The objectives of the BS in Computer Science Program relate to the abilities of the graduates several years after graduation. The objectives include:
- Foundation for successful careers in industry: Graduates of the program will have a broad understanding of the fundamental concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications of computer science. They will have the educational foundation that leads to successful careers in the computing industry.
- Foundation for graduate study: Graduates of the program will have the academic preparation for successful completion of rigorous graduate programs.
- Professional preparation: Graduates will have effective written and oral communication skills, and be able to work collaboratively in a professional and ethical manner.
The bachelor's program in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.
Policies
Advanced Placement, Credit by Exam
A score of 4 on the Advanced Placement (AP) computer science exam qualifies the student for credit in CS 112 Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core). A score of 4 on the International Baccalaureate (IB) computer science exam qualifies students for credit in CS 112 Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core), and a score of 5 or more qualifies students for credit in CS 211 Object-Oriented Programming.
Change of Major
Students who are considering computer science as their major must meet with the Volgenau School of Engineering Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising, 2500 Nguyen Engineering Building. Students considering a change of major to computer science must have a GPA of at least 2.75 in all computer science and math courses, and successfully completed one of CS 112 or CS 211, and one of MATH 113, MATH 114 or MATH 125, with a grade of B or better. See Change of Major for more information.
Computer Science, Computer Engineering Double Major
Computer Science majors can earn a double major in Computer Science and Computer Engineering if they complete additional credits beyond the 120 credits required for the Computer Science degree. The additional credits must be part of an approved plan of study. For more information, visit the department website.
Cooperative Education
Students may participate in the Mason cooperative education program or a work-study program in the Washington, D.C. area.
Grades
Students must earn a C or better in any course intended to satisfy a prerequisite for a computer science course. Computer science majors may not use more than one course with grade of C- or lower toward department requirements.
Repeating Courses
Students may attempt an undergraduate course taught by the Volgenau School of Engineering twice. A third attempt requires approval of the department offering the course. This policy does not apply to STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core), which follows the normal university policy for repeating undergraduate courses.
The CS Department may not allow students to retake certain high-demand CS courses in which they have already earned a grade of C or better simply to improve their GPA.
Writing-Intensive Requirement
Computer science majors complete the writing-intensive requirement through a sequence of projects and reports in CS 306 Synthesis of Ethics and Law for the Computing Professional (Mason Core) and CS 321 Software Engineering. Faculty members provide feedback on students' expository writing.
Termination from the Major
No math, science, or Volgenau School of Engineering course that is required for the major may be attempted more than three times. Those students who do not successfully complete such a course within three attempts will be terminated from the major. Undeclared students in the Volgenau School who do not successfully complete a course required for a Volgenau School major within three attempts will also be terminated.
In addition, students in the Volgenau School with evidence of continued failure to make adequate progress toward declaring or completing a Volgenau School major will also be terminated. Adequate progress is determined by the major program. For more information, see AP.5.2.4 Termination from the Major.
Once a student has attempted one of these courses twice unsuccessfully, the third attempt must be no later than the next semester of enrollment, excluding summers. Failure to take the course at that time will result in termination from the major. A third attempt of a Volgenau School of Engineering course requires support by the student's major department as well as permission by the department offering the course. This permission is not guaranteed. If the student is unable to take the course when required, the student may request an extension to a future semester; extensions require approval of the student's advisor, their department, and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs. The deadline for extension requests is the add deadline for the semester in which the course is required.
Students who have been terminated from a Volgenau School of Engineering major may not register for a Volgenau School course without permission of the department offering the course. This applies to all undergraduate courses offered by the Volgenau School except IT 104 Introduction to Computing (Mason Core) and STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core).
A student may not declare any major in the Volgenau School of Engineering if the student has previously met the termination criteria for that major at any time, regardless of what the student's major was at the time the courses were taken.
