5-year BS/MS Program

Students with a Food Science and Technology concentration and a strong interest in research may pursue a 5-year BS/MS combined degree. For this accelerated program, students must begin graduate laboratory research in
their Junior year and complete the thesis MS program.

To prepare for the 5-year BS/MS Program, students must:

• Identify a Research Adviser* no later than their junior year.
• Begin conducting laboratory research no later than their junior year.
• Apply to the Food Science MS program in their senior year and have their Research Adviser write one of the letters of recommendation.

*Research Advisors are different from your departmentally assigned Academic Advisor

Credit transfer

• Maximum 6 Graduate credits can be transferred from a BS degree or another MS degree, if they were not required for the respective degree. To transfer, you will need to submit a correct form to the Graduate School. These forms can be found at https://www.umass.edu/graduate/documents?s=transfer
• For students completing 5-year BS/MS program (Accelerated Masters), an additional 6 credits can be transferred from the BS degree (double counted). Please submit a form for "Transfer credits, Accelerated Masters"
• For students transferring unused credits from the previous MS program from another institution, please submit a form for ‘Transfer credits, External’. Transfer credits should be done in the 1st semester

Completion of MS with Thesis Requirements

• Complete the MS requirements that can be found at https://www.umass.edu/food-science/msphd-requirements/ms-thesis
• Plan on spending two summers (after your Senior and Graduate year) at UMass to conduct research.