GMS has developed specific academic policies to guide you during your tenure as a Gates
Millennium Scholar. We want to assist you in making the best possible academic decisions so that you excel in your course of studies and remain eligible to receive GMS funding. In this section, you will obtain information on GMS Program degree completion requirements and academic program eligibility with an emphasis on procedures to successfully transition into graduate school.
DEGREE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
In order to be eligible to receive GMS funding, Scholars are expected to be enrolled full-time in a U.S. accredited institution. Scholars are potentially eligible for consideration for GMS funding for a maximum of ten academic years. Please note that each degree level has its own maximum period in which to obtain the targeted degree in order to maintain eligibility to receive GMS funding.
Maximum of five years to complete a Bachelor’s degree (Transitional/Accelerated “first-professional” degrees are only funded for the undergraduate component.)
Maximum of two years’ funding for a Master’s degree
Maximum of four years’ funding for a Doctoral degree (Funding for the Doctoral degree may be reduced if a Scholar utilizes GMS funding maximums for undergraduate study, Master’s study or receives funding for teacher certification or an educational specialist degree.)
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The following policies and procedures were introduced during the 2005-2006 Academic Year.Please be advised that GMS funding is not retroactive.
UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR ELIGIBILITY
Undergraduate Scholars are not restricted in their selection of programs of study. Undergraduate Scholars may pursue a double major and receive funding as long as the degrees are earned within five years.
TRANSITIONAL/ACCELERATED PROGRAMS FOR UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARS
Undergraduate Scholars enrolled in transitional/accelerated degree programs may be considered for up to five years of GMS funding. However, GMS funding will not be available for
undergraduate programs that GMS designates as a “first-professional” degree.
GMS designates the following as “first professional” degrees:
Chiropractic (D.C., D.C.M.)
Dentistry (D.D.S., D.M.D.)
Medicine (M.D.)
Optometry (O.D.)
Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Podiatry (Pod.D., D.P., D.P.M.)
Rabbinical and Talmudic Studies (M.H.L., Rav)
Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)
Law (LL.D, J.D.)
Divinity/Ministry (M.Div.)
Business (M.B.A., M.S.M.)
Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) is the only GMS designated “first professional” degree that GMS will fund up to five years for undergraduate Scholars enrolled in a transitional/accelerated degree program. Scholars who enter a Pharm.D. program subsequent to earning a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for GMS funding consideration.
GRADUATE PROGRAM OF STUDY ELIGIBILITY
Graduate Scholars must be degree-seeking students in one of the seven GMS designated programs of study.
Computer Science
Education
Engineering
Library and Information Science
Mathematics
Public Health
Science
GMS Graduate fellowships will NOT be awarded in graduate areas of study such as business, humanities, medicine, law, social sciences and theology.
GRADUATE PROGRAM INQUIRY FORM REQUIREMENT
Effective immediately, all Gates Millennium Scholars entering graduate school in one of the seven funded areas of graduate study: computer science, education, engineering, library science,
mathematics, public health and science, are required to submit a Graduate Program Inquiry Form (GPIF) before starting their desired degree program. To receive a timely decision on funding, Scholars should submit a GPIF and supporting documentation between September 1 and March 1 of the year prior to enrollment. The GPIF is currently available for download via the Forms section of the Scholar Website (www.gmsp.org) as well as on the Scholar Connection
(http://www.gmsconnection.org).
COMPLETE GPIF REQUESTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. Graduate Program Inquiry Form (required)
2. Program Acceptance Letter and/or Admissions Letter (if available) 3. Program Description (required)
4. Curriculum (required) & Concentration (if applicable)
DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS,SPECIALIST DEGREES AND CERTIFICATE /LICENSURES
Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.): The Ed.S. degree will count against the maximum four years allowed for doctoral studies.
Teacher Certificate/Teacher Licensure Programs: Scholars may pursue a Teacher Certificate or Teacher Licensure for a maximum of one academic year.
Dual Degree Programs: Both of the degrees have to be in the seven funded areas of study in order to be considered for GMS funding.
M.D./Ph.D. or M.D. / M.P.H. Programs: GMS will fund a maximum of two years for the M.P.H. component of the M.D./M.P.H. and four years for the Ph.D. component of the M.D./
Ph.D. The dual degree program must be formally developed, structured, and promoted by an academic institution (that is, not an ad hoc combination of programs). Scholars may request a deferment while they are pursuing the M.D. component of the graduate program.
COMPUTER SCIENCE:
You must meet all three (3) eligibility requirements to be considered for GMS funding as a graduate student in Computer Science
1. You must pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in computer science.
2. Your master’s or doctoral degree must be in the school, college, or department of computer science OR you must pursue one of the following graduate degrees:
Master of Science in Computer Science (M.S.C.S)
Master of Computer Science (M.C.S)
Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Science in Computer Science (Sc.D.)
Doctorate in Computer Science (D.C.S.)
3. Your graduate computer science program must focus on the study of computers and include fields of knowledge such as computer hardware, computer software, computer engineering, information systems or robotics. See more descriptive computer science program information below:
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Information Technology
Computer and Information Sciences Computer Programming
Computer Programming/Programmer, General
Computer Programming, Specific Applications
Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification
Computer System Analysis/Analyst Computer Science
Computer Science
Computer Software and Media Applications
Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design
Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration
Computer Graphics
Computer Software and Media Applications Computer Systems Networking
and Telecommunications
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
Computer and Information Systems Security
Web/Multimedia Management and Webmaster
Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, including issues related to public policy
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
EDUCATION:
You must meet all four (4) eligibility requirements to be considered for GMS funding as a graduate student in the field of Education.
