The Joint B.S./M.S. degree program affords undergraduate electrical or computer engineering majors the opportunity to broaden their studies and improve their career prospects. Interested students should apply to the program at the appropriate times (see Deadlines).

In our highly technical and globally competitive society, the M.S. degree is frequently viewed as the "working degree" for many engineers. The M.S. degree is a valuable tool, which takes undergraduate studies to a deeper and broader level of understanding. Engineers who have completed the M.S. degree generally enter the work force with higher starting salaries and a wider range of career opportunities from which to choose. They also tend to be promoted sooner than those who have not completed graduate level degrees.

While earning the M.S. degree, students can choose to participate in programs such as Georgia Tech Europe and Georgia Tech Shenzhen to further enhance their graduate level experience and to broaden their education and their career opportunities. The elective hours and required minor classes taken in the M.S. program can also be a starting point for entry into M.B.A. and other non-engineering degree programs.

Benefits of enrollment into the Joint B.S./M.S. program include:

• Application fee waived for B.S./M.S. applicants
• GRE requirement waived
• Qualified B.S./M.S. students may receive GRA/GTA appointments with a stipend and reduced tuition and fees upon matriculation into the graduate program
• Students with a final cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher can move a maximum of 12 hours forward from the BS program to the MS program. Six of these 12 hours can be used toward both the B.S. and the M.S. degree (classes must fulfill degree requirements and only can be ECE 4000 level or higher). Therefore, a student can take an additional 6 hours of courses at the graduate level while an undergraduate that can move forward to the master's program. These classes cannot be used for the BS degree requirements; they are taken in excess of BS degree requirements (fall-through courses). For more information, please see https://www.ece.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/documents/grad/current_grad_handbook.pdf. Courses double-counted can only be used in group III - electives requirements. To double count hours, students must graduate with the M.S. degree within two years of completing the B.S. degree.

Qualifications for this program are as follows:

• When the BS/MS Application Form for this program is submitted, the student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.5. Depending on demand, the required minimum GPA may be higher. 
  • For non-transfer students, the required GPA is based on a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit at Georgia Tech.
  • For transfer students, the required GPA is based on a minimum of 12 hours of ECE coursework after entering Georgia Tech and having a transfer GPA of 3.5 from an accredited undergraduate program as approved by the Registrar's Office. (The 12 hours should be completed by the end of the term in which the application is made.)

If you meet the minimum requirements and wish to apply to the MSECE program, you must complete the online application at the appropriate times. (see Deadlines).

To maintain eligibility for the BS/MS program after being accepted, students must:

• Complete the BS degree and then matriculate into the MS program.  Students cannot graduate with a BS and MS at the same time.
• Start the MS program immediately after graduating with their BS degree.  The only exception to this is summer semester.  Students who graduate in the spring are allowed to take summer semester off and start in the fall semester. Summer admission is not available.
• Graduate with the BS degree with a 3.5 GPA or higher.
• Complete their MS degree within two years of graduating with the BS degree.