The five-year combined BS-MS degree program in the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology (BS/MS program) enables outstanding students to complete their bachelor's and master's degrees in a total of five years, rather than the usual six or more years.
The program entails no alteration to the requirements for either degree, but does allow students to count up to twelve credits of AT graduate level courses toward both degrees, which reduces the total time for the MS degree. Additionally, with advanced placement credit, credit by examination at Purdue, full course loads, summer courses, or a combination of these during the BS program, students can complete both degrees in no more than five years from the beginning of their Aviation Technology BS studies.
If you are interested, please consult with your academic advisor as early as possible on how to arrange your BS program of study so as to reduce the number of particularly demanding AT and non-AT courses left to be completed during your senior year. The senior year course load will need to consider the additional load of completing graduate courses.
Admission
At the beginning of the sixth semester of an eight-semester BS program (2nd semester junior year), apply to the graduate program to begin graduate study the following semester in the BS/MS combined degree program. This program is offered only as a residential program; it is not offered online.
Requirements to be considered for admission to the BS/MS program include a minimum 3.5 GPA for AT courses, a cumulative Purdue GPA of at least 3.2, and projected completion of at least 93 of the 120 credits required for graduation by the end of semester 6 in an AT BS plan of study. There must be a plan to complete the MS degree within one calendar year of the BS program completion.
Either GRE or GMAT scores are required for applications to this special program beginning with the applicants for the Spring 2025 semester.
Steps:
- Start a Purdue Graduate School application here. Note that questions regarding GRE scores are not required for this program. Apply for the BS/MS Combined Degree program within the Polytechnic Institute’s Aviation Technology program offerings.
- Submit the resume and Statement of Purpose electronically with your online application. Please include three faculty members as recommendation references in the application.
- Ask your undergraduate academic advisor to provide verification that you meet the academic requirements for the program (GPA and BS graduate date), and have a plan to dual count up to four graduate courses. Complete the planning form with your undergraduate advisor and submit to the SATT Graduate Coordinator. In addition, a student verification form must be completed. The Graduate Coordinator uploads these two forms into the student’s application to Graduate School.
- Submit a certified copy of your college transcripts electronically with your application.
- Submit the application to the Purdue Graduate School.
- Pay the application fee.
The program requires all credits to be completed in residence, not online.
Deadline for completion of applications:
For admission in Fall: March 1
For admission in Spring: October 1
Students must maintain and graduate with at least a 3.0 graduate GPA in both programs. There is a 12-credit-hour limit to the total number of graduate credits taken while an undergraduate student that may be used toward the MSAAM. Students should read the MSAAM Handbook for more information.
Students who leave the program, whether for failure to meet the program requirements or by withdrawal, will cease to be graduate students but may continue as undergraduate students if they have not been awarded the BS. They may apply for regular admission to graduate study; but, as they are no longer in the combined degree (3+2) program, the students will not be permitted to use any graduate courses on the graduate plan of study that were used to fulfill BS requirements.
Please contact the SATT Graduate Office, atgrad@purdue.edu, with any questions you may have regarding the BS/MS combined degree program.
