Finish Faster in 5 Years
Complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s non-thesis degree in five years. This is accomplished by completing 60 hours of coursework during the first several years at Mines. After that is completed, students enroll in bachelor’s and masters-level courses and apply to the graduate program of interest. At the end of the fourth year, students graduate with a bachelor’s degree and complete their graduate-level coursework in the fifth year, earning a Master’s Non-Thesis degree.
The number of credits, limitations and specific courses are subject to change. It is highly recommended to work with the respective department/program to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information when making your decisions to pursue a combined program.
Leverage Your Undergraduate Research
If your undergraduate research experience has led you to consider a thesis-based graduate degree, consider combining your bachelor’s degree with either a thesis MS or a PhD at Mines. The application process is the same as above. The only difference is that you should discuss possible research projects, even an extension of what you may have already done, with potential faculty advisors before applying.
Reasons to Pursue a Combined Program
- You want to earn a graduate degree in your field or another field that compliments your undergraduate major.
- You want to enroll in an accelerated program and be on the fast track for advancement to leadership positions.
- You want to strengthen your admissions application for a doctoral program.
HOW IT WORKS
- Contact the academic department offering the graduate degree you are interested in to learn more about their program offerings and application requirements to confirm that they align with the requirements listed below (subject to change).
- Review the graduate admissions application deadlines. The deadline to apply for the combined program is the same as the program’s deadline listed on our deadline pages.
- Complete 60 undergraduate credit hours at Mines.
- Upon completion of 60 credit hours, a Trailhead button “GRADSCHOOLS@Mines” will appear in your account. Click on this button to start the application process.
- Apply at least one term before your expected graduation date. Example: Apply to the spring 2023 semester in the fall of 2022 if you are graduating with your undergraduate degree in May of 2023.
- You will receive an email indicating that you’ve started your combined application and will provide your Admissions Application and Applicant Portal login credentials.
- Complete/submit your application and fulfill your admissions application file requirements.
Learn more about the combined program in the Mines Catalog.
Application Requirements
- Application Fee: Waived. Respond to the prompts in the application appropriately indicating your affiliation and the fee will be covered.
- Transcript: You will need to submit one (1) official copy of transcripts from all universities/colleges you have attended. Official Mines undergraduate/graduate transcripts are not needed. Please download your Mines unofficial transcript from Trailhead and upload this as your unofficial Mines transcript.
- Letters of Recommendation: Please have your recommenders submit letters through the online application system or by email to: grad-admissions@mines.edu. Letters of recommendation should be solicited from recommenders who know your academic and professional capabilities. They should also describe your qualifications for the specific degree program to which you are applying. You should always contact recommenders to discuss using them as a reference. Please contact the Office of Admissions or your department of interest to determine the number of letters required.
- Graduate Record Exams (GRE): Many departments waive the GRE requirement for Mines undergraduate students applying to a combined program. However, some departments require the GRE for combined program students. Please review your graduate program webpage to determine if GREs are required.
- Statement of Goals/Purpose: The purpose of the statement of goals is to introduce yourself to the Graduate Admissions Review Committee. In the statement, you should address professional and personal goals and why Colorado School of Mines is the best place to achieve those goals. In addition, any skills or experience you have that you think are applicable to a Teaching Assistantship or Research Assistantship award should be addressed in the statement. It is typically one to two pages in length.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV): You will need to upload a current resume. The Career Center is a great resource!
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APPLICATION DEADLINES
MASTER’S NON-THESIS APPLICATION DEADLINES
Spring 2023: January 2, 2023
Fall 2023: August 1, 2023
MASTER’S THESIS & DOCTORATE (PHD) APPLICATION DEADLINES
Graduate Admissions Application Deadlines
Degrees Eligible for Mines Combined Program
| Graduate Program | Hours of credit | Limitations on double-counting | Specific classes (if listed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Energy Systems | Up to six hours of credits | Any 400+ level courses that count towards the undergraduate degree requirements as “Elective Coursework” or any 500+ level course, may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the graduate advisor. | 400+, 500+ |
| Advanced Manufacturing | Up to six hours of credits | Any courses that count towards the graduate degree requirements as either “Required Coursework” or “Elective Coursework,” may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the advisor (MS Non-Thesis) or thesis committee (MS Thesis or PhD). | MEGN511, MEGN515, MLGN505, MTGN514, MTGN531, (etc…) |
| Applied Mathematics and Statistics | Up to six hours of credits at the 500 level | As defined in the catalog, students pursuing the Master of Science degree may count up to six credits from courses at the 400-level. Additionally, students enrolled within the combined program may choose up to six credits of MATH coursework at the 500-level (that has been successfully completed with a grade of B or above) to double count. | Currently at 500 level and after taking five classes with MATH prefix higher than 225 |
| Chemical and Biological Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | Students enrolled within the combined program may choose up to six credits of CBEN coursework at the 400-level and above (that has been successfully completed with a grade of B or above) to double count, that is, apply towards both their Bachelor of Science degree requirements and their Master of Science degree requirements simultaneously. | CBEN507, Applied Mathematics in Chemical Engineering 3.0, CBEN509, Advanced Chemical Engineering, Thermodynamics 3.0, CBEN516, Transport Phenomena 3.0, CBEN518 Reaction Kinetics, and Catalysis 3.0 |
