Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate Degrees

Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate Degrees

Snapshot Is an IUG program right for you?

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Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate (IUG) degree programs combine a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree into a single coherent program of study. By completing the program in five years, you can earn two Penn State degrees in less time than it would take to earn them separately.

Participating in an IUG program helps you learn how to balance the intensity of graduate studies, receive full access to Penn State Graduate School resources, and better understand how to work with graduate faculty at an undergraduate level.

You’ll benefit from associating with graduate students whose level of work and intensity of interest and commitment more closely parallel your own. Your advising will also be informed by not only the requirements of your bachelor’s degree program but also the long-range goals of your graduate degree.

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Residential IUG Programs Offered by IST

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Years to Complete an IUG Program

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Research Areas

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Graduate Faculty

IUG Programs in the College of IST The College of IST offers residential IUG programs that can prepare you to earn foundational knowledge in your field while emphasizing the development of advanced core information science knowledge and research skills.

Each program equips you with unique skills and experiences that can prepare you to pursue a doctoral degree or career that requires an interdisciplinary background in fields like health care, business, education, and government.

• B.S. in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations/M.S. in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations • B.S. in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations/M.S. in Informatics • B.S. in Human-Centered Design and Development/M.S. in Informatics • B.S. in Information Sciences and Technology/M.S. in Informatics • B.S. in Security and Risk Analysis/M.S. in Informatics • B.S. in Security and Risk Analysis/M.I.A. in International Affairs

Prospective IST Students: futurestudents@ist.psu.edu | Current Penn State Students: advising@ist.psu.edu | Toll-free: 866-225-8707

Additonal Paths Application Process IUG programs are pursued by a small percentage of academically talented Penn State undergraduate students. If you’re interested in an IUG program, you should work with your academic adviser to understand your options and the application process.

Undergraduate students in the College of IST can apply to an IUG degree program after earning 60 credits, which is typically in the spring semester of their second year.

To apply, you should: • Meet with an academic adviser to discuss your interest in an IUG program, receive an assessment of your academic plan, and get a referral to meet with the Director of Master’s Programs.

• Write a statement of interest that details why you want to pursue a graduate degree.

• Meet with the Director of Master’s Programs to declare your interest and gather information about program requirements.

• Prepare a course plan for your IUG program to be reviewed by an academic adviser.

• Submit the IUG Intention Form to request a meeting with the Graduate Programs team to finalize your IUG plan and receive approval to apply.

If you’re interested in pursuing a master’s degree after you earn your bachelor’s degree, you have options. The College of IST offers automatic acceptance into one of the college’s M.S. or M.P.S. degree programs and will waive the application fee for anyone who graduated from an IST bachelor’s degree or IUG program with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Both the automatic acceptance and the application fee waiver are good for two years after you graduate from an IST program at any Penn State campus. Eligible applicants should contact istgradprograms@psu.edu for verification and issuance of the waiver.

Academic Planning The first two to three years of undergraduate coursework follow the same undergraduate curriculum that other IST students follow in the bachelor’s degree program. The final years include undergraduate and graduate requirements.

You may double count up to 12 specified credits toward both degrees. At least 50% of the courses that are double-counted must be at the 500 or 800 level.

Your performance will be monitored on an ongoing basis by your adviser and the Office of Graduate Programs. To remain in the program, you must maintain a high cumulative GPA and good academic standing and meet graduation requirements.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. U.Ed. IST 24-11.

Andrew Pacheco ’23 “The IUG program allowed me to earn my master’s one year early and gain exposure to research without sacrificing depth or rigor. I now approach my work with heightened logic to create more sustainable and fair solutions.”

@ISTatPennState