ABM Program
Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program (ABM)
Materials Science and Engineering
The Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's program gives NC State's top-performing undergraduate Materials Science and Engineering majors the opportunity to earn an additional master's degree in one year. The major benefit is that up to four graduate courses (12 credit hours) taken while the student is still an undergraduate may be counted towards both their bachelor's degree and master's degree.
The initial steps for Materials Science and Engineering majors interested in becoming ABM participants and who have earned at least 75 hours toward their undergraduate program are:
Read the Graduate School Handbook on the Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program, starting with Student Eligibility Requirements.
Review the graduate degree choices:
Meet with your academic advisor AND the Director of Graduate Programs (DGP)
How to Apply
If you decide the ABM program is the right path for you, you will submit the standard application for admission to the Graduate School including:
An application
An application fee
A copy of all transcripts
Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your work (MSE requirement)
A statement of purpose (MSE requirement)
ABM Plan of Work (see below)
ABM Plan of Work
In consultation with the MSE Student Coordinator, Hillary Stone, and the Director of Graduate Programs, Dr. Doug Irving, ABM applicants complete an "ABM Plan of Work" as part of the application; a fillable template is available here.
The Plan of Work should clearly show:
The courses (a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours, 500-level) that will be double-counted for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees
The courses that will be taken after matriculating into the graduate program (500 or 700-level).
The graduation date for the master’s degree that meets the time limit for the ABM program
Notes:
All double-counted courses must be completed before the undergraduate graduation date.
Any deviations from the approved ABM Plan of Work form, require that the updates be approved by the Directors of Undergraduate and Graduate Programs as well as the Graduate School.
After preparing the plan, sign it yourself and get the approval and signature of the MSE Undergraduate Student Coordinator, (Ms. Hillary Stone) and the Director of Graduate Programs (Dr. Doug Irving).
Then, when you prepare the online application and have entered North Carolina State University in your education history and the expected date your bachelor's degree is conferred, a place will appear at the bottom of the Personal Statement and Resume section to upload a scanned copy of the approved ABM Plan of Work.
Eligibility Requirements
Students may apply once they have completed a minimum of seventy-five credit hours in their undergraduate programs, including credits earned from advanced placement, but prior to the completion of their bachelor’s.
Transfer students must have completed a minimum of 24 hours as a full-time student at NC State.
Students must have a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.500 at NC State at the time of admission into the ABM program. This GPA must be maintained throughout their undergraduate program to remain in an ABM program.
Students must receive a grade of B or better in the double-counted graduate-level courses (500 or 700 level) while maintaining a 3.500 GPA. Courses with a grade of B- or below cannot be double counted between the two degrees.
If students’ undergraduate GPAs drop below 3.500, the DGP must inform the directors of their undergraduate programs and the students in writing of their ineligibility. A copy of this letter must also be sent to the Graduate School.
A student who is ineligible to participate in or withdraws from the ABM program, cannot double count any courses for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Students in the ABM must receive the bachelor’s degree prior to entering graduate status.
Contact Information
Dr. Doug Irving, Director of Graduate Program, dlirving@ncsu.edu
Dr. Yara Yingling, Professor and Undergraduate Program Director, ygyingli@ncsu.edu
Ms. Hillary Stone, Student Coordinator/Undergraduate Academic Advisor, hmstone2@ncsu.edu