Biological Sciences, BS/Biological Sciences, MS Accelerated Graduate Degree
Students who know early on that they will go on to a master’s degree program in biological sciences should consider the accelerated program. In this program, students can earn both the bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years instead of six.
Accelerated master’s degrees (AMDs) allow high-achieving students to begin graduate-level work before completion of the undergraduate degree. By double-counting some credits for both the bachelor’s and the master’s degree, students can earn both in five years total instead of the usual six.
The curriculum is quite structured in an AMD – specific classes need to be taken at specific times – so early planning is critical to be able to benefit from the time savings built into the program. Students should begin planning in their first year and be prepared to start at an advanced level of art history that same year.
Students begin the program working on the undergraduate coursework needed for the bachelor’s degree. By the third year, students are taking advanced undergraduate coursework and some graduate coursework at the same time.
Admissions to the AMD will be determined at the start of junior year and is dependent upon meeting the normal criteria for graduate school admissions such as GPA. Students who aren’t admitted to the AMD can continue on in the undergraduate program to earn just the bachelor’s degree as long as they are in good academic standing.
You can read more about AMDs and our FAQ via the UWM Graduate School website.
Program Type
Accelerated Graduate Degree
Program Format
On Campus
Advantages of an Accelerated Master’s Degree:
- Cost Savings — finishing two degrees in five years instead of six saves one full year of tuition cost
- Time Savings — completing both degrees a year early gets you started in your career faster
- Boosted Salary — starting your career with a master’s degree can garner you a higher starting salary
- Rigorous Curriculum — the pace and courses are well-suited to gifted and advanced students
Advancement to Major/Admission
Undergraduate Requirements
Interested students must meet with the non-thesis program advisor during the fall of their third year to determine eligibility for the accelerated graduate degree. Students should indicate their intent to apply to the Accelerated Master’s Degree (Non-thesis track) by the end of their fifth undergraduate semester, and then will take graduate-level courses as an undergraduate student in their seventh semester, submit their graduate program application in their seventh semester, and start as a graduate student in their eighth semester.
After meeting with the non-thesis program advisor, eligible students will need to submit the following to the Department of Biological Sciences, in order to pursue the undergraduate phase of the Biological Sciences MS Non-Thesis accelerated program:
- Declaration of intent to pursue the accelerated Master’s Non-Thesis program
- 1-2 page personal statement that outlines student academic background, career goals and reason for interest in the accelerated program
- Transcript showing a 3.0 GPA and successful completion of Biology courses
Students will need to meet the minimum UWM Graduate School GPA requirements before taking any graduate-level classes as an undergraduate student, in addition to having a 3.0 GPA. Students will need a B or better in all forward-shared credits.
Graduate School Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission into the Graduate School and to the graduate phase of the Biological Sciences MS Non-Thesis accelerated program, prior to completing their Bachelor’s degree, students must meet the following requirements in their seventh semester:
- Submit the graduate program application to the UWM Graduate School/meet UWM Graduate school admission criteria
- Submit two letters of recommendation with your application
- Be in progress to complete 105 bachelor’s credits prior to their first term as a graduate student
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Students who do not meet these admissions criteria may continue with their BS in Biological Sciences.
Double Counted Courses
This accelerated graduate degree involves the following bachelor’s and graduate degrees: Biological Sciences, BS and Biological Sciences, MS (non-thesis track). There are 6 forward-shared credits and 15 backward-shared credits for a total of 21 shared credits.
Eligible Forward-Shared Courses
Any Biological Sciences courses at the 400-level or above designated with a ‘G’ or courses above the 700-level are eligible for forward sharing. In addition, the following cross-listed courses are eligible for forward and backward sharing:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses eligible for forward and backward sharing | ||
| BMS 534G | Medical Microbiology | 3 |
| BMS 535G | Medical Microbiology Laboratory | 2 |
| FRSHWTR 511G | Ichthyology | 3 |
| CES 471G | Practicum in Natural Resources Management | 4 |
| CHEM 501G | Introduction to Biochemistry | 3 |
Forward-shared courses must be taken at the graduate level. Up to six credits in graduate-level courses taken as an undergraduate student may count towards the Biological Sciences undergraduate and graduate requirements.
Eligible Backward-Shared Courses
Any Biological Sciences course at the 400-level or above designated with a ‘G’ or courses above the 700-level (and the courses listed above) are eligible to be shared backward to fulfill a major requirement or elective course for the bachelor's degree and fulfill a required or elective course for the master's degree. Up to fifteen graduate-level credits can be shared backward.
Letters & Science Advising
During your time at UWM, you may have multiple members of your success team, including advisors, peer mentors and success coaches. Letters & Science students typically work with at least two different types of advisors as they pursue their degrees: professional college advisors and faculty advisors. L&S college advisors advise across your entire degree program while departmental faculty advisors focus on the major.
College advisors are located in Holton Hall (or virtually for online students) and serve as your primary advisor. They are your point person for your questions about navigating college and completing your degree. College advisors will:
- Assist you in defining your academic and life goals.
- Help you create an educational plan that is consistent with those goals.
- Assist you in understanding curriculum, major and degree requirements for graduation, as well as university policies and procedures.
- Provide you with information about campus and community resources and refer you to those resources as appropriate.
- Monitor your progress toward graduation and completion of requirements.
Faculty advisors mentor students in the major and assist them in maximizing their development in the program. You will begin working with a faculty advisor when you declare your major. Faculty advisors are an important partner and will:
- Help you understand major requirements and course offerings in the department.
- Explain opportunities for internships and undergraduate research and guide you in obtaining those experiences.
- Serve as an excellent resource as you consider potential graduate programs and career paths in your field.
Students are encouraged to meet with both their college advisor and faculty advisor at least once each semester. Appointments are available in-person, by phone or by video.
Currently enrolled students should use the Navigate360 website to make an appointment with your assigned advisor or call (414) 229-4654 if you do not currently have an assigned Letters & Science advisor. Prospective students who haven't enrolled in classes yet should call (414) 229-7711 or email let-sci@uwm.edu.
Department Advising
Students should contact an advisor as soon as possible in their freshman year about required courses and the recommended course sequence within Biological Sciences programs. The student should attend fall or spring departmental Open Advising or contact a Department of Biological Sciences faculty advisor who will then guide the student in planning their course choices to accomplish their goals. Students should consult their College academic advisors in Holton Hall and their faculty advisors in the Department of Biological Sciences prior to each registration period.
Major or Minor Declaration
Biological Sciences students should be enrolled in BIO SCI 150 before officially declaring a major in Biological Sciences. Students can declare a major or minor by contacting a faculty advisor in Biological Sciences or attending fall or spring departmental Open Advising. Students can declare more than one major or a combination of major and minors.
Failure to complete a declaration of major may result in a delay in graduation.
Students are encouraged to supplement their classroom learning with experiential learning through relevant part-time jobs or internships. Experiential learning is built into the curriculum of the accelerated master’s degree, but additional experiences will enhance a resume and better prepare students for their first professional job.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.