BLENDED
(4+1) PROGRAMS
|
| Cal
Poly has received permission from the CSU Chancellor's Office
for a pilot program to under certain circumstances award a bachelor's
degree and a master's degree at the same time. |
| |
| Academic
Objectives |
| 1. |
To
provide an accelerated route to a graduate professional degree,
with simultaneous award of both bachelor's and master's degrees: |
| |
- in
most cases, to allow for the possibility of students' earning
graduate credit for several of their senior electives, effectively
decreasing the summed unit requirements for both degrees.
-
to provide a seamless process whereby students can progress
from undergrad to graduate status without having to apply
through the Admissions Office (thereby eliminating the need
to pay an admissions fee)
|
| 2. |
To
provide a meaningful capstone experience that in most cases
integrates the senior project with the graduate thesis/project. |
| |
| Definition
of BMS Degree Objective |
-
Joint (blended) BS/MS
- No
"formal" application made through Admissions
- Under
Title 5, minimum of 225 total units required (BS 180 + MS
45)
- Major
code (HEGIS code) of BMS is typically the same as that for
both BS and MS (except that, where BS differs from MS, BMS
code corresponds to that of the MS)
- The
BMS matriculation code is GRADUATE status
|
| Admission
to BMS Program |
- Individual
programs determine the criteria for admission to a BMS program.
- Upon
acceptance into a program, the Graduate Coordinator notifies
the Office of Academic Records of this decision and an evaluation
of the student’s undergraduate program is prepared
and forwarded to the student and the coordinator. Students
who have exceeded the maximum number of units allowable
(see below) cannot pursue the BMS degree objective.
- Admission
to a BMS program does not constitute recognition of BMS
status (graduate status) by the Office of Academic Records.
Students are considered to be formally pursuing the BMS
Degree Objective when they change their status from undergraduate
to BMS (graduate).
|
| Eligibility
for Change of Status to the BMS Degree Objective |
| The
following are minimum eligibility requirements. |
| 1. |
The
student must successfully complete a minimum of 180 units
/ maximum 192 (maximum 205 in Engineering). These units must
count toward one or another of the two degrees (BS or MS) that
will ultimately be awarded in the blended program; they need
not be restricted to those counting toward the undergraduate
degree alone. |
| 2. |
The
student cannot enter BMS if maximum number of units exceeded
(as defined in #1). Rationale: to discourage students from remaining
in an undergraduate matriculation until all coursework has been
completed. |
| 3. |
Minimum
2.5 GPA in the last 90 quarter units attempted. Note that
students, once admitted to graduate standing, must maintain
a 3.0 GPA or better in courses that appear on the Formal Study
Plan. |
| 4. |
Prior
completion of the Graduation Writing Requirement is strongly
encouraged but not required. |
| |
| Process
for Changing Status and Minimum Duration of Status |
| 1. |
The
student makes a request to department/graduate coordinator for
change of degree objective to BMS. A draft graduate study plan
is prepared but not formally submitted to Graduate Programs
Office (the latter is not normally required until after 12 graduate
units have been completed). |
| 2. |
Department
chair or graduate coordinator, with the assistance of Evaluations,
determines whether student meets eligibility criteria (see above).
If criteria are met, coordinator sends Change of Objective form
to Office of Academic Records. Student and department both receive
a copy of the Change of Objective form once it has been processed
by the Records Office. |
| 3. |
The
student must be matriculated for at least two academic quarters
in BMS status. Change in status will take effect the quarter
following the one in which the request is received by the Records
Office. |
| |
| Process
to Award Both Degrees |
| 1. |
The
student must have a Formal Study Plan submitted to and approved
by the Graduate Programs Office (only for courses counting toward
MS); have been “Advanced to Candidacy”; and have
a minimum 3.0 GPA in courses counting toward the MS. |
| 2. |
The
student applies to graduate in the 4+1 program (BS & MS)
by submitting a Request for Graduation Evaluation to the Office
of Academic Records when all requirements in have been completed.
This request should be submitted at least one quarter prior
to graduation. |
| 3. |
When
all requirements have been met for both degrees, Records re-opens
undergraduate matriculation (secondary), posts the undergraduate
degree, then completes graduate matriculation (primary). |
| 4. |
Both
degrees are awarded at the same time and graduation ceremony. |
| 5. |
If
a student fails to complete MS requirements, but completes undergraduate
degree requirements, the undergraduate matriculation can be
re-opened in order to grant the BS degree. |
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