Students hoping to get out of college a little bit quicker with an advanced degree got some help from the Penn State Board of Trustees.

On Friday, the Trustees approved a new College of Earth and Mineral Sciences Meteorology degree program, allowing students to complete an integrated undergraduate and graduate degree in five years.

"The program already exists for Schreyer Honors College students," Hampton Shirer, associate head of the meteorology department, said. "We decided to open this opportunity up to a wider group."

The integrated bachelor of science/master of science meteorology degree program is open to juniors, although Shirer said exceptions could be made for younger applicants.

"They have to be at the top academically and have a knack for research," Shirer said. "I would think that most would have at least a 3.5 G.P.A."

Shirer added that a student's G.P.A. would not be the only basis of judgement. "We look over the whole application -- research, G.P.A., G.R.E. score," he said. "Applicants also need three letters of recommendation and the department head's permission."

Meteorology professor Jenni Evans is optimistic about the program, which has already shown success in the honors college. "It gives our students the opportunity to really control their careers," she said. Admission to the program will be competitive, Shirer said.

"The demand will probably be two to three times what we'll actually be able to support," he said. "Two or three [applicants] a year will be admitted. I expect we'll have some difficult decisions to make."

Allyson Clark (freshman-meteorology) said she wouldn't want to enter the program, preferring to do undergraduate and graduate studies separately.

"I wouldn't want to do the amount of work that goes into it," she said. "And I want to have the experience of graduate school and to meet new people."

Matt Madigan (junior-meteorology) shared Clark's viewpoint.

"I was talking to some of the people who took it [through the honors college], and they said that you are left with very little of a life," he said. "It doesn't give you much of a college experience."