How does it work? Graduate-level MAE courses are “double counted” to satisfy requirements of both the BS degree and the MS degree. Three to four courses (9-12 credit hours) may be counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Steps to Apply in Your Sixth Semester

1. Meet Admission Requirements

• Required GPA at time of ABM Plan of Work submission:
  • NC State GPA ≥ 3.6
  • NC State MAE (major) GPA ≥ 3.5
  • GPA requirements are firm – no exceptions will be made
• Transfer students must complete two semesters as a full-time student at NC State before applying to the ABM program

2. Develop Your ABM Plan and Submit it to the MAE Graduate Office

• Complete the Plan of Work form. Consult with your MAE undergraduate advisor on the double-counted courses completed as an undergraduate student. The undergraduate advisor will sign the Plan of Work form once the course plan is set.
• Submit the signed form to the Graduate Office for processing using the ABM intake form. The Graduate Office will review, obtain the Director of Graduate Programs signature, and return for your records. 

Timing: Your ABM Plan of Work should be submitted when finishing 3rd year (300-level) undergraduate MAE coursework (usually sixth semester)

Change in plan: If your plan for double-counted courses changes at any time during the BS portion of the program, you must submit a new ABM Plan of Work for approval.

Choosing courses:
Visit the NC State Course Catalog to view a complete list of MAE Course Offerings. Some suggested choices are listed here.

Only one non-MAE 400-level course is allowed in the plan.

Mechanical Engineering ABM

Original Undergraduate Course	Substitute Graduate Course
Technical elective 1	MAE 5XX or an approved non-MAE 4XX or 5XX level course
Technical elective 2	MAE 5XX or an approved non-MAE 4XX or 5XX level course
Technical elective 3	MAE 5XX or an approved non-MAE 4XX or 5XX level course

Aerospace Engineering ABM

Original Undergraduate Course	Substitute Graduate Course
Structures Elective	MAE 533 Finite Element Analysis 1 or MAE 537 Mechanics of Composite Structures
Math Elective	MA 405 Introduction to Linear Algebra or MA 501 Adv Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists
Propulsion Elective	MAE 504 Fluid Dynamics of Combustion I or MAE 505 Heat Transfer Theory and Applications or MAE 550 Foundations Of Fluid Dynamics or MAE 560 Computational Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer
Technical elective 1	MAE 5XX or an approved non-MAE 4XX or 5XX level course
Technical elective 2	MAE 5XX or an approved non-MAE 4XX or 5XX level course

3. Maintain ABM Requirements

• If the undergraduate overall GPA drops below 3.5 at any point after submitting the ABM Plan of Work, the student will become ineligible to continue in the ABM program
• Course grades must be a B or better to be counted toward both BS and MS degrees
• Course grades of a B- or lower can not be double counted in the ABM. Contact your MAE undergraduate advisor immediately.

4. Apply to Graduate School

Undergraduate students must be admitted to the MAE Graduate Program the semester immediately following the completion of their BS degree. Submit your application by the MAE Graduate Program deadlines (December 15 preferred for Fall graduate program start). Review important information about graduate admissions and application requirements at:

• MAE Graduate Admissions
• Apply via the Graduate School’s Application Management portal

The ABM Plan of Work must be up to date and accurate to transcript courses before Graduate School application. Resubmit a corrected form signed by your undergraduate advisor to the MAE Graduate Office if changes have been made.

5. Complete Your ABM as a Graduate Student

• Students must complete all requirements for the non-thesis project MS degree no more than 12 months after completion of the BS degree. Double counted classes will no longer count for the MS after 12 months. See the MAE Graduate School website for additional information about MAE graduate programs and policies.
• Apply to graduate. You must apply to graduate in MyPack by the university deadline in your final semester.