Combined BS + MSCE Degree Program

The Combined BS+MSCE Degree program is an integrated program that can be completed in as little as five years. This program will allow a student to dual count up to two graduate level courses between the BS and MSCE coursework requirements, thereby reducing the overall time required for the MSCE degree. This program is only available to students in the BSCE and BSCNE programs at the West Lafayette campus.

Typical Timeline

Undergraduate Semester 5 (typically first semester of junior year)

• Attend mid-September or early February callout by the CCE Graduate Office about the Combined BS+MSCE Degree program.
• Complete and submit the BS+MSCE Program Application by due date.
  • If you will earn your BS in May, you need to complete your Combined Program application by February 28 of the previous year.  For example: BS graduation is May 2026, then your Combined Application is due to the CCE Grad Office by February 28, 2025 .
  • If you will earn your BS in December, you need to complete your Combined Program application by November 1 of the previous year. For example: BS graduation is December 2026, then your Combined Application is due to the CCE Grad Office by November 1, 2025.
  • If you are off cycle or decide after your 5th semester to apply to the Combined Program please contact your undergrad advisor and/or the CCE Grad Office for guidance. 
• Program application decision will be released early in semester 6.

Semester 6 (typically second semester of junior year)

• Submit the Graduate School Application that includes Purdue transcript and one additional letter of recommendation.
• Graduate Program application decision will be made by mid-semester.

Semesters 7 & 8 (senior year, dual degree status)

• Dual-degree status (both BS and MSCE).
• During the dual-status semesters students may complete at most 12 credits of graduate courses (e.g., four 3-credit 50000 level courses) as undergraduate technical electives. Up to six credits of these graduate courses will be added later to the MSCE plan of study, and will be “dual-counted” for both the undergraduate BS and graduate MSCE degrees.
• Progress is reviewed each semester to ensure that the requirement of 3.3 or higher cumulative GPA are met.
• BS degree awarded at the end of semester 8.

Semester 9 (MSCE degree status)

• Degree status changed to graduate student in the MSCE program.
• Graduate MSCE plan of study is due before the end of semester.

Procedures and Rules

1. Students apply to the program by submitting a Combined BS+MSCE Degree Program Application to the CE Graduate Office in semester 5 (typically the fall semester of the junior year).  The BS + MSCE Program internal application includes the Application Form, 2 letters of recommendation, and a Purdue transcript.  At least one recommendation letter should be from a Purdue Civil Engineering faculty member.
2. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 3.3 is required at the time of submission of the Combined BS+MSCE Degree program application.
3. If the BS+MSCE program application is approved, provisional admission to the BS+MSCE program is granted for semester 6. The student will be required to submit a Graduate School application that includes a Purdue transcript and one additional letter of recommendation during semester 6.
4. Upon admission to Graduate School, in semesters 7 and 8 the student will have dual-degree status until the BS degree is awarded (at end of semester 8).
5. During the dual-status semesters students may complete at most 12 credits of graduate courses (e.g. four 3-credit 50000 level courses) as undergraduate technical electives. Up to six credits of these graduate courses will be added later to the MSCE plan of study, and will be “dual-counted” for both the undergraduate BS and graduate MSCE degrees.

Important Notes

• Grades of B or better are required for the dual-counted graduate courses for graduate credit and to remain in the BS+MSCE program.
• Students must be admitted to the combined program for the dual-counted graduate courses to be counted toward the MSCE.
• The Graduate School restricts the total number of undergraduate excess courses and dual counted credits to 12 for use toward the master’s degree.
• The student's record is reviewed by the CE graduate office at the end of semesters 7 and 8:
  • The student must maintain an undergraduate CGPA of at least 3.3
  • The student should earn grades of B or better in the completed dual-counted graduate courses.
  • If the minimum CGPA of 3.3 and course grade conditions are not met, the student will be required to leave the BS+MSCE Program. When a student leaves the BS+MSCE Program (for any reason), the graduate courses taken as undergraduate electives (that were intended to be dual-counted) will be applied only to the BS degree and cannot be used for graduate credit.
• After satisfactory completion of the BS degree requirements, the BS degree will be awarded. The student will have graduate status starting in semester 9.
• A graduate plan of study must be completed before the end of semester 9. A plan of study approved by the CE graduate office is required before registration for courses for semester 10.
• Students may choose the non-thesis or thesis MSCE option. The non-thesis MSCE requires at least 30 hours of coursework (usually 10 courses). The thesis option requires at least 21 hours of coursework (usually 7 courses), and at least 9 hours of successful completion of CE 69800 (MS thesis research) which includes completion of a research project and defense of the Master’s thesis. The thesis option may require an additional semester or more to complete.
• BS+MSCE program students will be eligible to receive a research assistantship, fellowship, or a teaching assistantship in CE after their BS has been awarded (typically in semester 9).

Applying to the Program

To apply for admission to the Combined BS+MSCE Degree Program, first attend the callout. Then complete the following forms and submit them to the CE Graduate Office (we will accept paper copies or email versions):

1. Combined BS+MSCE Degree Program Application Form
2. Current, official Purdue transcript – request this to be sent directly to the CE Graduate Office from the Registrar’s office 
3. Arrange for two letters of recommendation to be submitted on your behalf.

CCE Graduate Office
550 Stadium Mall (Hampton Hall, Room 1141)
West Lafayette, IN 47907
cegrad@purdue.edu
(765) 494-2436