Internal Applicants for Blended Program

When should I apply? If you are interested in applying to the Blended MS program, you should apply no more than two years and no less than two semesters before you are scheduled to complete 130 degree applicable semester units. Usually in Fall or Spring of your 3^rd year on a 4 year plan.

For the MS Project Track: Company sponsored projects start each Fall semester. To optimize the time to degree, students applying to the MS Project Track are accepted in Fall semester ONLY. 

What are the typical qualifications? Typically, applicants with a GPA ≥ 3.0 are eligible to be admitted to the program. Students should be no more than 2 years away from completing their undergraduate degree requirements and plan to complete their GWR and all lower-division coursework prior to or during the semester in which they apply.

What can I do to enhance my chances of getting into the MS Program? BMED Faculty members can give their recommendations to the admissions committee; therefore, if you know the kind of research you’d like to do, it is to your advantage to join and help in a faculty research group. Some call this “shadowing”. This applies to both the Thesis and Project tracks.

Do I need to take the GRE?  The GRE is not required for the Blended Program applicants.

What are double count units? You can count up to 6 units of 4000 or 5000 level courses that can be applied to your graduate degree toward your undergraduate degree program as well. Senior design courses cannot be double counted.

What if I took a 4000 or 5000 level course that I did not use to fulfill undergraduate requirements? Can I use those units on my Formal Study Plan?  Yes, you can include up to 12 units as long as 60% of your total units on your Formal Study Plan are approved 5000 level courses. See the Graduate Handbook.

What is the Post Baccalaureate Change of Objective (PBCO) Form?  It is the form, if admitted, that the Administration/Records uses to change your status from undergraduate to graduate.

Important: You need to run your undergraduate Degree Progress (DPR) Report upon submitting this form. (You will lose access to your DPR report once you have achieved graduate status.)

For the personal statement, is there guidance? The suggestion for your personal statement is a letter 1 page to 1.5 pages, containing three main topics.

• -Topic one: why did you get into Biomedical Engineering? What areas of BMED are you excited to work on for your MS degree?
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• -Topic two: while taking course work (or working in a research group) what did you most enjoy and/or excel in? What are your strengths? If your overall GPA is not high, what is your GPA for your last 90 units? You can include context for your GPA this paragraph, if desired.
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• -Topic three: what research are you interested in? List the relevant faculty that you’ve talked to about joining their group. Note: if you list a faculty member, please make sure you have discussed research opportunities and possibly secured a project. If you’ve identified a research group, they should probably be the one to write a recommendation for your application.

What forms do I need to fill out when I apply? Many students think they need to submit multiple forms along with their application materials. The ONLY forms or materials are those that get submitted as part of the application. After recommendation for the program by the BMED Graduate Committee, you will initiate additional paperwork through the Graduate Education office.

When I fill out forms, what are the relevant email addresses? As of Fall 2026, use the following email address on the E-form:

• Graduate Coordinator: bghawkin@calpoly.edu
• Department Chair:  kohallor@calpoly.edu
• Associate Dean: bbenson@calpoly.edu

What is the Project Track?  The Project Track engages students in MS level projects sponsored by both Industry and Faculty. Projects involve teams of 2 MS students. Team members periodically interact directly with the sponsor. Industry projects start each Fall semester and are selected/assigned in BMED 5591.

What’s the typical duration for a Thesis?  Theses generally take ~1.5 to 2 yrs.

What’s the typical duration for a Project?  Typically Project durations are designed for one calendar year, i.e., work through, defend, and graduate in summer (may or may not occur on campus). May optionally extend to Fall.

How can I check on what courses will be offered in what quarter? Term Typically Offered – Office of the Registrar – Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

After I’m in the program, how do I go about getting the appropriate signatures?  All forms are initiated online through the Grad Ed website.

What happens if I apply and later have an opportunity outside of Cal Poly that I would like to pursue? If you have a new opportunity that you’d like to pursue, you should contact the graduate program coordinator as soon as possible. If you have previously filed your Post-Baccalaureate Change of Objective (PBCO), you will need to request a form to drop your MS degree objective and revert to your BS degree.

Is there financial assistance for Graduate Students? There are a variety of funding opportunities offered or assisted through Graduate Education. Additionally, you can talk with the Department office or directly with the faculty member responsible for the course to get on the list of available Instructional Student Assistants, ISAs.

Can I walk at graduation as an undergraduate after entering the Blended Program? Once you’ve transitioned from undergraduate to graduate status, your official commencement will be for your MS degree. If you would like to petition to walk as an undergraduate, you need to fill out the commencement petition form at the Commencement Office.