Department of Engineering Education, Virginia Tech

1. Funded by National Science Foundation EEC-0934643 Pursuing an Engineering Doctorate: Exploring the Role of the Combined BS/MS ProgramErin CredeMaura Borrego • Department of Engineering Education, Virginia Tech • Presentation for the 2010 FIE Conference

2. Overview of the Presentation • Introduction • Group Discussion • Data Collection • Snapshot of Current Programs • Future Research Directions

3. Combined BS-MS Programs • Majority of graduate education studies focus on doctoral level • Limited and widely varying information on combined degree programs in engineering • Research questions: • What is the prevalence of combined degree programs among U.S. colleges and universities? • What are the aims of these programs, as they relate to students’ education and career plans?

4. What is a Dual Degree Program? • Students take both undergraduate and graduate classes senior year • May be Thesis or Non Thesis • Students earn both a BS and a MS degree from the same institution • reduced course load • often in a shortened period of time • Completion times range • 3 BS / 2 MS • 4 BS +1 MS • MS in one semester less than regular students Graduate Undergraduate

5. What about your experience? • Discuss with a neighbor: • Does your university or department have a combined or dual degree program? • What is the goal of the program? • How long does it take for students to complete? • How are students recruited? • Do they complete a thesis?

6. Classification and status of schools with bs/ms programs Methods-Data Collection • Baseline understanding of the types of programs in universities across the United States • Internet search for “BS + MS engineering programs” • 40 pages of relevant links, including 100 colleges and universities:

7. Themes, categories and codes Methods-Data Analysis • Content Analysis of published materials • Level of detail varied • 1-2 sentences • pamphlets available for download

8. A Snapshot of Current Programs • Timeline for Completion • 41% listed a “five year” program, or “one year beyond the BS” • 29% percent labeled as ‘accelerated’ • Types of Students Who Should Consider the Program • 20% searching for “outstanding” students • 16% interested in “highly motivated” students • 15% looking for “academically talented” or “academically excellent” students • Program Objective and Benefits • 33% to broaden students’ career possibilities • in industry • doctorate education • 33% to get an early start on research

9. Conclusions • Overview of existing dual degree programs • Foundation for future studies • Students should ask questions early to determine the best course of study • and understand career impacts Universities should articulate goals and consider establishing standards across engineering departments

10. Directions for Continued Research • Future Plans for the Study • Interviews with current BS/MS students regarding further graduate education • Additional Research Questions: • Do the ways that combined degree programs recruit students influence their expectations regarding graduate school? • Do these experiences and expectations influence their perceptions about doctoral study?

11. Acknowledgements • We would like to acknowledge the support of the National Science Foundation who funded this research under IEECI 0934643 Questions?