Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Studies (SUGS) Program Information

Purpose

The ECE SUGS program was created to offer our best students an opportunity to complete the Master’s requirements as part of a seamless program of five years at Michigan. This is done by allowing students to “double count” up to eight hours of credit in graduate level classes toward both Bachelor’s and Master’s requirements. See below for the specific rules for double counting of classes.

In addition to the double counting and transferring of credits,  eligible applicants have a streamlined application process in that GRE scores, recommendation letters, statement of purpose, and personal statement are not required.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the SUGS Program, student must satisfy the following minimum requirements:

  • Be enrolled in EE, CE or CS, or EE minor
  • Have completed at least 80 credits toward the Bachelor’s degree
  • Have a cumulative & Major (i.e., all EECS coursework) 3.5 GPA or better upon application and graduation of bachelor’s degree
  • Not be enrolled in two undergraduate degree programs or in a dual-degree program
    (basically, you can only double count courses between two programs) 
    Note: Minors do NOT count as degree programs 

Application Process

The application process has two parts.

Part 1: Complete Departmental SUGS Application

Part 2: Complete Rackham Graduate School Application

Application Instructions

Part 1: After you have completed 80 credit hours

  1. Complete Departmental SUGS Application and EECS Course GPA Calculation Form.
    • Computer Science students should fill out the CSE letter/form request form, select “ECE SUGS Signature” and upload your filled out application form as a PDF attachment.
    • Electrical & Computer Engineering students can set up an undergraduate advising appointment to determine courses to double count and/or transfer or you can email Catie Lawrence ([email protected]) to request the signature.
  2. Email [email protected] with your completed SUGS application, GPA calculation form and unofficial transcript to gain access to the Plan of Study. You will be given a link to complete the Plan of Study on-line.
  3. Complete your Plan of Study. You can review the ECE Course list here.
  4. Be sure to submit your documents by the deadline below.
  5. You should receive a decision approximately 4-6 weeks after the corresponding deadline.

Part 2: After you receive pre-admission into the program

  • ECE Graduate Program Coordinator will send you a pre-admission email.
  • Complete Rackham Graduate School Application
    • Select the correct program under the heading: Electrical Engineering & Computer Science – Electrical & Computer Engineering
      • SUGS Electrical & Computer Engineering M.S.E. 
    • Academic Statement of Purpose: upload your pre-admission email/letter.
    • Personal Statement: (Optional) Domestic students are encouraged to submit the personal statement in order to have full consideration for funding opportunity during the admission process. Otherwise, you can upload a document stating “SUGS Program – Personal Statement Not Required”

Deadline

Fall (September) admission: September to January 15
Winter (January) admission: March 1 to October 1

Admission

Admission to the SUGS Program is not automatic. The program to which the student has applied will make an admissions decision based on the submitted material.

Have more questions?

Stop by an information session

Note for students interested in the PhD

Undergraduate students who are seriously interested in the PhD program are not likely to benefit significantly from the SUGS program (since PhD students must take more than 30 graduate credits). 

Students are encouraged to apply directly for a PhD Program rather than SUGS, which will make them eligible for funding. 

SUGS students who become interested in pursuing a PhD while pursuing the Master’s apply for the PhD program (and funding) in the usual way.

Double Counting

The MS degree requires 30 credits, and graduate students typically take only 9-12 credits per semester. Most 500-level graduate courses are only 3 credits. Thus a non-SUGS program MS student will typically take 3 full semesters (e.g., FA, WN, FA) to complete his/her MS degree.

What makes the SUGS program unique is that it allows students in the program to double count 8 credit hours to both the undergraduate and graduate degree. This often permits the student to complete the MS degree in two full (e.g., FA & WN) semesters, reducing the time to graduation.

Listed are some requirements regarding double counting.

  • Must be a graduate level (e.g. 400 or 500 level)
  • The grade must be B or better.
  • Course must meet the Master’s degree program requirements.
  • Courses can be taken before or after admission to SUGS.
  • A maximum of 8 credit hours will be double counted even if the credit for specific courses to be double counted adds to more than 8 credit hours.
  • May not double count EECS 499. For graduate directed study credit, students should take a graduate directed study or research class (EECS 599, 698, 699).
  • For BS EE students:
    • May not use EE Program Core courses
  • For BS CE students:
    • May not use CE Program Core courses
  • For BS CS students:
    • May not use CS Program Core courses

Transfer Credits

Rackham allows students to transfer from an undergraduate transcript to the graduate transcript up to 15 credits of graduate level coursework that were not used to satisfy any BS requirement. 

SUGS students may similarly transfer graduate level credits that were not used to satisfy any BS requirement, provided the total of double counted and transferred credits does not exceed 15.

Enrollment Information

  • SUGS students must be enrolled in the MS program for a minimum of two full semesters (minimum 9 credits per semester – 9 credits per semester must be maintained regardless of an appointment as a GSRA or GSI) following the completion of their BS degree. A student who enters the SUGS program before completing his/her BS degree will need a minimum of 3 full semesters in SUGS to earn the MS degree, and hence will not reduce the time required to complete the MS degree. Entering the SUGS program before completing the BS degree removes the major advantage of this program. 
  • Students must either have finished the BS requirements or be within 6 credits of completing their BS at the time they “Officially Enroll” in the Master’s Program. Student must complete the BS requirements in the first semester of such enrollment.

Note: Some graduate courses are only offered in either the fall or winter semesters, but not both. Our MS program is mainly designed to accommodate students entering in the fall semester. Students who wish to enter in the winter semester should carefully coordinate their undergraduate and graduate course selections to optimize their program. They may elect to take some graduate courses during their last semester as undergraduates. Thus they need to meet with both an undergraduate and graduate advisor at least one full semester before completing their BS degree to do appropriate planning.