Accelerated Program

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at UMaine offers a Master of Science (MS) Program – Accelerated Track to qualified undergraduate students by allowing up to 9 credits^a of approved 400/500-level courses (minimum 3 credits at 500 level) to be double-counted toward their BS^b and MS degrees.

Admission Process

Allotted Time Limits

Students in the thesis (4+2) option must complete the requirements for the master’s degree within 27 months after matriculation in the master’s program to double count the credits earned in their undergraduate senior year. 

Students in the non-thesis (4+1) option must complete the requirements for the master’s degree within 15 months after matriculation in the master’s program to double count the credits earned in their undergraduate senior year. 

However, any student who does not complete the degree within the allotted time limit may not count toward the master’s degree any courses also applied to the bachelor’s degree unless the student’s committee petitions the Graduate School for extension due to extraordinary circumstances and the Graduate School grants the exception. 

Switching Between the Thesis and Non-Thesis Options

If a student starts in the thesis (4+2) option and requests to switch to the non-thesis (4+1) option, s/he must complete all the requirements for the master’s degree (non-thesis option) within 15 months of finishing the bachelor’s degree, otherwise the graduate courses taken as a senior may not also be applied to the master’s degree. 

If a student starts in the non-thesis (4+1) option and requests to switch to the thesis option, s/he must complete all the requirements for the master’s degree (thesis option) within 27 months of finishing the bachelor’s degree, otherwise the graduate courses taken as a senior may not also be applied to the master’s degree.