Five-year BS/MS Program in Radiological Sciences
Quick Links
In recognition of the need for advanced training beyond the bachelor of science level in radiological sciences, the following represents a program by which outstanding undergraduates can pursue an accelerated five-year course of study leading to the BS and M.S. degrees in Radiological Sciences.
1. Undergraduate students who express an interest in this program will be evaluated by the graduate selection committee. Those students deemed commendable by the committee will be advised relative to the correct procedure for successful completion of their B.S degree, as well as a course of study toward the M.S. degree.
2. The first three years of undergraduate study will be identical to that which is specified for students enrolled in the current four year BS program.
3. During the second semester of the junior year and upon approval and recommendation by the graduate selection committee, the student will file formal application to the Graduate School. This does not require the student to have taken the Graduate Record Examination. The committee decision will be based on; a) overall grade-point average, b) grade-point average in selected subjects, c) recommendations by program faculty, and d) a one year minimum residency requirement at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Upon approval and recommendation by the Dean of the Graduate School, the student may be allowed to pursue graduate studies during the Senior year and officially become a provisional graduate student in the first semester of senior year.
4. During the senior year, the student will be permitted to take up to four graduate-level courses which can be applied towards the M.S. degree. Although advanced undergraduate (i.e., 400 level) courses are acceptable, no more than two such courses will be allowed towards the M.S. degree. It should be emphasized that the total number of credits for the combined degrees must be greater than the minimum number of credits required for both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. The University BS requirement is 120 credits, thus a student with a total of 124 credits may, with approval, transfer up to four of the credits used to obtain the BS degree toward the M.S. degree.
A maximum of 12 credits can be transferred toward the M.S. degree program.
5. Upon completion of the fourth year of study, assuming that all program and University requirements have been met, the student will be awarded the BS degree and may then be recommended for full matriculation status by the graduate selection committee and the Dean of the Graduate School prior to the fifth year of study. If the student chooses not to continue toward the M.S. degree (or fails the fifth year), this does not alter receipt of the BS degree.
6. Although the options exist for taking an overload in any semester and/or registration for one or more summer sessions, they are not a requirement of this program. However, students wishing to gain a full research experience will be encouraged to initiate their research as early as possible (e.g., during the junior to senior year summer session), which is a distinct advantage of this accelerated program.
7. During the fifth year, as in the standard M.S. degree program, the student may undertake: a) thesis option (nine semester hours of graduate research) or b) project option (three semester hours of graduate project). In either case, the student will be required to take two one-credit graduate seminar courses, as well as the other courses required for the M.S. degree in radiological sciences, and must satisfy the 30 credit minimum M.S. degree requirement. Upon completion of all program and graduate school requirements, the student will be awarded the M.S. degree.
top