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Accelerated Undergraduate/Grad (UG/G) Program

AOE seniors who have an overall GPA of at least 3.3 may be eligible for Undergraduate/Graduate Status during the final two semesters of their undergraduate degree program. To obtain this status, students must submit an application to the AOE graduate program and an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree and Course Designation Form (for obtaining Undergraduate/Graduate status). The department reviews the student’s application to the graduate program and, if admission is recommended, indicates on the Admission Analysis form that the student will be accepted for Undergraduate/Graduate Status for the final two semesters of the undergraduate degree program. This acceptance must occur prior to the final semester of the undergraduate degree.

For more information on Virginia Tech’s graduate programs, including the Dual Status program, see the Graduate Catalog: http://graduateschool.vt.edu/graduate_catalog/

Policies governing the AOE Department’s UG/G Program:

Participants must be accepted into the AOE Department’s UG/G Program prior to the final two semesters (i.e., the final academic year) of the undergraduate program. The AOE Department offers the following degree options:

  • BS/MS (thesis or non-thesis option) in Aerospace Engineering
  • BS/MS (thesis or non-thesis option) in Ocean Engineering
  • BS/Direct-PhD in Aerospace Engineering

The following restrictions apply to courses that are to be counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree under the AOE UG/G Program:

  • Courses must be taken during the final two semesters (i.e., during the final academicyear) of the undergraduate degree program.
  • No more than 12 credit hours may be counted toward both degrees.
  • No more than 6 credit hours of 4XXX level course work may be counted toward both degrees; the balance must be graduate level (5XXX or 6XXX) course work.
  • The final course grade must be a “B” or higher.
  • The course may not be taken on a pass/fail basis, if a graded option is available.

Courses that are counted toward both a BS and MS degree under the UG/G program cannot subsequently be counted toward a PhD in Aerospace Engineering, provided the student is accepted into the AOE PhD Program.

Application process for the AOE Department’s Undergraduate/Graduate Program:

1. A student must have a minimum GPA of 3.3 to qualify. The applicant must apply for admission to the Master’s or Direct-PhD degree program using the Graduate School’s online application system (www.graduateschool.vt.edu).  In applying for admission to the Master’s or Direct-PhD degree program, the student should select the start date to be the semester following the one in which the Bachelor’s degree will be awarded. Application requirements include:

  • A current transcript, showing a minimum GPA of 3.3 (overall)
  • A statement of career objectives
  • A curriculum vita or resume
  • Three letters of recommendation

2. Once the application for admission has been submitted, the student must also complete the Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree and Course Designation Form, selecting Undergraduate/Graduate Status. The form is available here:  Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree and Course Designation Form

The student must indicate on this form the term in which s/he wishes to obtain Undergraduate/Graduate Status (typically Fall semester of the student’s senior year) and which courses will be counted toward both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.

This form will be reviewed and signed by the Department Head and the Graduate Program Coordinator. These signatures indicate the department’s approval for the student’s admission into the Concurrent Undergraduate/Graduate Status Program.

An Advisory Committee Chair will be assigned by the AOE Graduate Program Director at the time of admission, based on information provided in the student’s application.

3. After the Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree and Course Designation Form has been signed, the department Graduate Program Coordinator will go to the Online Admission Analysis Form in HokieSpa and formally recommend acceptance to the Graduate School for the student into the Master's degree or Direct to PhD program.

4. Once the decision has been made by the department using the Online Admission Analysis Form, the department will send the Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree and Course Designation Form to the Graduate School for review and processing. Upon receipt of this form, Graduate School staff will change the student's application type to “Undergraduate/Graduate Program.” The term will be changed to the term in which the student has indicated s/he will begin counting courses toward a graduate degree.