HELP 2014-2015 University Catalog Physics, BS/Applied and Engineering Physics, Accelerated MS Print-Friendly Page

This program allows academically strong undergraduates with a commitment to research to obtain the Physics, BS  and Applied and Engineering Physics, MS  degrees by successfully completing 144 credits. Upon completion, students are exceptionally well-prepared for entry into a professional school or a PhD program in physics or a related discipline. Well-prepared students are encouraged to apply to this program after they complete 90 undergraduate credits. Admitted students take selected graduate courses during their senior year (when they have successfully completed prerequisites) and are able to use up to 6 graduate credits in partial satisfaction of requirements for the undergraduate degree. Upon completion and conferral of the bachelor’s degree and with satisfactory performance (3.00) in the graduate courses, students are given advanced standing in the master’s program and complete an additional 24 credits to receive the master’s degree.

See the AP.6.7 Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Degrees section of the catalog for policies related to this program.

This program of study is offered by the School of Physics, Astronomy, and Computational Sciences .

Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. For policies governing all degrees, see the Academic Policies section of the catalog.

Application Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in the Admissions  section of the catalog.

Successful applicants will have an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.50 and will have completed 45 credits in physics major coursework. A recommendation letter from a research supervisor is also required. Interested applicants should then submit a letter to the undergraduate physics coordinator requesting admission along with the aforementioned recommendation letter. Contact the physics undergraduate or graduate coordinator for further details.

Accelerated Option Requirements

At the beginning of the student’s final undergraduate semester, students must submit a bachelor’s/accelerated master’s transition form (available from the Office of the University Registrar) to the College of Science’s Office of Academic and Student Affairs. Students must begin their master’s program in the semester immediately following conferral of the bachelor’s degree.

Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher in graduate coursework.

Reserve Graduate Credit

While still in undergraduate status, a maximum of 6 additional graduate credits may be taken as reserve graduate credit and applied to the master’s program. Reserve graduate credits do not apply to the undergraduate degree.