The Engineering Accelerated Graduate (EAGr) Program, launched in 2020 at the Swanson School of Engineering, offers eligible undergraduates a fast track to earning both a bachelor's and a master's degree within five years. This program saves students time and money while enhancing their competitiveness in the job market.

WHAT IS EAGr - a 4+1 option that allows students to complete three graduate-level courses during their undergrad, with the remaining seven taken during their master’s study, saving both time and tuition.

Below, you’ll find details on eligibility and step-by-step instructions on how to join the program.

Note: All EAGr applicants are automatically considered for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship. 

  • First-year students with an SAT score of 1510 or 34 ACT Composite score, are in the top 5 percent of their graduating class or have an equivalent grade point average (GPA) are offered provisional admission to EAGr, pending a 3.50 GPA by their junior year at Pitt.
  • Undergraduates who maintain a 3.50 cumulative GPA through their junior/third year will be invited to join EAGr.
  • Transfer students who enter Pitt with a 3.50 cumulative GPA and maintain it through their junior (third) year will be invited to join the EAGr program.

To join the EAGr Program, students must receive a formal invitation from the Associate Dean for Graduate Education of the Swanson School of Engineering. Typically, invitations are sent once students have completed 60 or more credits, reached first-semester junior standing, and have earned a 3.5+ cumulative GPA.

Students who have earned additional credits through AP or transfer courses may receive their invitation earlier. While you’re encouraged to attend EAGr info sessions and start planning your 3 graduate courses for your senior year, you won’t be able to officially start the EAGr program until then.

Keep an eye out for this important letter, as it marks the start of your accelerated path to earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in just five years. Please pay special attention to the EAGr roadmap in the next drop down.

  1. Identify Your MS Program - Choose the MS program that aligns with your educational and career aspirations. Typically, the EAGr program is designed for Professional MS students. While pursuing a Research MS can be considered, it may extend your study beyond one year.
    For interdisciplinary paths, it’s feasible to combine a BS in one area with an MS in another (e.g., BS in Mechanical and MS in Industrial) but you need to consult your undergraduate coordinator and the MS graduate coordinator to discuss.
  2. Create Your Study Plan: Draft your EAGr Course & Approval Form. This study plan should outline the final 2 terms of your undergraduate studies and the 2 terms to complete your master’s degree (titled as Senior 1 & 2 as well as Grad 1 & Grad 2 on the form).
    1. Identify Required Courses: List the classes needed to complete your BS degree in your current engineering program.
    2. Select Graduate Classes: Choose 3 graduate-level courses that will be completed during the final two terms of your undergraduate studies. The EAGr advantage is that 2 of these grad courses count towards both your undergraduate and master's degree requirements. All 3 graduate courses count towards completion of your MS degree.
      Note: If fitting 3 graduate classes into your schedule is challenging, contact your coordinators to explore a custom plan.
    3. Plan to Complete Your MS in 1 year: Layout the 7 graduate classes needed to fulfill your MS program requirements (2 semesters). Visit the department's website to check when specific courses are offered (fall or spring).
    4. Connect with Coordinators for Clarification: To ensure all your selected courses count toward your EAGr plan, it's essential to connect with both your undergraduate and graduate coordinators. Prior to your meeting, draft a version of the EAGr Course & Approval Form (as listed above). This will help facilitate a more productive discussion and ensure your plan is approved, fitting seamlessly with your academic goals. You can find the contact information for the coordinators in the drop-down section provided.
  3. Approval From Both Coordinators: Meet with undergraduate and graduate coordinators to finalize and approve your plan. Just sign and submit!
    1. SIGN: Your EAGr Course and Approval Form MUST BE signed by both coordinators
    2. SUBMIT: Then SUBMIT via email to ssoegradadmissions@pitt.edu
  4. Enroll Based on Your EAGr Plan: Complete the enrollment process and begin your master’s courses in line with your approved plan. You WILL enroll in your graduate classes prior to formally submitting your graduate application for the MS program. Your signed and submitted EAGr Course & Approval Form is your ticket to participate as an undergraduate. To continue on as a graduate student, the MS application is required, see below for more information.
  5. Submit Your MS Application: See next section on submitting your MS application & when to submit.

As an EAGr participant, you’ll not only begin earning MS credits as an undergrad, but you’ll also enjoy an expedited, fee-free application process for your master’s program. In your last semester as a senior, apply to your desired MS program via the application process below*.

  1. Contact the SSoE Graduate Admissions Team (ssoegradadmissions@pitt.edu) for a link to the application and an invitation code to apply for free.
  2. Application requirements:
    1. Select the term in which you will officially START your MS full-time in the application
    2. No GRE required
    3. Resume/CV
    4. Statement of Purpose
    5. EAGr eligibility letter submitted in the “optional document” section
    6. Signed EAGr Course & Approval Template submitted in the “optional document” section
    7. Letter of Recommendation - Most students do not need recommendation letters, except interdisciplinary applicants (ie. ChemE undergrad to Sustainability grad), please submit 1 reference from your undergraduate program.

*PLEASE NOTE – Graduate applications are released each September for the following academic year. As a junior, you won’t be able to formally submit your MS application yet, as the system isn’t open for that term. Your last semester as a senior is the time to apply.

Your undergraduate and graduate coordinators will guide you in developing a plan that integrates 3 graduate courses into your undergraduate schedule and completing the remaining 7 courses in your MS program. These coordinators are crucial to ensuring your course plan is both appropriate and feasible. Once they approve and sign your EAGr Course and Approval Template, your ready to move forward with your combined degree program, setting you on track for success in the EAGr pathway.

Undergraduate Coordinators

Graduate Coordinators

One major advantage of the EAGr program is that the 3 graduate-level courses you take during your undergraduate years are charged at your undergraduate tuition rate, allowing you to maintain your current financial aid* and scholarships.

When funding your MS degree, you’ll automatically be considered for the Pitt2Pitt scholarship, and additional funding opportunities are available through PittFund$Me and external scholarships. Plus, by completing your MS faster, you'll spend less overall on tuition—saving both time and money.

*Financial Aid: Any merit-based scholarship, need-based financial aid, or federal and state grants and loans would be directly related to the student’s career level (as an undergraduate or graduate student). While the student is an undergraduate, his/her undergraduate types of financial aid would be applicable. However, after the student receives his/her undergraduate degree, the student would then be eligible for financial aid as a graduate student and no undergraduate financial aid resources would be available, including undergraduate scholarships that were renewable for up to eight terms.

We are excited to introduce the EAGr+ program here at Swanson! Through this program, companies work alongside Swanson to offer EAGr students part-time employment as well as tuition reimbursement during the MS year. Once graduated from their MS program, EAGr+ students then have the opportunity to earn full-time positions. Interested job applicants should reach out to their company of interest about open positions. Tuition reimbursements and employment is at the company's discretion.

For questions or further guidance, contact Stephanie Opalinski at stephanie.opalinski@pitt.edu.