1. You must pursue a masters, Ed.S., or doctoral degree in the field of Education.
2. Your master’s, Ed.S., or doctoral degree must be in the school, college, or department of education OR you must purse one of the following graduate degrees:
Master of Arts or Science in Teaching (M.A.T. or M.S.T.)
Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning (M.A.T.L.)
Master of Arts or Science in Education (M.A.Ed. or M.S.Ed.)
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Master of Special Education (M.S.E.)
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Education (Ph.D.)
3. Your Institution’s catalogue must indicate that your graduate program will prepare or train you for a teaching career or to be in the field of education, and
4. Your graduate program in the field of education must include instruction in the theory and practice of learning and teaching, the basic principles of educational psychology, educational counseling, educational technology, educational policy, higher education and student personnel, curriculum and instruction, educational planning and
administration, or the social foundations of education.
ENGINEERING:
You must meet all three (3) eligibility requirements to be considered for GMS funding as a graduate student in the field of Engineering.
1. You must pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in the field of Engineering.
2. Your master’s or doctoral degree must be in the school, college, or department of Engineering OR you must pursue one of the following graduate degrees:
Master of Science in Engineering (M.S. Eng.)
Master of Engineering (M. Eng.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Science in Engineering (Sc.D.)
Doctorate in Engineering (D. Eng.)
3. Your graduate program in the field of Engineering must focus on the science, public policy, or management where the properties of matter and the sources of energy in nature are made useful to humanity in structures, machines, and products as in the construction of engines, bridges, buildings, mines, and chemical plants, including such fields of knowledge or study as aeronautical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, industrial engineering, materials engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering and structural engineering.
LIBRARY SCIENCE AND INFORMATION Science:
You must meet all three (3) eligibility requirements to be considered for GMS funding as a graduate student in the field of Library Science and Information Science
1. You must pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in the field of Library Science and Information Science.
2. Your master’s or doctoral degree must be in the school, college, or department of Library and Information Science OR you must pursue one of the following graduate degrees:
Master of Arts or Science in Library and Information Science (M.S. L.S.)
Master of Library and Information Science (M. L.I.S.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Library Science (D.L.S.)
3. Your graduate program must focus on the field of Library Science and Information Science and the study of issues related to libraries and the information fields including areas of public policy and management. Librarians, in the truest sense, are custodians of information. Whether in the public library as a generalist or specializing in corporate, faculty or professional facilities—they provide the community with the knowledge, skills and resources to find information on virtually any topic.
MATHEMATICS:
You must meet all three (3) eligibility requirements to be considered for GMS funding as a graduate student in the field of Mathematics
1. You must pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in the field of Mathematics 2. Your master’s or doctoral degree must be in the school, college, or department of
mathematics OR you must pursue one of the following graduate degrees:
Master of Arts or Science in Mathematics
Master of Mathematics
Master of Arts or Science in Applied Mathematics
Master of Applied Mathematics
Master of Arts or Science in Statistics
Master of Statistics
Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Mathematics (Ph.D.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics (Ph.D.)
3. Your graduate program in the field of Mathematics, including applications to public policy and management, must focus on the branch of knowledge or study of numbers and the systematic treatment of magnitude, relationships between figures and forms, and relations between quantities expressed symbolically, including such fields of knowledge or study as statistics, applied mathematics and operations research.
PUBLIC HEALTH:
You must meet all three (3) eligibility requirements to be considered for GMS funding as a graduate student in the field of Public Health
1. You must pursue a master's or doctoral degree in the field of Public Health
2. Your degree must be in the school, college, or department of public health OR you must pursue one of the following graduate degrees
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.)
Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health (Ph.D.)
Doctorate in Public Health (Dr.P.H.)
3. Your graduate program in the field of Public Health must focus on public policy, management, or the science and practice of protecting and improving the health of a community, as by preventative medicine, health education, control of communicable diseases, application of sanitary measures, geographic information system, and monitoring of environmental hazards.
SCIENCE (includes Biological/Life Sciences and Physical Sciences)
You must meet all three (3) eligibility requirements to be considered for GMS funding as a graduate student in the field of Science
1. You must pursue a master's or doctoral degree in the field of Science.
2. Your master's or doctoral degree must be in one of the following graduate programs of study:
Agricultural and Food Sciences
Biology
Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources
Physical Sciences
See the next page for a listing of graduate programs of study in the field of Science 3. Your graduate program in the field of Science, including applications to public policy
and management, must focus on:
Life Sciences: The branch of knowledge or study of living things, including such fields of knowledge or study as biology, biochemistry, biophysics, microbiology, genetics, physiology, botany, zoology, ecology, and behavioral biology. (Note:
the term “Life Sciences” does not encompass the health professions/management.)
OR
Physical Sciences: The branch of knowledge or study of the material universe, including such fields of knowledge or study as astronomy, atmospheric sciences, chemistry, earth sciences, ocean sciences, physics and planetary sciences.
Agricultural and Food Sciences
Agricultural Sciences – General
Agronomy and Soil Sciences
Animal Sciences
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Biochemistry
Biophysics
Biophysics Radiation Biology
Botany and Plant Biology
o Botany
o Plant Biology
o Plant Molecular Biology
o Plant Pathology
Ecology, Environmental Biology and Evolutionary
Genetics, Developmental Biology and Reproductive
Environmental Sciences and Management