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 120
Computer Science Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 110 | Essentials of Computer Science (Mason Core) 1 | 3 |
| CS 112 | Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core) | 4 |
| CS 211 | Object-Oriented Programming | 3 |
| CS 262 | Introduction to Low-Level Programming | 3 |
| CS 306 | Synthesis of Ethics and Law for the Computing Professional (Mason Core) | 3 |
| CS 310 | Data Structures | 3 |
| CS 321 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| CS 330 | Formal Methods and Models | 3 |
| CS 367 | Computer Systems and Programming | 4 |
| CS 471 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CS 483 | Analysis of Algorithms | 3 |
| Total Credits | 35 | |
| 1 | Must be taken within the first year as an Applied Computer Science or Computer Science major. |
Senior Computer Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Computer Communications and Networking | ||
| Secure Programming and Systems | ||
| Concurrent and Distributed Systems | ||
| Select four additional courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Game Programming I | ||
| Language Processors and Programming Environments | ||
| Database Concepts | ||
| Computer Graphics | ||
| Computer Communications and Networking | ||
| Comparative Programming Languages | ||
| Computer Systems Architecture | ||
| Secure Programming and Systems | ||
| Security Engineering | ||
| Concurrent and Distributed Systems | ||
| Mobile Application Development | ||
| Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Computer Vision | ||
| Data Mining | ||
| Autonomous Robotics | ||
| Design Exhibition 1 | ||
| Industry-Sponsored Senior Design Project 1 | ||
| Special Topics in Computer Science 2 | ||
| Numerical Analysis I | ||
or OR 481 | Numerical Methods in Engineering | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
| 1 | At most 3 credits total of CS 490 Design Exhibition and CS 491 Industry-Sponsored Senior Design Project may be counted toward the senior computer science requirement. |
| 2 | At most 3 credits total of CS 499 Special Topics in Computer Science may be counted toward the senior computer science requirement. |
Mathematics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 113 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) | 4 |
| MATH 114 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 125 | Discrete Mathematics I (Mason Core) | 3 |
| MATH 203 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 213 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | 3 |
| Total Credits | 17 | |
Note:
MATH 104 Trigonometry and Transcendental Functions, MATH 105 Precalculus Mathematics, MATH 108 Introductory Calculus with Business Applications (Mason Core), and courses with an IT designation (and any associated cross-listed courses) cannot be counted toward this degree.
Statistics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| STAT 344 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| 1 | Those planning to take MATH 352 Statistics may replace STAT 344 Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I with MATH 351 Probability. |
Computer Science-Related Courses
Students may need to choose electives to satisfy prerequisites for the following courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists II | ||
| Discrete Systems Modeling and Simulation | ||
| Deterministic Operations Research | ||
| Stochastic Operations Research | ||
| Digital Electronics | ||
| Digital System Design | ||
| Digital Electronics and Logic Design Lab | ||
| Embedded Systems and Hardware Interfaces | ||
| Device Driver Development | ||
| Single-Chip Microcomputers | ||
| Computer Architecture | ||
| Web Application Development | ||
| Software Testing and Maintenance | ||
| Software Architectures | ||
| Systems Engineering Management | ||
| Human Factors Engineering | ||
| Philosophy of Natural Sciences | ||
| Symbolic Logic | ||
| Professional and Technical Writing | ||
Any MATH or CS course numbered above 300 (except MATH 351) 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| 1 | Those planning to take MATH 352 Statistics may replace STAT 344 Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I with MATH 351 Probability. |
Communication
Students need three credits of communication:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 100 | Public Speaking (Mason Core) | 3 |
| or COMM 101 | Fundamentals of Communication (Mason Core) | |
Natural Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 12 credits of natural science | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
The courses should be intended for science and engineering students and must include a two course sequence with laboratories. Some approved combinations have a total of more than 12 hours.
Approved Two-Course Sequences with Laboratories
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | ||
| BIOL 103 | Introductory Biology I (Mason Core) | 4 |
| BIOL 106 & BIOL 107 | Introductory Biology II Laboratory (Mason Core) and Intro Biology II Lecture (Mason Core) | 4 |
| Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 | General Chemistry I (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (Mason Core) | 4 |
| CHEM 212 & CHEM 214 | General Chemistry II (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory II (Mason Core) | 4 |
| Geology | ||
| GEOL 101 & GEOL 102 | Introductory Geology I (Mason Core) and Introductory Geology II (Mason Core) | 8 |
| Physics | ||
| PHYS 160 & PHYS 161 | University Physics I (Mason Core) and University Physics I Laboratory (Mason Core) | 4 |
| PHYS 260 & PHYS 261 | University Physics II (Mason Core) and University Physics II Laboratory (Mason Core) | 4 |
Additional Mason Core
Students must complete all Mason Core requirements not fulfilled by major requirements.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Written Communication 1 | 6 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Arts | 3 | |
| Western Civilization/World History | 3 | |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Global Understanding | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
| 1 | CS majors must take the Natural Sciences section of ENGH 302 Advanced Composition (Mason Core). |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete 8 elective credits | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 8 | |
Honors in the Major
The Department of Computer Science offers a CS Honors Program for students with strong computational foundations and the drive to delve deeper into computing. The program is based on the bachelor of science in computer science and applied computer science curriculum and is distinct from the University Honors College curriculum.
Entry Requirements
Students must be seeking a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science and must apply for entry into the CS Honors Program after completing 12 credits of CS courses. Applicants must meet the GPA requirements outlined below to enter into the CS Honors Program.
Honors Requirements
CS Honors Program students must fulfill all standard courses required by the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or Applied Computer Science degree as well as the following additional requirements:
- GPA Requirement: Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.50 and a GPA of at least 3.50 for courses which count towards the BS/CS or BS/ACS major including math, natural sciences, and all CS/SWE courses.
