Accelerated Master’s (4+1) programs
The accelerated (also known as 4+1) undergraduate/master’s studies options allow the most qualified UM-Dearborn undergraduate students to pursue a program in which both BSE and MSE degrees are earned in an accelerated format. This is achieved by combining a portion of undergraduate and graduate coursework, as described below.
The following accelerated master’s options are currently available to students of our undergraduate degree programs:
- BSE in Bioengineering combined with MSE in Bioengineering
- BSE in Mechanical Engineering combined with MSE in Bioengineering
- BSE in Mechanical Engineering combined with MSE in Mechanical Engineering
- Concurrent BSE in Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering combined with MSE in Bioengineering
The following accelerated master's options will be available for Fall 2025:
- BSE in Bioengineering combined with MSE in Materials Science and Engineering
- BSE in Mechanical Engineering combined with MSE in Automotive and Mobility Systems Engineering
- BSE in Mechanical Engineering combined with MSE in Materials Science and Engineering
- Concurrent BSE in Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering combined with MSE in Automotive and Mobility Systems Engineering
- Concurrent BSE in Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering combined with MSE in Materials Science and Engineering
- Concurrent BSE in Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering combined with MSE in Mechanical Engineering
Only one such option can be pursued. Interested students must apply for admission to the program as described below.
To be eligible for an accelerated master’s option, a student must be enrolled in an undergraduate program offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Admitted students can double-count up to 9 credits of 500-level or above elective, core, or cognate courses of the intended graduate program taken during their junior or senior years. Of these, only one cognate course is allowed. The double-counted courses are typically applicable to the elective portion of the BSE curriculum.
Additionally, another 6 credit hours earned but not applied to the bachelor degree can later be counted toward the master’s degree.
1. Participation in the accelerated master’s option is limited to students who have completed at least 60 undergraduate credit hours and have attained junior standing.
2. Admission to the option is at the discretion of the graduate program committee and requires a pre-admission interview. The admission committee will consider students on a case-by-case basis.
3. The admission process is initiated by completing the online graduate application with a "Yes" response to the accelerated master’s option question.
4. The minimum GPA for consideration in the program is 3.2 and the preferred GPA is 3.4.
5. At the moment of application for admission, the student must have completed the following courses with grades of B+ or better:
- BSE in Mechanical Engineering combined with MSE in Automotive and Mobility Systems Engineering
- ME 230 and ME 260
- At least two of the following: ME 325, ME 345, ME 349, ME 3601, ME 364
- Students must select one of the following concentrations: Powertrain and Performance, Design and Manufacturing, General
- BSE in Mechanical Engineering combined with MSE in Bioengineering
- ME 230, ME 260, ME 325
- ME 345 or ME 349
- BSE in Mechanical Engineering combined with MSE in Materials Science and Engineering
- ME 230 and ME 260
- At least two of the following: ME 325, ME 345, ME 349, ME 3601, ME 364
- BSE in Mechanical Engineering combined with MSE in Mechanical Engineering
- ME 230 and ME 260
- At least two of the following: ME 325, ME 345, ME 349, ME 3601, ME 364
- BSE in Bioengineering combined with MSE in Bioengineering
- ME 230 and ME 265
- At least two of the following: BENG 325, BENG 351, BENG 370, BENG 375, BENG 381
- BSE in Bioengineering combined with MSE in Materials Science and Engineering
- ME 230 and ME 265
- At least two of the following: BENG 325, BENG 351, BENG 370, BENG 375, BENG 381
- Concurrent BSE in Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering combined with MSE in Automotive and Mobility Systems Engineering
- ME 230 and ME 260
- At least two of the following: ME 325, ME 345, ME 349, ME 3601, ME 364
- Concurrent BSE in Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering combined with MSE in Bioengineering
- ME 230 and ME 260
- At least two of the following: BENG 325, BENG 351, BENG 370, BENG 375, BENG 381
- Concurrent BSE in Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering combined with MSE in Materials Science and Engineering
- ME 230, ME 260, and ENGR 250
- At least two of the following: BENG 325, BENG 370, BENG 375, BENG 381, ME 325, ME 345, ME 349, ME 3601, ME 364
- Concurrent BSE in Mechanical Engineering and Bioengineering combined with MSE in Mechanical Engineering
- ME 230 and ME 260
- At least two of the following: ME 325, ME 345, ME 349, ME 3601, ME 364
1. Students must attain a grade of B or better in each 500-level class taken as an undergraduate student and used for graduate credit in the accelerated master’s option. Failure to do so may result in removal from the option.
2. It is recommended that students applying for the option discuss their plans of study with the graduate programs coordinator and the ME department chair.
Deferred enrollment by accelerated master’s students into the graduate program is not permitted. In cases of medical or personal matters, a special request for deferment can be made by petition to the graduate program committee.