5-Year B.S./M.S. in SBES:
( VT Campus Only)

SBES participates in the University Honors level 5-year B.S./M.S. program on the VT Campus. Application to this program is available to VT students who. . . .

1. are pursuing an engineering undergraduate degree at VT

2. have at least a 3.5 GPA or better

3. have completed 90 hours of undergraduate-level work

4. have at least two more semesters to complete all B.S. requirements

Acceptance into the program allows the student to ‘double-count’ up to 12 hours of graduate-level coursework which is chosen in advance and taken during the senior year. Successful completion of the courses with no less than a “B” average is required in order for them to count toward both degrees.

Participation in this program requires the student to work closely (and well in advance) with the advising offices of two departments to ensure that requirements for both degrees are met without conflict. The application procedure should begin during the spring semester of the student’s junior year, so that processing can take place during the normal application season for new students beginning the following fall semester. The student needs to confer with the Graduate Coordinator of SBES as well as the undergraduate advisor in his/her ‘home’ department in order to choose the courses which will be double-counted.

Application Requirements:

1) Students apply through the normal VT online application process with CollegeNet. Note: There is no “5yr BS/MS” choice given on the application, so students will choose the M.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering.

2) Application fee of $45.00 is paid to the Graduate School at the time of application.

3) GRE exams must be scheduled and taken

4) The following supplemental documents must be submitted:

a) Three letters of recommendation *
b) Transcript (printed copy of Hokie Spa version will suffice)
c) SBES Applicant Supplemental Page (available from Graduate Office if it does not appear as part of the CollegeNet application – see SBES Graduate Coordinator)
d) 5-yr. Course Designation Form

* One letter must be from an SBES faculty member who would consider serving as an advisor

All application materials are submitted directly to the SBES Graduate Office rather than the graduate school. Processing takes place when all materials (including GRE scores) have been submitted.

Other Instructions/Considerations:

• Coursework taken prior to acceptance into the 5-yr program cannot be double-counted.

• Students are advised to consult with the SBES Graduate Coordinator before beginning to work on the forms involved in this process, particularly the Course Designation Form.

• Once the designated courses are in place, no changes may be made unless a course is cancelled by the university.

• The completed application packet will be sent to the Honors Committee for final assessment of eligibility for the program. From there the packet proceeds to the Graduate School for processing. A decision letter is sent to the student from the Graduate School with enclosed forms.

• Upon completing the B.S. degree and the designated courses, the student submits the forms enclosed in the graduate school’s letter. One is a Change of Status which goes to the Graduate School. The other is a form which goes to the Registrar’s office listing the courses that have been completed and are to be double counted. This action initiates the formation of a graduate transcript.

• Five-year students are not eligible for graduate scholarships, fellowships, or graduate financial aid (GTA/GRA) until the B.S. degree is awarded and their status changes to Master’s level.