Bachelor’s-Accelerated Master’s (BAM) Degree Program
The Bachelor’s–Accelerated Master’s degree program (BAM) offers currently enrolled CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ undergraduate students the opportunity to receive a bachelor’s (BA) and master’s (MS) degree in a shorter period of time. Students receive the BA degree first, but begin taking graduate coursework as undergraduates (typically in their senior year). Because some courses are allowed to double count for both the BA and the MS degrees, students receive a MS degree in less time and at a lower cost than if they were to enroll in a stand-alone MS degree program after completion of their BA degree. In addition, staying at CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ to pursue the BAM program enables students to continue working with their established faculty mentors.
BAM Program in Integrative Physiology
The Department of Integrative Physiology (IPHY) has developed a curriculum that allows both degrees to be completed in 5 years. The program has been designed to provide qualified undergraduate students with an opportunity to enhance their knowledge base in the discipline, engage in research, increase their opportunities for employment and make their applications to medical/allied health professional schools more competitive.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission to the IPHY BAM program, a student must meet the following criteria:
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework
- Transfer students must have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours at CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ
- Students must have completed one year of general biology and one year of general chemistry prerequisite courses with minimum grades of C-
- Have acquired support of an IPHY faculty mentor who will advise student upon transition to graduate student status
Candidates for the program are recruited from the undergraduate population of declared IPHY majors during the beginning of their junior year. All interested candidates must apply by the second semester of their junior year. To apply, students must also provide one letter of recommendation from their selected faculty mentor. Approximately 3–5 of the applicants will be selected on a competitive basis to begin the program.
Program Requirements
Students may take up to 12 credit hours while in undergraduate status that can later be used toward the MS degree. In addition, 6 graduate credits may be double counted toward the BA degree and 6 undergraduate credits may be double counted toward the MS degree. Students must apply to graduate with the BA degree, and apply to continue with the MS degree, early in the semester in which the undergraduate requirements will be completed.1
Once accepted into the program, a student must maintain a GPA of 3.00 in all coursework undertaken. After transitioning to the MS degree, students must register for at least 5 graduate course credit hours per semester. Students in the BAM program are not eligible to participate in the coursework only MS track and must choose to register for either IPHY 6840 or IPHY 6950 their final semester in the MS program. Students deciding to discontinue the program may do so at any time during their course of study.
If you are interested in the IPHY BAM degree program, please contact the IPHY graduate program administrator for more information.
1Students who were admitted prior to July 2019 follow a concurrent Bachelor’s/Master’s (BAMS) structure, and the two degrees are awarded simultaneously when requirements for both degrees are met. For more information, contact the IPHY graduate program administrator.
Applying to the Program
Please include required supplemental materials with your electronic submission:- Personal statement – details the prospective student’s interest in the IPHY BAM program. An adequate statement would include long-term professional goals, research interests, and how the BAM program would assist in those endeavors. Research experience should also be included.
Your letter of recommendation cannot be uploaded with your intent application and must be submitted to the IPHY graduate program administrator via email