Accelerated Bachelor of Science/Master of Science Program
Students with at least 60 credits and at least a 3.0 GPA may apply for this program. Students are encouraged to apply to the program as early as the end of their sophomore year. This program makes it possible to receive both degrees in 5 years (with 7 additional courses to be completed at the master’s level). A student may take up to 4 graduate CSC courses to satisfy undergraduate electives.
Excluded from the list are the Master of Science core courses CSC 520, CSC 530, CSC 540, and CSC 560 as well as the introductory Certificate courses CSC 512, CSC 515, and CSC 516.
For more information, contact the following faculty members:
- Dr. Si Chen, Accelerated Program Coordinator
- Dr. Md Amiruzzaman, Graduate Coordinator
- Dr. Richard Burns, Department Chairperson
HOW THE ACCELERATED B.S. TO M.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE WORKS
Step 1 - APPLY: Apply as early as the end of your sophomore year, but before the second semester
of your senior year. You can accelerate by one class, or by four— it’s up to you!
The earlier you apply, the more you will benefit from the program.
Step 2 – BEGIN GRADUATE COURSES: Once accepted to the accelerated program, you will be provisionally accepted to
the M.S. in Computer Science program. You will be able to register for and begin taking
graduate courses at the undergraduate tuition rate once you have earned junior status.
Step 3 – COMPLETE YOUR BACHELOR’S DEGREE: On target to meet all of your undergraduate degree requirements? Excellent! Apply
for graduation and earn your bachelor’s degree. At this point if you plan to continue
and complete the master’s degree program you will confirm that through myWCU. As an
accelerated student, you are not committing to complete both degrees, but we hope
that you will maximize the benefit.
Step 4 – GAIN GRADUATE STATUS: If you confirm that you are continuing your studies after completing the B.S., you
will matriculate as a graduate student and be eligible for graduate aid, assistantships,
and other graduate student benefits.
ACCELERATED PROGRAM BENEFITS
- Save time—you can complete both your B.S. and M.S. in five years rather than six
- Save money—up to 40% off your graduate tuition
- Less hassle—no need to file an official graduate school application
- Maximize funds—use your undergraduate financial aid and scholarships toward your graduate classes through your senior year
The graduate courses used to satisfy undergraduate electives excludes taking both the Graduate and corresponding Undergraduate course from this list:
| Course Name | Graduate Course | Undergraduate Course |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Systems | CSC 525 | CSC 331 |
| Networking | CSC 535 | CSC 335 |
| Database | CSC 545 | CSC 321 |
| Software Engineering | CSC 555 | CSC 402 |
| Compilers | CSC 565 | CSC 416 |
| Artificial Intelligence | CSC 575 | CSC 481 |
| Topics in Computer Security | CSC 583 | CSC 471 (Spring) / CSC 472 (Fall) |
| User Interfaces | CSC 585 | CSC 417 |
| Internship | CSC 605 | CSC 400 |
| Independent Study in Computer Science | CSC 610 | CSC 490 - 499 |