Admissions Programs

The Office of Admissions offers undergraduate students the opportunity to apply for a number of graduate degree programs. They are:

GEAR (Graduate Engineering at Rochester)

This five-year BS + MS program in engineering and applied sciences allows students to obtain both their undergraduate and graduate engineering degrees within five years. The GEAR program provides assurance of admission into one of eight engineering master’s programs at the University’s Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. GEAR students receive a 50 percent tuition award in their fifth year of study.

For more information, see the GEAR page or email hajimschool@ur.rochester.edu.

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GRADE (Guaranteed Rochester Accelerated Degree in Education)

A five-year BA/BS + MS program, GRADE is for students interested in becoming educators. GRADE students choose any undergraduate major and are guaranteed admission to the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development with the Steven Harrison Scholarship, equal to one-third of tuition, for all five years.

For more information, see the GRADE page or email GRADE advisor Stephen Armstrong at stephen.armstrong@rochester.edu.

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REMS (Rochester Early Medical Scholars)

The oldest of our combined programs, this eight-year BA/BS + MD program is designed for aspiring doctors. Admission to the REMS program is highly selective and enrollment is limited to ten students a year. Students accepted to REMS are also accepted to the University’s School of Medicine and Dentistry upon completion of the bachelor’s degree.

For more information, see the REMS page or email career.center@rochester.edu.

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DDN (Dual Degree in Nursing)

The Dual Degree in Nursing (DDN) Program at the University of Rochester combines the resources of the College and the School of Nursing. It allows students to combine their interests in nursing with a specific academic discipline offered at the College. These students exemplify diverse, passionate commitments to both areas of study.

In their first seven semesters, DDN students pursue a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degree at the College and complete the prerequisites for the School of Nursing. In their final three semesters, students pursue a bachelor of science in nursing. Students complete both degrees in four and a half years.

For more information, see the DDN web page or email Cathy Caiazza at caterina.caiazza@rochester.edu.

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Health and Epidemiology Advanced Learning (HEAL)

A five-year BA/BS + MS program, HEAL is for students who are interested in public health. Students who are accepted into the program will complete an undergraduate degree in either epidemiology (BA) or environmental health (BS) and an MS epidemiology through the Department of Public Health Sciences in the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

HEAL students are not required to take the GREs and guarantees you admission into the School of Medicine and Dentistry’s epidemiology program.

For more information see the HEAL page or contact Jennifer Sherwood at jennifer.sherwood@rochester.edu.

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Dual Degree Program

The dual degree program allows students to pursue a bachelor of music degree from the Eastman School of Music and a bachelor of arts or science degree from Arts, Sciences and Engineering (AS&E). Most students apply for first-year admission, completing both the Eastman and College application. Typically, successful applicants are accomplished musicians who have a strong interest in some academic area, having pursued rigorous classes and done well academically.

Applying to the Program after Admission

Some students decide after beginning their studies in one school or the other that they would like to add a second degree. Before making such a commitment:

  • AS&E students looking to add an Eastman degree should talk to the assistant dean at Eastman
  • Eastman students wanting to add a degree in AS&E should talk to the associate dean of the College

All students submit an Intent to Enroll Form, available from the associate dean or through transfer admissions on the River Campus. Applications should be filed by June 1 for fall admission and by November 1 for spring admission.

Eastman students who want to complete a minor but not a major do not need to apply for admission to the College. They can be accepted into a minor, and that minor will be awarded along with the bachelor of music degree.

Program Requirements

While students must complete all requirements for both the BA/BS and the BM, some special arrangements exist. Students can complete the primary writing requirement by completing either FWS 121 at Eastman or WRT 105 in the College. Special clusters exist in the humanities and social sciences, making it possible, depending on the student’s major, to complete only one or even no other cluster.

Beginning with students admitted in the fall of 2016, students are expected to take five years to complete both degrees. Financial aid is awarded for the five years, and students may continue taking lessons from their primary teacher throughout. Students who are able to complete both degrees in eight or nine semesters, however, may do so.

Students normally live on their “billing” campus, but can make arrangements with the heads of residential life on both campuses to live on the other campus.

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