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Accelerated B.S./Ph.D. Program
You could cross the stage at graduation to receive your Ph.D. as one of the pioneers of a new accelerated program offered by the School of Science.
Earn a head start that provides a great time advantage. Plus, there is no need for graduate applications and no question about graduate school acceptance; you will already be admitted!
Your next stop after graduation could be a fellowship at the Institute for Genomics Research, or the Fermi Laboratories, or the National Aeronautics and Space Association... all at the age of 25.
Earning two degrees in seven years
Students in this program must satisfy all the requirements for the B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in their department.
The average undergraduate education takes four years and the average graduate time to the Ph.D. degree is five to six years. How can someone do it all in seven years?
Because of AP credits and/or credits from academic research, students accelerate their B.S. by one or more semesters.
Performing academic research
Successful applicants spend the spring semester of their sophomore year doing rotational research projects in two research laboratories at Rensselaer. Students may choose laboratories from any department within the School of Science based upon common research interests with the faculty research mentors. Once the right laboratory is found, students continue research during the summers (for a stipend) and during each semester (for academic credit).
The laboratory and research project chosen as an undergraduate are the laboratory and research project that provide students with their Ph.D.
Transitioning from undergraduate to graduate status
Accelerated students transition into graduate status at the beginning of, or during, their fourth year of study, depending upon credits. The conditions for transition include maintaining a GPA of 3.5 and satisfactory progress in research.
Once students enter the graduate phase, they receive a Research Assistantship with a stipend, graduate tuition, and fees.
The application process
Select students will be invited to apply for the seven-year B.S./Ph.D. program after their freshman year. Only students with a G.P.A. of 3.5 or above are eligible for the program.
Learn more
Contact William L. Siegmann, Associate Dean of Graduate Education and Research
siegmw@rpi.edu (518) 276-6905
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