Integrated Bachelor's and Master's Degree

Overview

The BS+MS Integrated Degree Program (IDP) for Biological Systems Engineering (EBS) allows students to save time transitioning seamlessly to the master's degree program upon completion of their bachelor's degree. After the completion of a bachelor's degree the time to completion of a master's degree, under Plan I (Thesis) is 18 months and under Plan II (Comprehensive Examination) is 12 months. This compares to the regular master's degree program expected timeline of 24 months for Plan I and 18 months for Plan II. The program is competitive and rigorous standards are set to ensure students' eventual success.

The EBS IDP is offered to UC Davis Engineering undergraduate students who would like to pursue a Master's degree in the Biological Systems Engineering Graduate Program. Students may apply to the IDP as an undergraduate student during their junior year. Late applications with a justification may be considered.

Admitted IDP students will begin the program in their final year as an undergraduate student and are required to complete up to two graduate-level course during their final year of their undergraduate education. After submitting an official graduate application and upon successful completion of their undergraduate degree, students will then advance to graduate standing and begin the rest of their graduate education.

Admission Requirements - Read Me First!

During Junior Year
Students may apply if they are an undergraduate student in the College of Engineering who wishes to complete an M.S. in Biological Systems Engineering through the IDP, and if they have junior standing as of the fall quarter.
Materials for IDP admission consideration include:
♦ Completion of the EBS IDP application form
♦ Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater
♦ Three letters of recommendation
♦ Transcripts required for all attended institutions
♦ Statements of Purpose and Statement of Personal History
♦ CV/Resume
♦ Upon admission, students will complete two graduate level courses concurrently with their undergraduate education. Once admitted to the IDP, participants are required to maintain a UC Davis cumulative GPA of 3.0 in their coursework to advance to graduate standing upon completion of the bachelor’s degree.

There will be a request to upload the following documents in the IDP Application form, so be sure to have these complete before starting your application form: Statement of Purpose, Personal History Statement, CV/resume.

Statement of Purpose
Please describe your motivation, academic preparation, and aptitude for graduate study at UC Davis. You should describe your academic plans and research interests, your specialization within your academic field, your research experiences, and your career goals. Please limit your statement to 500 words maximum.

How to Write a Strong Statement of Purpose for Grad School

Personal History Statement
Please discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, familial, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree. Please limit your statement to 500 words maximum.

Personal statement writing support for undergraduates is available through the UC Davis Writing Center.

CV/Resume
Resources for formatting your CV are available from the UC Davis Internship and Career Center. Your CV must be submitted electronically through the online application. CVs will not be accepted by mail or e-mail.
Admission Requirements to Advance to Graduate Standing
Students admitted to the EBS IDP must additionally submit a graduate application in their final year as an undergraduate student, by the stated deadline, in order to transition into graduate standing. Application deadlines are updated yearly and are available on the GBSE graduate application webpage. Applications are submitted online through the Office of Graduate Studies. The following materials from your IDP Application Form can be used for your graduate application:
♦ Three letters of recommendation;
♦ Statement of purpose – which should indicate the student is applying for the B.S./M.S. IDP;
♦ Personal history statement;
♦ CV/Resume
♦ For more information, please visit the Graduate FAQ Page.
The student is awarded a bachelor’s degree as soon as their B.S. requirements are completed. Students in the IDP should apply to switch to graduate status in the quarter immediately following completion of their B.S. degree.
Prerequisites: Prerequisites are courses that must be completed in order to apply. Reviewers will be looking for satisfactory completion of a full year of physics, chemistry and engineering-level math, including linear algebra and differential equations, having passed each with a letter grade. The equivalent UC Davis courses are:
1. MAT 21A-D.
2. MAT 22A-B.
3. PHY 9A-C.
4. CHE 2A-B.
Deficiencies: Admitted students not holding a bachelor’s degree in Biological Systems Engineering must complete the following remedial courses. These students will meet with a GBSE Graduate Advisor during their first quarter of residence to determine the required sequence of remedial courses. Students must pass with a letter grade any missing UC Davis equivalent engineering core course specified by a Graduate Advisor. In addition, students must take upper division engineering courses during their graduate program to meet the following requirement.

1. Students must take the four (4) core courses listed below:
- Statics: ENG 35
- Circuits: ENG 17 or ENG 100
- Fluid Mechanics: ENG 103
- Thermodynamics: ENG 105

2. In addition, students must take three (3) upper division courses from the courses listed below:
- Circuits: ENG 100
- Dynamics: ENG 102
- Mechanics of Materials: ENG 104
- Heat Transfer: EBS 125
- Kinetics and Mass Transfer: EBS 127
- Modeling of Biological Systems: EBS 130
- Bioinstrumentation and Control: EBS 165

None of these courses can be counted toward an EBS graduate degree and cannot be taken on an “S/U” basis. Remedial courses may be taken concurrently with courses used to satisfy graduate degree requirements and must be completed prior to advancing to candidacy.

Apply Now!

