Blended and Joint Programs - Basic Requirements

All MS engineering degrees require 45 quarter units of study. In the case of the blended BS+MS and joint degree programs, some units are double-counted. This permits two degrees to be earned with fewer units that if the degrees are earned separately. The amount and nature of double-counting in the blended programs vary based on BS degree requirements, as summarized below:

Engineering Degree Program Units Saved by Linking Thesis/Senior Project Max. Units Saved by Double-Counting Other Classes
BS Aerospace 5 (optional) 4 (9 if doing senior project)
BS Biomedical 4 8
BS Civil/Environmental - 9
BS Computer Engineering 5 -
BS Computer Science 5 -
BS Electrical 6 -
BS General Engineering 4 8
BS Industrial/Manufacturing 5 8
BS Materials 5 9
BS Mechanical - 8
BS Software Engineering 5 -
MS/MCRP Technology Mgt. - 15
MS/MCRP Transportation 9 18

Most blended programs require you to complete a 9-unit design project or thesis. The two interdisciplinary joint programs also have project/thesis requirements. Project/thesis work is typically distributed over a minimum of two or three quarters of enrollment.
Picture of Jessica Kiefer
Jessica
Kiefer
Electrical Engineering
2007
“It's important to get young students, especially girls, interested in engineering as a career.”

With some of the money I received from a scholarship, I purchased materials for a program I’ve started with other Poly students. The program is called Science, Engineering and Technology in Elementary Schools — we're working with fourth-graders. Hopefully, we will inspire a future generation of Cal Poly engineers.