Wartburg College students interested in a master’s degree in industrial engineering can begin earning credits toward that end the summer after their junior year, thanks to a partnership with Iowa State University.

The “4+1” cooperative program will allow students to earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering science from Wartburg and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Iowa State in just five years.

“It is a real value-add for our students to have the opportunity for advanced degree study in a time frame that is not much different than what it would have taken them to get a bachelor’s degree if they had gone to another institution,” said Daniel Black, professor of physical science and engineering.

To make this happen, Wartburg students will begin a graduate-level research project through Iowa State the summer between their junior and senior years. Some senior-level coursework will be substituted with graduate-level online courses from Iowa State.

Iris Rivero, director of industrial engineering graduate education at ISU, said the partnership mirrors an internal program that has already experienced great success.

“This is a great way make students more aware of the opportunities available in STEM disciplines and introduce them to research opportunities at the critical time when they are ready to make that career decision,” she added.

Wartburg senior Daniel Van Groningen followed the accelerated track, even though the agreement was just finalized. He will graduate from Wartburg in May with several graduate courses already complete.

“I jumped at the chance to knock out some graduate-level courses while finishing up my undergraduate studies and still playing basketball,” he said. “My course load is fairly heavy, but I know the push I am making now will pay off and benefit me in the long run.”

For more information about the Wartburg College engineering science program, visit www.wartburg.edu/engineering. Additional information about the ISU graduate program is available at www.imse.iastate.edu.