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2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Combined Bachelor of Science in Information Technology 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. in information technology 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 the requirements for the undergraduate degree. 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

We encourage students to apply for the combined B.S./M.S. program in their second year. It is also possible to apply in the third year, but students in their fourth year typically do not receive the benefits of the combined program.

Application requirements include:

  • A letter of intent from the student
  • Overall GPA of 3.25 or greater
  • Student must have been admitted to the information technology 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 the College of Computing, as indicated by GPA and grades in the foundation IT 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 typically 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./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./M.S. program must complete all assignments expected of graduate students and they will be evaluated in the same way as graduate students.

  • A student shall be considered a graduate student for all purposes upon either of the following events: the awarding of a baccalaureate degree or the completion of 12 graduate credit hours.
  • Following this, students will be considered graduate students, will pay graduate tuition for all courses (graduate and undergraduate), and will be eligible for graduate financial aid.
  • The College has identified courses that students may use to satisfy both undergraduate and graduate program requirements. Up to 12 credits can be dual counted. Students are strongly encouraged to work with their undergraduate advisor and the graduate program director for ACS to ensure all undergraduate and graduate requirements are met.
  • The list of courses can be found at http://gvsu.edu/s/2fw

Graduation Without Completion of the Program

If a student decides at some point to pursue only the undergraduate portion of the combined degree, the College 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. in information technology requires a Capstone course, either CIS 462 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

Year One

Year Two

Year Three

Year Four

Year Five

  • M.S.-ACS Core Class (3 credits)
  • M.S.-ACS Core Class (3 credits)
  • M.S.-ACS Core Class (3 credits)
  • M.S.-ACS Elective Class (3 credits) (taken in the summer)
  • M.S.-ACS Elective Class (3 credits)
  • M.S.-ACS Elective Class (3 credits)
  • CIS 693 - Master's Project (3 credits)

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