IDP M.S. Degree Options - Master’s Plan I (Thesis) and Plan II (Exam)

Students should decide, in consultation with a GBSE Graduate Advisor, which plan best suits their individual goals. Plan I gives the student an opportunity to perform in-depth research and thesis writing, whereas Plan II provides more learning from coursework.

IDP M.S. Plan I
The M.S. Plan I is designed for students who wish to further their fundamental knowledge of engineering. This plan emphasizes the science and research features of engineering. The work students complete in this plan will culminate in a research based thesis, which serves as the capstone requirement, that is reviewed by a thesis committee and presented in a final presentation (exit seminar).
This plan requires a minimum of 30 units of graduate and upper division courses (the 100 and 200 series only) consisting of:
1. Core courses (3 units)
  a. EBS 200 Research methods in biological systems engineering - 2 units
  b. EBS 290 Seminar course - 1 unit
2. Elective Course (27 units)
  a. 17 units of Graduate and Upper Division Units, excluding EBS 200, 290, 290C, and 299.
  i. 12 of which must be graduate engineering units
  ii. Remaining 5 units can be graduate or upper division courses within or outside of engineering, excluding courses required for the UC Davis Biological Systems Engineering B.S. degree. This restriction does not apply to EBS 165.
  b. Remaining units can come from EBS 290C, EBS 299 Research, graduate courses or upper division courses within or outside of engineering.
  i. A minimum of 6 units of EBS 290C, 299 Research
  ii. For those students who did not take any life sciences classes during their undergraduate degree program, at least one course in Biological/Life Sciences should be included.
  iii. Excludes courses required for the UC Davis Biological Systems Engineering B.S. degree. This restriction does not apply to EBS 165
IDP M.S. Plan II
The M.S Plan II is designed for students who want to strengthen their preparation either for the job market or for further professional education. This option is well suited to highly qualified students who plan to pursue further graduate education and reduce overall time to graduate degree. No thesis is required. The capstone requirement is fulfilled by a capstone written report, and oral examination, on an appropriately comprehensive topic after the student has advanced to candidacy.
This plan requires a minimum of 36 units of graduate and upper division courses (the 100 and 200 series only) consisting of:
1. Core courses (3 units)
a. EBS 200 Research methods in biological systems engineering - 2 units
b. EBS 290 Seminar course - 1 unit
2. Elective Course (33 units):
a. 24 units of Graduate and Upper Division Units, excluding EBS 200, 290, 290C, and 299.
i. 18 of which must be graduate units
1. 12 of which must be graduate engineering units
2. Remaining 6 units can be graduate units within or outside of engineering
b Remaining 6 units can be graduate or upper division courses within or outside of engineering, excluding courses required for the UC Davis Biological Systems Engineering B.S. degree. This restriction does not apply to EBS 165.
Remaining 9 units can come from EBS 290C, EBS 299 Research, graduate courses or upper division courses within or outside of engineering.
i. For those students who did not take any life sciences classes during their undergraduate degree program, at least one course from life sciences should be included.
ii. No more than 9 units of EBS 290C, EBS 299 Research can be used
iii. Excludes courses required for the UC Davis Biological Systems Engineering B.S. degree. This restriction does not apply to EBS 165.
Summary of IDP Coursework Requirements

Advising Structure and Mentoring

Major Professor
The major professor is the primary mentor during the student’s career at UC Davis and will assist with developing the student’s Program of Study. The major professor serves as the chair of the Thesis Committee (for Plan I) or Comprehensive Exam Committee (for Plan II).

Plan I students are admitted with a designated major professor from the members of the GBSE Graduate Program. In the case of a change of major professor, signatures of the previous and new major professor are required acknowledging the change. The GBSE Graduate Program Chair will serve as the interim advisor to new students during the process of selecting a major professor.

Plan II students will be assigned a major professor in their first quarter.
Graduate Advisor
A Graduate Advisor, is nominated by the department chair and appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies, is a resource for information on academic requirements, policies and procedures, and registration information until a major professor is selected. The EBS Graduate Advisors are responsible for reviewing programs of study for each student and acting on student petitions. All GBSE graduate students are assigned a Graduate Advisor based on their field of interest.
Graduate Program Coordinator
The Graduate Program Coordinator should be the first person consulted on all actions regarding graduate affairs. The Graduate Program Coordinator may advise the student to contact a GBSE Graduate Advisor or the Office of Graduate Studies to address particular issues.

