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2021-2022 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Combined Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Master of Science in Applied Computer Science

Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to a combined bachelor's/master's program and obtain both a B.S.E. in computer engineering and an M.S. in applied computer science within an accelerated time frame. Students admitted to this program will count up to 12 credits of graduate work in partial satisfaction of both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. After completing 120 credits and all requirements for the bachelor's degree, students are awarded a bachelor's degree. A minimum of 21 graduate credits must be completed after the 120 credits of the bachelor's degree. All other master's degree requirements must be met, including a graduate Capstone.

Admission

Students will normally apply directly to the School of Computing for the combined B.S.E./M.S. program during their second academic year. Application requirements include:

  • Overall GPA of 3.25 or greater
  • Student must have been admitted to the computer engineering program
  • 60 hours of academic credit have been completed or are in progress
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are allowable)

Admission decisions will be made by the school admissions committee based on the student's previous academic success in computer engineering, as indicated by GPA and grades in the foundation computer engineering courses, as well as potential success in the graduate program, as indicated by the letters of recommendation, and the student's letter of intent. Decisions will normally be communicated to students within four weeks of submitting a complete application to the combined degree program.

Requirements

During Undergraduate Studies

All university requirements, including general education courses, must be completed before the final (graduate) year of the combined B.S.E./M.S. program. In the final undergraduate year, students will normally take nine credits of graduate-level courses. If any courses are dual-listed, students in the combined B.S.E./M.S. program must complete all assignments expected of graduate students and they will be evaluated in the same way as graduate students.

  • Students will be considered undergraduates for tuition, academic requirements, and financial aid purposes until all requirements for the undergraduate degree are completed. Following this, they will be considered graduate students, will pay graduate tuition, and will be eligible for graduate financial aid.
  • The school has identified the following courses that students may dual-count toward the B.S.E. and M.S. degrees. Up to 12 credits can be dual counted. Students are strongly encouraged to work with the graduate program director in ACS to ensure all undergraduate and graduate requirements are met.

During Graduate Studies

A student shall be considered a graduate student for all purposes upon either of the following events: the award of a baccalaureate degree or the completion of 120 credit hours.

Graduation Without Completion of the Program

If a student decides at some point to pursue only the undergraduate portion of the combined degree, the school will still recognize the graduate courses taken in lieu of undergraduate courses. Credit from the undergraduate degree cannot be used toward a graduate degree at a later date.

Please note that awarding of the B.S.E. in computer engineering requires a Capstone course, either EGR 485 and EGR 486, or CIS 693, or both CIS 690 and CIS 695. Awarding of the M.S. in applied computer science requires a graduate Capstone course: CIS 693, or both CIS 690 and CIS 695.

Suggested Order of Coursework

This sample order of coursework assumes that students will complete the CE core and general education courses with the help of their advisor and apply for undergraduate admission at the end of the winter semester of their second year. The following course sequence also assumes a strong mathematics background for the entering student. If mathematics deficiencies exist, completing the mathematics prerequisites should be the student's top priority.

Please note: This is only one of many possible sequences of courses. Students are strongly encouraged to work with the graduate program director in ACS to ensure all undergraduate and graduate requirements are met, and to customize the combined program to their areas of interest.

The following sequence makes no attempt to minimize credit load. For example, the sequence assumes that all general education courses are distinct and no double dipping is done.

Year One

No change from CE sample curriculum (31 credits).

Year Two

No change from CE sample curriculum (46 to 47 credits).

Year Three

Includes 33 undergraduate credits plus three graduate credits (36 credits).

Year Four

Includes 21 to 22 undergraduate credits plus six graduate credits (27 to 28 credits).

Year Five

Includes 24 graduate credits.


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