Full-time students can complete a BS and MS in just 5 years
Since the knowledge required for state-of-the-art design is much greater than can be gained in a four-year Bachelor of Science program, a master’s degree is now considered the “career” degree in the Electrical and Computer Engineering field. An ECE graduate who enters the field with a B.S. degree is expected to obtain a master’s degree as part of their long term career advancement. Graduates who enter the profession with master’s degrees start with considerably higher salaries and are eligible for more advanced positions.
The usual time required to earn a B.S. in Electrical Engineering or a B.S. in Computer Engineering and an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering is four years for the B.S. and an additional five quarters for the M.S. The Fast Track B.S.+M.S. program significantly shortens this path for top students by allowing up to 16 credits (and in rare cases up to 20 credits) of ECE graduate credits to be used for both the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree or Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, and the Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Admission Criteria
To be eligible for the Fast Track Program you must meet the following requirements:
- Be formally admitted to the ECE Department for a Bachelor of Science program
- Have at least a 3.3 institutional (PSU) GPA
- Have at least a 3.3 upper division major GPA with at least 16 credits of upper-division ECE classes
Admission Process and Program Flow
If you want to enter the Fast Track Program, please submit the Online Application and it will be assessed by the Graduate Program Director and you will be notified of the result.
If you are accepted into the Fast Track Program, then with the approval of Dr. Holtzman, you can then enroll in 500-level classes that are appropriate for the MS Track you want to pursue after you complete your BS. She will serve as your main Adviser until you complete your BS.
Continuation Criteria
To remain eligible for the Fast Track Program, you need to:
- Maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.3
- Maintain a major GPA of at least 3.3
- Obtain at least a B in all graduate classes that you want to share with your BS and MS programs. (You can only share 16 credits with BS and MS. Note that the maximum number of graduate credits that can be taken and counted for MS before admission to the MS is 16, including the Fast Track classes).
MS Program Admission
Admission to the Fast track program does not give automatic admission to the MS program. Fast track admission does allow you to take graduate classes and it does guarantee admission to the Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering upon the completion of your B.S. in Computer or Electrical Engineering, provided that you meet the continuation requirements for the Fast Track B.S. + M.S. Program. You apply for ECE MS admission in your senior year with a separate application form at https://www.pdx.edu/admissions/apply-to-grad-school .
If you select the B+M the application fee will be waived and you will not have to submit recommendations. Please make sure to observe the University deadlines for submitting your graduate application.
Please contact us at eceinfo@pdx.edu if you have any questions about the Fast Track Program.