Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's
Alternative pathways toward your advanced degree.
Go further, faster — without rushing the experience.
High-achieving CCEE students can begin graduate coursework during their senior year and earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree on an accelerated timeline.
We offer two accelerated pathways:
ABM (Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s) — a non-thesis master’s option designed for students focused on professional practice.
AMS (Accelerated Master of Science) — a thesis-based pathway for students pursuing advanced research or doctoral study.
Both options allow approved graduate credits to count toward your undergraduate and graduate degrees — reducing the total time to completion while maintaining the rigor and hands-on learning CCEE is known for.
How the ABM Program Works
Students in the ABM (non-thesis) and AMS (thesis) pathways begin approved graduate-level coursework during their senior year. These courses count toward both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements, reducing the total time needed to earn a master’s degree.
Key features of the program:
- Begin graduate coursework during senior year
- Double-count select credits toward both degrees
- Complete a master’s degree in less time than a traditional pathway
- Receive close advising support throughout the transition
Planning ahead
Students interested in the ABM program should begin planning early, ideally by the end of their sophomore or junior year. Early planning helps ensure prerequisite coursework is completed on time and graduate courses align with long-term goals.
Advisors can help students determine eligibility, select appropriate courses, and map a smooth transition between undergraduate and graduate study.
ABM Degree Pathways
Ready to get started?
STEP 1: Verify your eligibility
- Applicants must have completed at least 75 credit hours (this typically means junior standing) before applying for an accelerated master’s program
- Applicants must not have already received a BS degree
- Applicants must have an overall GPA of at least 3.5 and a major GPA of at least 3.25
- Transfer students must complete at least two semesters at NCSU, earning a minimum of 24 credit hours, before applying to the ABM or AMS program
- Specialty areas require completion of certain 300-level courses before being approved to pursue an accelerated program; see the Table below:
| Specialty Area | Courses |
| Structural Engineering and Mechanics | CE325 and at least one of CE 327 or CE 426 |
| Environmental, Water Resources, and Coastal Engineering | At least two of CE378, CE383, CE373, or CE339 |
| Transportation Materials | CE 332, CE 342 |
| Transportation Systems | CE 305 |
| Geotechnical Engineering | CE 342, and at least one of CE 383, CE 325, or CE 327 |
| Construction Engineering | CE 365 |
| Computing and Systems | CE 339 |
- ABM (Courses Only): Students interested in a non-thesis MCE or MENE degree can double-count up to 12 credit hours towards both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees and are required to complete the master’s degree within 12 months after completing the BS degree; students can complete their graduate degree through Engineering Online (EOL), however, they are required to complete all degree requirements within 12 months, similar to on-campus students.
- AMS (With Thesis): Students interested in the research-based MSCE or MSENE degree should consult with their advisors to identify an accelerated pathway to complete the MS degree with a thesis, in three semesters instead of the typical four semesters.
- All ABM and AMS students will complete at least 18 hours of letter-graded graduate coursework beyond their BS degree.
| ABM (Courses Only) | AMS (With Thesis) | |
| Minimum number of letter-graded graduate course credits required in the master’s degree program | 18 | 18 |
| Minimum number of graduate course credits, with B or better grades, required in the BS program | 9 | 6 |
| Maximum number of graduate course credits allowed in the BS program | 12 | 12 |
| Minimum number of graduate thesis research credit hours required in the master’s degree program | N/A | 6 |
| Maximum number of graduate thesis research credit hours allowed in the master’s degree program | N/A | 12 |
| Total number of graduate credits required for the master’s degree | 30 (or 31) | 30 (or 31) |
| Thesis requirement | No | Yes Identify a master’s thesis advisor |
| Research/Teaching Assistantship (includes a stipend, tuition, and health insurance coverage) eligibility | No | Yes |
| Master’s degree completion time | MUST complete in not more than 12 months | Typically 18 months |
| Required documents prior to submitting the graduate degree application | ABM Worksheet ABM Plan of Work | None Coordinate with DGP & Thesis Advisor |
| Graduate School application requirement | Yes Select ABM option in the application | Yes Do not select the ABM option in the application |
STEP 2: Apply for ABM
- Determine your area of interest from the list of graduate specialty areas (see Table 3).
- Consult with the ABM advisor in the specialty area (see Table 3), and agree on an initial ABM Plan of Work (POW) that would suit your interests and satisfy the ABM program requirements.
