM program enables a student to continue working with their established faculty mentors.
Early in the final semester of the undergraduate degree, students must apply to advance to graduate status by completing the master’s continuation form, with different deadlines depending on their desired time of enrollment. Students will matriculate into the master’s program without additional departmental review, as long as they meet the basic continuation requirement of a 3.25 cumulative GPA. International students must have approval from International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) prior to matriculation.
Most students in the BAM program will complete the requirements of the Professional MS program. When applying to the BAM program, applicants must select the MCEN-MSME designation to denote the MS progressional program. Students admitted to the BAM program can be switched to the MS Thesis program if they notify the graduate program at megrad@colorado.edu that they have secured a thesis advisor and wish to complete the requirements of the MS Thesis program.
To learn about BAM degree eligibility and application requirements, please visit the Mechanical Engineering BAM admissions webpage.
How the Program Works
Students may take 12 credit hours which can later be used toward the master’s degree while in the undergraduate program. However, only six credits may be double-counted toward the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree. Students must apply to graduate with their bachelor’s degree and apply to continue with the master’s degree early in the semester when the undergraduate requirements will be completed by completing the BAM Intent Form.
Note: Students who were admitted to the BS/MS program prior to July 2019 follow a concurrent Bachelor’s/Master’s structure, and the two degrees are awarded simultaneously when requirements for both degrees are met.
Learn More
Undergraduate students should contact their academic advisor (for the BS program) to determine their eligibility for BAM program admission. Students are also welcome to contact the graduate program at megrad@colorado.edu to learn more about the MS program. More BAM programs, policies and forms may be found on the Registrar’s Office website.