Accelerated B.S./M.S. in Civil Engineering

Program Overview
The Accelerated B.S./M.S. in Civil Engineering allows students to complete both degrees efficiently in approximately five years (freshmen) or three years (transfer students) by applying up to 6 credits of graduate coursework toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. Full completion requires a minimum of 152 semester hours comprising 128 undergraduate and 30 graduate credits, with the dual-counted component.

Requirements

Credit Requirements

  • Minimum Total Credits: 152
  • Undergraduate (B.S.) Credits: 128
  • Graduate (M.S.) Credits: 30
  • Maximum Dual-Counted Credits: 6 graduate credits that meet both B.S. open elective and M.S. elective requirements

Bachelor of Science — Civil Engineering (128 credits total):

  • Refer to Civil Engineering undergraduate catalog for breakdown of General Education, Liberal Arts/Sciences, Core Civil Engineering courses, Electives, and Open Electives.

Master of Science — Civil Engineering (30 credits total):

  • Core Foundation Courses (6 credits)
  • Electives (Engineering and General): 15–21 credits (depends on Thesis or Non-Thesis path)
  • Thesis (9 credits) — Thesis Option
  • OR Project/Comprehensive Exam — Non-Thesis Option
  • See elective list for approved graduate CE courses at MS civil engineering catalog.

Dual-Counting Details:
Graduate-level Civil Engineering electives may satisfy both B.S. open elective requirements and M.S. electives if approved for overlap. Core graduate courses (MAT 515 and CE 573), thesis/project credits (CE 590/CE 580), and B.S. core courses do not qualify for dual counting.

Status & Transition of Tuition
Students remain classified as undergraduates until they complete 128 credit hours. At that point, tuition charges shift to the graduate rate. The B.S. degree is conferred as soon as its requirements are satisfied; students continue with the M.S. portion with overlapping credits applied where eligible.

Academic Standing
To remain in the Accelerated B.S./M.S. program, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in each of the following categories (for courses taken at SUNY Poly):

  1. All courses applicable to the undergraduate degree
  2. All Civil Engineering courses applicable to the undergraduate degree
  3. All graduate-level Civil Engineering courses

The following procedure will be implemented if the minimum above is not met:

  • GPA below 3.0 in any category → Academic Probation
  • Probation for two consecutive semesters OR GPA drops below 2.5 in any category → Program Dismissal
  • Students dismissed but still in good standing in the B.S. curriculum will be reassigned to the B.S. program to complete undergraduate requirements.

Admission to the B.S./M.S. Program
Admission is available through one of three pathways:

  1. Entering First-Year Students
    • Must earn B or better in foundational courses: MAT 151 (Calculus I), MAT 152 (Calculus II), MAT 260 (Differential Equations), and additional science/mathematics-core civil engineering courses.
    • Must maintain a GPA of ≥ 3.0 by the end of the semester in which 60 credits are completed.
  2. Transfer Students
    • Transfer students must have completed equivalent foundational courses with grades of B or better and have a transfer GPA of ≥ 3.0.
  3. Current SUNY Poly Students Seeking Admission
    • Must also maintain overall GPA ≥ 3.0 and major GPA ≥ 3.0, with required foundational courses completed.
    • Must have completed ≤ 94 credits toward the B.S. and be positioned to complete it within 128 credit hours.

Admission may be granted to applicants who do not fully meet stated requirements, at the discretion of the Civil Engineering program.