| Chemistry | Up to six hours of credits | Any courses that count towards the graduate degree requirements as either “Required Coursework” or “Elective Coursework”, as defined in the catalog, may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the advisor (MS Non-Thesis) or thesis committee (MS Thesis or PhD). These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | None specified |
| Civil and Environmental Engineering | Up to six hours of credits at the 400 level or higher | The Civil & Environmental Engineering Combined undergraduate/graduate program allows courses at the 400 level and above to be used for double counting. Students with uninterrupted registration from the time a Mines undergraduate degree is earned to the time a Mines graduate degree begins are eligible. For eligible students whose courses meet these criteria, have been passed with a “B-” or better, and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit, up to 6 credit hours can be double-counted, per the Mines Graduate Catalog. | None specified |
| Computer Science | None | Current Mines undergraduate students are encouraged to apply for the combined program once they have taken five or more Computer Science classes at Mines. (Classes transferred from other universities will not be considered.) Students should have an overall GPA of at least 2.5 and a GPA of 3.2 for courses in the major. The calculation of GPA in the major will be based on all 200-level or above CSCI courses except those excluded in the catalog (i.e., CSCI274, CSCI370 and CSCI499). If a course is taken multiple times, all of the grades will be included into the GPA calculation. Interested students with a lower GPA must include in their statement of goals/personal statement a section explaining why they should be admitted to the program. | This requirement may be met by any 200-level or above course with a CSCI prefix (e.g., CSCI261, CSCI306, CSCI442, etc.), excluding CSCI274, CSCI370, CSCI499.. grades from CSCI274,370, and 499 will be excluded from GPA calculation |
| Data Science | Up to six credits of coursework at the 400 or 500 level | Courses that will be double-counted need to be preapproved by the Director of Data Science or their graduate advisor and must be successfully completed with a grade of B or better. Also must be from the 400-500 level. | 400+, 500+ |
| Economics and Business | Up to six hours of credit | Any 400 level courses that count towards the undergraduate degree requirements known as “elective coursework” or any 500+ level course may be double-counted at the discretion of the grad advisor. These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better, not be substitutes for required coursework, and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | None specified |
| Electrical Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | Any courses that count towards the graduate degree requirements as either “Required Coursework” or “Elective Coursework”, as defined in the catalog, may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the advisor (MS Non-Thesis) or thesis committee (MS Thesis or PhD). These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | None specified |
| Geochemistry | Up to six hours of credits | Must have uninterrupted registration. Any 400+ or 500+ level course may be used at the discretion of the graduate advisor. Courses must be passed with a B- or better, not be substitutes for required coursework, and meet all other University, Department, Division, and Program requirements for graduate credit. | 400+, 500+ |
| Geology and Geological Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | The student earning a Mines undergraduate degree (to the time the student begins a Mines graduate degree) may double count up to six hours of credits, which were used in fulfilling the requirements of their undergraduate degree at Mines, towards their Master of Engineering (Non-Thesis) Program in Geological Engineering. Identified courses that count towards the graduate degree requirements may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the advisor (ME Non-Thesis). These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better and meet all other University, Department, Division, and Program requirements for graduate credit. | GEGN403 Mineral Exploration Design 3.0, GEGN439 Petroleum Exploration Design 3.0, GEGN469 Engineering Geology Design 3.0, GEGN470 Ground-Water Engineering Design 3.0 |
| Geophysical Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | Any courses that count towards the graduate degree requirements as either “Required Coursework” or “Elective Coursework” may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the advisor (MS Non-Thesis) or thesis committee (MS Thesis or PhD). These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | Any courses that count towards the graduate degree requirements as either “Required Coursework” or “Elective Coursework”, as defined in the catalog, may be used for the purposes of double counting |
| Geophysics | Up to six hours of credits | Any courses that count towards the graduate degree requirements as either “Required Coursework” or “Elective Coursework” may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the advisor (MS Non-Thesis) or thesis committee (MS Thesis or PhD). These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | Any courses that count towards the graduate degree requirements as either “Required Coursework” or “Elective Coursework”, as defined in the catalog, may be used for the purposes of double counting |
| Humanitarian Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | “Required Coursework” or “Elective Coursework” may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the advisor (MS Non-Thesis) or thesis committee (MS Thesis or PhD). These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | None specified |
| Humanities Arts and Social Sciences | Up to six hours of credits | Any courses that count towards the graduate degree requirements as either “Required Coursework” or “Elective Coursework” may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the advisor (MS Non-Thesis) or thesis committee (MS Thesis or PhD). These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | None specified |
| Hydrologic Science and Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | Any 400+ level courses that count towards the undergraduate degree requirements as “Elective Coursework” or any 500+ level course, may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the graduate advisor. These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better, not be substitutes for required coursework, and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit | None specified |
