More than ten years ago, the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) created the combined bachelor's-master's degree program. This combined program means that all regular undergraduate students, during their junior and senior years (the last two years of their bachelor's degree), can officially begin their master's degree studies. The objective is to provide talented PUPR undergraduate students with the opportunity to complete the combined bachelor's-master's degree in a reduced period. A regular undergraduate student can simultaneously begin taking graduate courses that lead to a master's degree and earn a double degree. Since part of this arrangement consists of crediting some undergraduate courses the student takes at the graduate level, the dean's or department head's guidance is crucial.

Students enrolled in 5-year bachelor's programs may request admission to this program after completing 105 undergraduate credit-hours (excluding developmental courses). Those enrolled in 4-year bachelor's programs may request admission to this program after completing 72 undergraduate credit-hours (excluding developmental courses).

Admission
Conditions for admission to the combined program will be the following:

1. GPA of 3.00 or higher. When a student has a GPA of 2.50 to 2.99, their application may be evaluated, and they may be conditionally admitted to the combined program.

2.  Comply with the minimum undergraduate number of credit-hours for the combined Bachelor’s-Master’s Program.

3. Be recommended by the corresponding department head and graduate program director/coordinator.


Procedure

1. The student must complete and submit the application form.

2. The department chairperson and graduate program director/coordinator recommend the candidate for admission.

3. The application is evaluated to verify that the student indeed qualifies for the program.

4. The dean reviews the recommendations and approves or denies the student's application.

5. The final decision is notified to the student.


General Comments

1. Whenever any course is passed with a grade of “C” or lower, the student is disqualified from continuing in the combined program.

2. If the application is denied, the student may appeal the decision in writing to a committee comprising the undergraduate department head, the graduate program director/coordinator, the dean of the Graduate School, and the Vice President for Innovation in Academic Affairs. The committee's decision is final.