Overview

The Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option is a promising venue for talented Chemistry and Biochemistry students to progress in their careers through the engagement in graduate courses and Thesis research during the last year of their undergraduate (BSc) studies at the Department of Chemistry. Students enrolled in the Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option in Chemistry are required to register for four (4) MSc courses at the 500-level or 600-level during their year 4 of BSc studies and their first year at the Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option. Two (2) of these courses will be double counted towards their BSc degree and MSc degree. Therefore, a total of 6 Credit Hours will be considered for both degrees. During year 5; the Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option year, the enrolled student will have to register for the remaining courses of the MSc degree, including the COS-required courses and the Thesis research hours. Students involved in an employment after getting their BSc degree may be advised to continue their MSc degree as part-time students, hence their Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option duration may be extended to a total of 6 years. Accordingly, a Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option student will normally earn BSc and MSc degrees with a total of 144 credit hours of undergraduate and graduate course work. Objectives Shorten the study period to earn graduate degrees for outstanding students, as they may be able to complete their MSc degree within an additional 1,5 years after the BSc instead of the typical 2-3 years in the regular admission route. Make it easier for BSc students to continue on to graduate studies to provide them with advanced knowledge, skills, and attributes that will make them ready for successful careers at the forefront of academic and industrial development. Better prepare the Chemistry and Biochemistry graduates for the current and future requirements of professional registration within the UAE and internationally, for which having an MSc would be an advantage. Foster a tradition of graduate research activity in the Department of Chemistry with the expectation that there will be an additional benefit to the undergraduate program. Credit Requirements The current BSc degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry typically require the completion of 120 credit hours. After the completion of these credit hours, Chemistry BSc graduates can apply for an MSc degree in Chemistry by completing an additional 30 credit hours of graduate course work. For the proposed integrated Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option, outstanding senior undergraduate students will be allowed to choose up to 6 credit hours of undergraduate electives from the 500-level or 600-level Chemistry graduate courses (electives) with double counting of such credit hours towards their BSc and MSc degrees. This will allow students to obtain their MSc degree after their BSc by completing the remaining 24 credit hours of graduate course work. A total of 144 Credit Hours will be sufficient for talented students to obtain integrated BSc and MSc degrees in a maximum of 5.5 years for full-time students and could be extended to 6 years for part-time students. The double counted courses (6 Credit Hours) have been selected to contribute to the efficient employability of the Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option graduates. These include CHEM 526 (Chemical Instrumentation) and CHEM 534 (Catalysis in Organic Chemistry). These will replace two courses (6 Credit Hours) from the supporting elective courses in the non-Chemistry basket based on the advice of the student’s academic and/or Thesis advisor. The Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option students will not pay fees for the double counted courses if their BSc tuition fees are paid by the Federal Government because the courses are part of the requirements for BSc degree. Students interested in the new Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option will be advised after successful completion of 75 Credit Hours to take a track oriented towards graduate study. General Admission Requirements Advanced level (Junior or Senior) BSc status. The applicant may apply for the Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option in Chemistry program after the successful completion of 75 Credit Hours; however, he/she can only join the program after successfully completing a minimum of 75 Credit Hours in the Chemistry BSc degree program with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Admission to the program will be competitive with a cap of 20 students per cohort per semester to ensure the success of the proposed Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option program. A score of 6.0 or higher in IELTS or equivalent that demonstrates proficiency in English. Acceptance of the obligation and responsibility for the graduate study fees. A statement of professional goals. When there are class limits within the graduate programs, admission will be processed on a competitive basis based on the student’s GPA and career objectives. Modes of Enrollment Students will be enrolled as full-time, face-to-face Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option students. Admission will be made available every semester, but could be limited to Fall semester of every academic year depending on the rate of admission and the capacity of the Department of Chemistry. The Early Admission Procedure Interested students should first check on their eligibility with the Graduate Program Coordinator at the Department of Chemistry, then submit an application as specified by the University’s Admission office to the Departmental Chairperson by the announced deadline. Such an application should be simpler than the regular graduate program application, as the student information is already on file with the UAEU Registrar’s office. Once it is reviewed that the early admission requirements are fulfilled by the student and the student is recommended by the Graduate Program Committee at the Department of Chemistry, the department’s decision that the student can be enrolled in the Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option will be forwarded to the University’s Admission Office for official pre-admission by the announced university deadlines for regular admission to graduate programs. Academic Advising Guidelines During the first semester, the Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option student will confer with the Graduate Program Coordinator and faculty members who correlate with his/her research interests. After potential research areas have been identified and mutually agreed to with a faculty member and the Graduate Program Committee, the designated faculty member will become the student’s academic advisor to recommend and approve his/her course schedule for the rest of the duration of the program. This academic advisor will also supervise the student’s thesis. Probation and Dismissal from the Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option Status All applicable UAEU policies and procedures regarding the academic progress of students will apply as relevant for the undergraduate and graduate portions of the studies. Thus, if the Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option student, for example, cannot maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 for the graduate courses taken at UAEU, he/she will be placed on probation with possible dismissal from the MSc eligibility for failing to raise the GPA within the specified number of semesters. Moreover, if the Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option student withdraws from the Bachelor-Master Accelerated Option, he/she will have to inform the Department graduate studies coordinator by semester 7 at most to academically advise the student towards the completion of his/her BSc studies in a swift manner.