| Materials Science (only non-thesis) | Up to six hours of credits | Double counting only applies towards the Master of Science Non-Thesis Option (not a thesis MS or a PhD). Any 400+ level courses that count towards the undergraduate degree requirements as “Elective Coursework” or any 500+ level course, may be used for the purpose of double-counting at the discretion of the graduate advisor. These courses must have been passed with a “B” or better, not be substitutes for required coursework and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | 400+, 500+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | The student earning a Mines undergraduate degree (to the time the student begins a Mines graduate degree) may double count up to six hours of credits of MEGN 400- or 500-level courses, which were used in fulfilling the requirements of their undergraduate degree at Mines, towards their non-thesis graduate program. ME majors may double count any 400-level or above course on the approved Mechanical Engineering Elective list provided in the Undergraduate Catalog. Non-ME majors may double count any 400-level or above course on the approved Mechanical Engineering Elective list and any MEGN 400-level or above course. These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | The MS degree in Mechanical Engineering requires 30 credit hours. Requirements for the MS thesis option are 24 credit hours of coursework and 6 credit hours of thesis research. The MS non-thesis option requires 30 credit hours of coursework. All MS students must complete nine credit hours of course work within one research division by selecting three courses listed under the Research Division Courses |
| Metallurgical and Materials (only non-thesis) | Up to six hours of credits | Students with continuous registration at Mines from the undergraduate to the graduate degree may fulfill part of the degree requirements by double-counting six credit hours, which were also used in fulfilling the requirements of their undergraduate degree at Mines. These courses must have been passed with a “B” or better and meet all other University and Department requirements for graduate credit, but their grades are not included in calculating the graduate GPA. | None specified |
| Mining Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | Any 400+ level courses that count towards the undergraduate degree requirements as “Elective Coursework” or any 500+ level course, may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the graduate advisor. These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better, not be substitutes for required coursework, and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | 400+, 500+ |
| Nuclear Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | Students in the Nuclear Engineering Combined Degree Program are expected to apply for admission to the graduate program by the beginning of their senior year. For more information please contact the Nuclear Science and Engineering Program Director. | None specified |
| Operations Research with Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | Any 400+ level courses that count towards the undergraduate degree requirements as “Elective Coursework” or any 500+ level course, may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the graduate advisor. These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better, not be substitutes for required coursework, and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | 400+, 500+ |
| Petroleum Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | After the student is granted full graduate status, the requirements are the same as those for the non-thesis Master of Engineering or thesis-based Master of Science degree, depending to which program the student was accepted. The combined undergraduate/graduate program allows students to fulfill part of the requirements of their graduate degree by including up to 6 credit hours of their undergraduate course credits upon approval of the department. These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better. The student must apply for the program by submitting an application through the Graduate School before the first semester of their senior year. | None specified |
| Petroleum Reservoir Systems | Up to six hours of credits | Any courses that count towards the graduate degree requirements as either “Required Coursework” or “Elective Coursework” may be used for the purpose of double-counting at the discretion of the advisor (MS Non-Thesis) or thesis committee (MS Thesis or PhD). These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | None specified |
| Physics | Up to six hours of credits | Any 400+ level courses that count towards the undergraduate degree requirements as “Elective Coursework” or any 500+ level course, may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the graduate advisor. These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better, not be substitutes for required coursework and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | None specified |
| Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | Any 400+ level courses that count towards the undergraduate degree requirements as “Elective Coursework” or any 500+ level course, may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the graduate advisor (MS Non-Thesis) or thesis committee (MS Thesis or PhD). These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | 400+, 500+ |
| Quantum Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | Any 400+ level courses that count towards the undergraduate degree requirements as “Elective Coursework” or any 500+ level course may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the graduate advisor. These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better, not be substitutes for required coursework, and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | 400+, 500+ |
| Robotics | Up to six hours of credits | Must be passed with a B- or better and be approved by advisor or thesis committee. | Encouraged to apply after they’ve taken five or more classes at Mines. May be met with any 200 level or above course with CSCI, MEGN or EENG prefix, excluding field session and senior design. |
| Space Resources | Up to six hours of credits | Any 400+ level courses that count towards the undergraduate degree requirements as “Elective Coursework” or any 500+ level course may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the graduate advisor. These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better, not be substitutes for required coursework, and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | 400,500+ |
| STEM Education | |||
| Underground Construction and Tunnel Engineering | Up to six hours of credits | Any courses that count towards the graduate degree requirements as either “Required Coursework” or “Elective Coursework”, as defined in the catalog, may be used for the purposes of double-counting at the discretion of the advisor (MS Non-Thesis) or thesis committee (MS Thesis or PhD). These courses must have been passed with a “B-” or better and meet all other University, Department, Division and Program requirements for graduate credit. | None specified |