Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's

Accelerate your education.

The Bachelor’s / Accelerated Master’s (BAM) degree program offers enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students the opportunity to receive a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a shorter period of time. You will receive a bachelor’s degree first, but begin taking graduate coursework as an undergraduate (typically in your senior year).

Because some courses are allowed to double count for both the BS and the MS degrees, you will receive a master’s degree in less time and at a lower cost than if you were to enroll in a standalone master’s degree program after completion of your baccalaureate degree. In addition, staying at CU Boulder to pursue a BAM program enables students to continue working with their established faculty mentors.

Curriculum & Requirements

You may take up to 12 hours while in the undergraduate program, which can later be used toward the master’s degree. However, only six credits of solely ECEN 5000+ level course work may be double-counted toward the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree. Double-counted classes must be 5000 level or higher classes, with additional restrictions depending on the master's degree. You must apply to graduate with the bachelor’s degree and apply to continue with the master’s degree early in the semester in which your undergraduate requirements will be completed, but are encouraged to apply sooner. Please see below for deadlines.

Note: Students who were admitted prior to July 2019 follow a concurrent Bachelor’s/Master’s structure, and the two degrees are awarded simultaneously when requirements for both degrees are met.

The following BAM programs are available in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering:̀ư

Bachelor of Sciencèưin one of the following:

Graduate degree in one of the following:̀ư

Admission Requirements

The Bachelor’s-Accelerated Master’s program is available to students pursuing a Bachelor of Science. Please work with your academic advisor to discuss the application process during the term you are completing your final prerequisite courses.

General Requirements

In order to gain admission to the BAM programs named above, a student must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a cumulative and major GPA of̀ư3.00 or higher. This policy is strictly enforced.
  • Have no MAPS deficiencies.
  • Have at least junior class standing.
  • Have completed 90 course credit hours of undergraduate study (not including some kinds of International Baccalaureatèưor Advanced Placement̀ưcredit hours).
  • Have completed all prerequisite coursework requirements with a C grade or higher at the time of admission.

Prerequisite Coursework

  • ECEN 2250: Introduction to Circuits/Electronics̀ừừư
  • ECEN 2260: Circuits as Systems
  • ECEN 2270: Electronics Design Lab
  • ECEN 2350: Digital Logic
  • ECEN 3350: Programming Digital Systems or ECEN 2360 Programming Digital Systems
  • ECEN 3360: Digital Design Lab or ECEN 2370 Embedded Software Engineering
  • ECEN 3810: Introduction to Probability Theory or one of the following accepted substitutes:
    • APPM 3570 Applied Probability
    • MATH 4510 Introduction to Probability
    • STAT 3100 Applied Probability
  • If you are an EEEN student or started prior to fall 2020, you will need two of the following Analog Core Courses:
    • ECEN 3250: Microelectronics
    • ECEN 3300: Linear Systems
    • ECEN 3400: Electromagnetic Fields and Waves
  • If you are an ECEN student who started in fall 2020 or later, yoùưwill need one Analog Core Course (listed above)̀ưand one of the following:
    • ECEN 3753 – Real-Time Operating Systems
    • CSCI 3753 – Design and Analysis of Operating Systems

For the spring 2020, fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters, courses taken pass/fail may be used for the BAM prerequisites, but a P+ grade is required.

Steps to Apply

Verify that all general requirements and prerequisite coursework are satisfied before submitting any application materials.

1. Submit Application Materials

Eligible students may apply for the BAM program by completing thèư.̀ư

The following dates are department deadlines for submitting the form, though we suggest submitting sooner when possible:

  • Sept. 15 for those earning their BS degree in fall̀ư
  • Jan. 10̀ưfor those earning their BS degree in spring̀ư
  • Feb. 15 for those earning their BS degree in summer

If these deadlines are missed, we cannot guarantee admissions to the BAM program.

2. Prepare for Continuation

Complete your undergraduate degree and change your status from undergraduate to graduate by the following deadlines:

  • Oct. 1 for those earning their BS degree in fall̀ư
  • Feb. 1 for those earning their BS degree in spring̀ư
  • March 1 for those earning their BS degree in summer

Questions?

Undergraduate students should contact their academic advisor (for the BS program) to learn more about BAM programs offered with their particular undergraduate degree program. You are also welcome to contact the relevant graduate program advisor (for the MS program) to learn more about the master’s program and to determine their eligibility for admission to the BAM program.