- In consultation with the area ABM adviser, fill out the ABM POW and ABM Worksheet (to download, click here). Both Documents must be uploaded to SLATE (see link below) when submitting your application.
- The application will first be reviewed by the ABM advisor and a recommendation will be made to the department. The final determination will be made after a joint review by the directors of undergraduate and graduate programs, after which you will be notified.
- After admission to the ABM program, it is recommended to switch your advisor to the ABM advisor in your specialty area.
- Meeting the requirements does not guarantee admission to the ABM program. Faculty members may be consulted and asked to provide comments on a student’s chance of success in the ABM program.
- ABM Applications:
Fall Semester: Open Apr 01 – Apr 30
Spring Semester: Open Nov 01 – Nov 30
go.ncsu.edu/ccee-abm
STEP 3: Requirements during the program
- Before completing the BS degree, in consultation with the ABM adviser, finalize the ABM Worksheet (to download, click here) and ABM POW.
- The ABM POW may be revised in consultation with your ABM adviser and the adviser’s approval. The latest version of the ABM POW must be kept on file. During the BS degree, this is done through communicating the changes with the adviser and Ms. Jodie Gregoritsch. During the graduate degree program, students should monitor their Graduate Degree Audit.
- Double counting of 9 credit hours is expected; double counting less than 9 credit hours requires justification and approval by the ABM advisor and the DGP. The double-counted credit hours must be from the approved list of 500-level CE courses (the List of Allowable Courses by Specialty Area is at the end of this document).
- It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that both the ABM POW and ABM Worksheet (to download, click here) satisfy the respective master’s and undergraduate degree requirements
- Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.5 and a major GPA of at least 3.25 until entering the master’s program.
- Only graduate courses with a minimum grade of B can be double-counted. Courses with a grade lower than B cannot be counted towards the master’s degree.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 for the graduate courses is required.
- Transferring up to 6 credits hours beyond the double-counted credits hours is allowed provided that the transfer credits are not used to satisfy the undergraduate degree requirements.
- Students enrolled in the ABM program are required to double-count a minimum of 9 credit hours; students who fail to double-count 9 credit hours toward their graduate studies, will not be able to maintain their status in the ABM program. This does not prevent students from completing their undergraduate degree nor does it prevent them from applying to the regular MCE/MENE programs without double counting.
- Towards the end of your bachelor’s program, ABM students must formally apply to the master’s program, per deadlines published by the graduate school. The application must include an updated and signed (by the Director of UG Programs and by the Director of GRAD Programs) final ABM POW.
- While meeting the requirements of ABM is necessary, it does not guarantee admission. The chance of success of students in the graduate program with the ABM option will be evaluated based on the grades earned in the undergraduate degree and in the 500-level double-counted credits. Students whose chance of success in the graduate program with the ABM track is determined to be low may pursue an MCE/MENE degree through the traditional track.
- All ABM students must complete the master’s degree within a 12-month time limit to take advantage of the double counting associated with the ABM. If an ABM student fails to complete all degree requirements within this time frame, they will be considered a regular master’s student needing to take the full 30/31 graduate credits solely towards their master’s degree.
- Failure to meet the ABM requirements at the time of admission to the graduate school will result in evaluation of graduate program application only for admission into the traditional Master’s track and NOT for accelerated Master’s; that is, if an applicant fails to meet the requirements of ABM, s/he may be admitted to the graduate program but the applicant will need to complete the full 30/31 graduate credits; the applicant cannot benefit from double counting the courses that have been used to satisfy undergraduate program requirements.
- All on-campus ABM students must register for the on-campus section of courses; on-campus students are not allowed to register for the EOL section of courses.
- NOTE: A break between the UG degree and GRAD program is not permitted in order to maintain their status in the ABM program.
Contacts
Director of Graduate Programs: Prof. Moe Pourghaz
Director of Undergraduate Programs: Prof. Shane Underwood
| Graduate Specialty Area | ABM Advisor |
|---|---|
| Computing and Systems | Dr. Ranji Ranjithan |
| Construction Engineering | Dr. Alex Albert |
| EWC – Air | Dr. Andrew Grieshop |
| EWC – Environmental Process Engineering | Dr. Doug Call |
| EWC – Water Resources and Coastal Engineering | Dr. Sankar Arumugam |
| Geotechnical Engineering | Dr. Brina Montoya |
| Structural Engineering and Mechanics | Dr. Moe Pourghaz |
| Transportation Materials | Dr. Cassie Castorena |
| Transportation Systems | Dr. Eleni Bardaka |