Committees

GBSE Admission Committee
Completed IDP applications submitted to the Undergraduate Program Coordinator by the application deadline will be submitted to the GBSE Admission Committee for consideration. At minimum, this committee consists of the GBSE Admission Chair and the GBSE Graduate Program Chair. Notification of admission decisions will be sent prior to registration for the fall quarter in order for admitted applicants to select which two graduate courses to take while in senior status.
Course Guidance or Advising Committee
The major professor and a GBSE Graduate Advisor will assist the student in developing a Program of Study. By the third quarter of enrollment, the student must file a Program of Study that must be routed through the GBSE Graduate Program Coordinator for the GBSE Executive Committee's approval.
Thesis Committee for IDP M.S. Plan I
At advancement to candidacy, the student will declare an M.S. thesis committee. A GBSE Graduate Advisor will nominate the committee based on consultations with the student and the major professor. This committee is chaired by the major professor and made up of at least two other members. The majority of this committee must be members of the GBSE graduate program. The responsibility of this committee is to assist in the guidance of the student and to read and approve the thesis. The thesis must be prepared in accordance with Graduate Studies guidelines.
Comprehensive Examination Committee for IDP M.S. Plan II
At advancement to candidacy, the student will declare an M.S. Comprehensive Examination committee. A GBSE Graduate Advisor will nominate the committee based on consultations with the student and the major professor. This committee is chaired by the major professor and made up of at least two other members. The majority of this committee must be members of the GBSE graduate program. The responsibility of this committee is to assist in the guidance of the student and to give the comprehensive exam and approve the final report.

Advancement to Candidacy

Candidacy Requirements
Every student must file an official application for Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Science and pay the candidacy fee after completing one-half of their course requirements and at least one quarter before completing all degree requirements; this is typically the third quarter. The Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Science form can be found online at http://gradsphere.ucdavis.edu.

A completed form includes a list of courses the student will take to complete degree requirements. If changes must be made to the student’s course plan after they have advanced to candidacy, the Graduate Advisor must recommend these changes to Graduate Studies. Students must have a GBSE Graduate Advisor and committee Chair, if applicable, sign the candidacy form before it can be submitted to Graduate Studies. If the candidacy is approved, the Office of Graduate Studies will send a copy to: the appropriate Graduate Program Coordinator and the student; the Thesis Committee Chair will also receive a copy, if applicable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I apply to IDP if I'm obtaining my undergraduate degree in engineering major other than Biological Systems?
Yes! Apply to IDP by the end of Winter quarter the academic year before you are scheduled to graduate.
Can I apply to IDP if I'm obtaining my undergraduate degree in 5+ years?
Yes! Apply to IDP by the end of Winter quarter the academic year before you are scheduled to graduate.
If I'm graduating during Fall Quarter or Winter Quarter, when should I apply to IDP?
If you're graduating during Fall/Winter Quarter, apply to IDP by the end of Winter quarter the calendar year before you are scheduled to graduate, and file an early admissions graduate application your final year.
Does being accepted into IDP mean I'm automatically accepted into the GBSE M.S. program?
No. Acceptance into IDP does not mean acceptance into the M.S. program. You must successfully complete your undergraduate degree and formally apply to the graduate program to be accepted to the GBSE M.S. program. The IDP allows you to count 2 graduate courses towards your undergraduate degree and, if accepted, your graduate degree.

The requirements to advance to graduate standing after being accepted into IDP are:
1. Taking up to two graduate-level courses concurrently with your undergraduate education
2. Maintaining a UC Davis cumulative GPA of 3.0 in your coursework
3. Submitting a Graduate Application, which includes: Three letters of recommendation – required regardless of GPA, a statement of purpose, a personal history and diversity statement, and the GRE if applicable
Do I have to take the GRE?
No. The GRE is not required for the IDP application or the official graduate application.
If I submitted 3 letters of recommendation with my IDP application, do I have to resubmit 3 letters of recommendation to the graduate program?
No. You may resubmit the original 3 letters of recommendation when you apply to the graduate program. However, you will need to have these letters submitted by your letter recommender. Please discuss this further with the GBSE Graduate Program coordinator at the time of graduate application.
If I'm doing IDP Plan I: Thesis Option, when should I start doing research?
It's recommended you start research as early as possible. If you start doing research your junior or senior year, by the time you complete your year in the master's program, you'll have results. It is possible to start research when you start your master's degree and finish within a year, but it's much harder. Typically, students spend an extra 1-2 quarters if they start research during their master's program.
Is funding available to IDP students?
IDP M.S. Plan I students are eligible to obtain funding as a Graduate Student Researcher, but this option is very rare for M.S. Plan II students.

IDP M.S. Plan I and Plan II students are eligible for TA positions within and outside the department. No thesis is required for these opportunities. TA's are paid by tuition and a stipend. To TA a class, you must take the campus TA training before you TA a course. More information about TA appointments can be found here.

Scholarships specifically for IDP students are coming soon.
If I decide not to complete IDP, can I still use my graduate courses to complete my undergraduate degree?
Yes, you can still use your graduate courses to complete your undergraduate degree if you ultimately decide not to complete the IDP. Any graduate courses you take as an undergrad will still count towards your upper division elective requirement. However, if you do decide to do your master's in GBSE at UC Davis and you're not a part of IDP, you won't be able to use the graduate courses taken for your undergraduate degree towards your master's degree.

Additional information on graduate-student requirements and resources is available online.

Download the PDF outlining the program in detail

Visit the UC Davis General Catalog

Please contact BAEadvising@ucdavis.edu if you have any questions about the BS+MS Integrated Degree Program (IDP) for Biological Systems Engineering (EBS).