EEE Combined Degree Program

Summary:

Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering, in collaboration with other Purdue departments, schools, and programs offers a Combined Degree Program in which a Purdue student can receive a BS degree, and with an additional year of study, a Master’s of Science in Environmental and Ecological Engineering (MSEEE) degree. This is accomplished by dual-counting up to 12 appropriate course credits at the 500 level on the BS and MSEEE Plans-of-Study.

Student Eligibility:

• Undergraduate students on Purdue’s main campus about to enter their second to last undergraduate semester in these degree-granting programs may apply: Environmental and Ecological Engineering (BSEEE), Agricultural Engineering (BSAE), Biological Engineering (BSBE), Chemical Engineering (BSChE), Civil Engineering (BSCE), Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences (Atmospheric Science; Environmental Geoscience; Geology and Geophysics; and Planetary Science), Industrial Management (BSIM), Mechanical Engineering (BSME), Materials Engineering (BSMSE), or Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES).
• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of application and maintain this minimum index until the bachelor’s degree is awarded.

Application Procedure:

Students in the programs listed above interested in the MSEEE Combined Degree need to formally apply for graduate admissions to the MSEEE program and be admitted before their second to last undergraduate semester.

Information on the application procedure can be found at https://www.purdue.edu/academics/ogsps/admissions/how-to-apply/ and located on this same webpage is an “Apply Now” link for initiating the necessary online application. The application process is identical to the regular graduate application process, except for three additional steps noted below. Required documentation for all graduate applicants, including Combined Degree applicants are found here: https://www.purdue.edu/academics/ogsps/admissions/admission-requirements/.

Three additional steps to follow:

1. The student must start a Form GR-27, available from the Graduate School online at https://www.purdue.edu/academics/ogsps/faculty-resources/ogsps-forms/.

   1. This form must be approved (by signature) by the Heads of the participating Baccalaureate and Master’s degree (SEE) programs, respectively, before submitting as part of the application.

      1. If the student is a BSEEE student, the Head of SEE will sign and date on both approval lines.  The Head of SEE’s signature can be obtained by scanning the form to seegrad@purdue.edu.  The necessary signatures will be obtained, and the form will be uploaded to your graduate application by the SEE Graduate Office.

      2. If the student is not a BSEEE student, the Head of their respective, eligible degree-granting program will sign and date on the first approval line. The Head of SEE will need to sign the lower line. The Head of SEE’s signature can be obtained by scanning the form to seegrad@purdue.edu.  The necessary signatures will be obtained, and the form will be uploaded to your graduate application by the SEE Graduate Office.

         1. The student’s academic advisor, from the eligible degree-granting program, will be notified by the SEE Graduate Office and for their awareness.

      3. Admitted BS/MS students will continue to work with their undergraduate advisors and follow undergraduate policies/procedures, before obtaining their bachelor's degree.  After earning a bachelor’s degree, a student will work with SEE Graduate Office and follow SEE Graduate Program student policies/procedures.

         1. Undergraduate academic advisors may contact seegrad@purdue.edu if they have questions.

   2. Students must enter the second-to-last semester of their undergraduate studies as the term they are applying for. Once admitted, this is the term where students may begin to dual-count courses.

2. The Academic Statement of Purpose essay should state clearly that the student is applying to the MSEEE Combined Degree program and provide the reason(s) for seeking graduate study under this Program, and any relationship to the applicant’s career goals.

3. In requesting Letters of Recommendation from references, it is important that the student inform the references that the application is for admission to the MSEEE Combined Degree Program.

   1. Although all letters are solicited during the online application process (by the student providing emails of all references), the applicant is encouraged to provide all references with a copy of this information sheet, so that they are made aware of the Program and process.

   2. Letters of Recommendation should be from faculty and employers.

   3. Letters of Recommendation from Academic Advisors are not permitted.

Admission and Enrollment:

Before the beginning of the second to last semester (Often, this is semester 7.), the SEE Graduate Program will decide to accept or not accept the student into the Combined Degree Program by acting on the student’s Graduate Application. Students will receive a notification from the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) once a decision is made.

The student’s complete record will be reviewed by the SEE Graduate Program in the student’s final two semesters. It is required that the undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is maintained. If all conditions are not maintained, the student will not be permitted to remain in the Combined Degree program.

Students Enrolled in the Program:

Students in their final semester of the BS degree program, will not immediately be able to register for their first Master’s semester coursework, when graduate student registration opens for that semester. Please contact seegrad@purdue.edu for the expected timeline as to when you’ll be able to register as a graduate student.

Students must complete, during their Baccalaureate degree program, up to 12 hours of graduate courses (e.g., four 3-credit 50000 level courses). These graduate level courses will be added to the MSEEE Plan-of-Study and will be “dual-counted” for both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. It is recommended to at least dual-count 9 credit hours.

Students must earn grades of B- or better in all dual-counted courses.

All normal MSEEE degree requirements must be satisfied, including (but not limited to) completion of nine EEE graduate level credits (500- and/or 600-level) as part of the 30-credit course requirement.

All dual-counted courses must be at the 500- or 600-level. All graduate level College of Engineering courses are approved to be dual counted. Commonly taken courses in the SEE Graduate Program, including approved courses outside the College of Engineering are at the bottom of this page.

Email seegrad@purdue.edu if you believe a course not listed here should be dual counted, and please copy your undergraduate Academic Advisor. Courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis. We request the following information: Course subject and course number, title of course (Example: FNR 58600, Urban Ecology), catalog description and/or syllabus.

Degrees Awarded:

A student may pursue a thesis-track MS-EEE degree or a Professional MSEEE Degree.

• Those interested in the thesis-track must have a thesis advisor at the time of applying.

  • The faculty advisor must be from SEE: Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty, Research Professors, Professors of Engineering Practice, or Courtesy Professors

  • This degree track may take more than two semesters to complete.

• The Professional MSEEE is a self-funded track and is expected to be completed within two semesters, excluding Summer.

After Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree:

The appropriate BS degree will be awarded after satisfactory completion of the respective degree requirements.

The student will have graduate status beginning in their first semester of graduate studies. A graduate Plan of Study must be completed in their first semester of Master’s studies and must be approved by the SEE Graduate Program before their final Master’s semester.

All rules of the SEE Graduate Program can be found in the Graduate Program Handbook at https://engineering.purdue.edu/SEE/Academics/CurrentStudents/Graduate/Graduate-Handbook. Specific information about the Combined Degree Program is here: https://engineering.purdue.edu/SEE/Academics/CurrentStudents/Graduate/Graduate-Handbook/Program_Requirements#:~:text=c.%20Combined%20BS%20+%20MSEEE.

Degree requirements for the MS-Thesis and Professional MSEEE are found here: https://engineering.purdue.edu/SEE/Academics/CurrentStudents/Graduate/GraduateDegreeRequirements_2024. Full-time status, once a graduate student, is 8 credits in the Fall and Spring and 6 credits in the Summer. 

All questions about this program should be forwarded to seegrad@purdue.edu. The SEE Graduate Office may contact your undergraduate Academic Advisor when deemed necessary.