- Research Project Requirement: Students must complete a significant research project prior to graduation. Students should seek out a CS faculty member willing to serve as their research advisor for the project. The project should comprise original work by the student and be demonstrated via two channels:
- a written project report that is approved by the student's research advisor and submitted to the department;
- a presentation of the project to an audience of students and/or faculty.
- Advanced Course Requirement: At least two Advanced Courses must be completed. A complete list of acceptable advanced courses is maintained by the CS department and is available on the department web site.
- BS (selected)/Operations Research, Accelerated MS
- BS (selected)/Statistical Science, Accelerated MS
- BS (selected)/Systems Engineering, Accelerated MS
- Computer Science, BS/Computer Science, Accelerated MS
- Computer Science, BS/Data Analytics Engineering, Accelerated MS
- Computer Science, BS/Information Security and Assurance, Accelerated MS
- Computer Science, BS/Information Systems, Accelerated MS
- Computer Science, BS/Software Engineering, Accelerated MS
BS (selected)/Operations Research, Accelerated MS
Overview
Highly-qualified students in BS programs have the option of obtaining an accelerated Operations Research, MS.
For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Admission Requirements
Mason undergraduate students majoring in both engineering and non-engineering disciplines may apply to this option if 1) such an accelerated Operations Research, MS pathway is allowable from the student's BS program, which will be determined by the academic advisors of both the BS and MS programs and by the SEOR department chair, 2) they have earned 90 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30, and 3) they have completed all MATH and PHYS requirements. Criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the Operations Research, MS program.
Students must additionally complete MATH 203 prior to applying for the graduate program.
Accelerated Option Requirements
Students must complete all credits that satisfy requirements for both the BS and MS programs. Up to two courses (6 credits) of approved master's level courses taken as part of the undergraduate degree may be applied to the graduate degree. The courses selected for this purpose must be approved by the academic advisors of both the BS and MS programs and by the SEOR department chair.
For the BS programs that allow undergraduate electives from the department of systems engineering and operations research, the students may choose the graduate version of such elective courses to replace the corresponding undergraduate courses.
Degree Conferral
Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student's final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form that is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar and the VSE Graduate Admissions Office. At the completion of MS requirements, a master's degree is conferred.
BS (selected)/Statistical Science, Accelerated MS
Overview
Highly-qualified students in BS programs have the option of applying to the accelerated Statistical Science, MS program.
For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Admission Requirements
No specific undergraduate BS degree is required. Students enrolled in any BS degree may apply to the accelerated Statistical Science, MS program if such an accelerated Statistical Science, MS pathway is allowable from the student's BS program, which will be determined by the academic advisors of both the BS and MS programs; and if they have earned 90 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of 3.00. Students must have successfully completed the following Mason courses each with a grade of C or better prior to admission to the accelerated program:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 213 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus III | 3 |
| MATH 203 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| or MATH 321 | Abstract Algebra | |
| STAT 250 | Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core) | 3 |
| or STAT 344 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I | |
| STAT 346 | Probability for Engineers | 3 |
| or MATH 351 | Probability | |
| STAT 362 | Introduction to Computer Statistical Packages | 3 |
Accelerated Option Requirements
Students must complete all credits satisfying degree requirements for the BS and MS programs, with 6 credits overlap chosen from the following courses: STAT 515 Applied Statistics and Visualization for Analytics, STAT 544 Applied Probability, STAT 554 Applied Statistics I, STAT 560 Biostatistical Methods, and STAT 574 Survey Sampling I. (Credit may not be received for both STAT 474 and STAT 574; nor for both STAT 460 and STAT 560.) The graduate courses selected for overlap must be approved by the academic advisors of both the BS and MS programs. All graduate course prerequisties must be completed prior to enrollment. Each graduate course must be completed with a grade of B or better to apply toward the MS degree.
While still in undergraduate status, a maximum of 6 additional graduate credits may be taken as reserve graduate credit and applied to the master's program. Reserve graduate credits do not apply to the undergraduate degree.
Degree Conferral
Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student's final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form that is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar and Graduate Recruitment and Enrollment Services. At the completion of MS requirements, a master's degree is conferred.
BS (selected)/Systems Engineering, Accelerated MS
Overview
Highly-qualified students in BS programs have the option of obtaining an accelerated Systems Engineering, MS.
For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Admission Requirements
Mason undergraduate students majoring in both engineering and non-engineering disciplines may apply to this option if 1) such an accelerated Systems Engineering, MS pathway is allowable from the student's BS program, which will be determined by the academic advisors of both the BS and MS programs and by the SEOR department chair, 2) they have earned 90 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30, and 3) they have completed all MATH and PHYS requirements. Criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the Systems Engineering, MS program.
Accelerated Option Requirements
Students must complete all credits that satisfy requirements for both the BS and MS programs. Up to two courses (6 credits) of approved master's level courses taken as part of the undergraduate degree may be applied to the graduate degree. The courses selected for this purpose must be approved by the academic advisors of both the BS and MS programs and by the SEOR department chair.
For the BS programs that allow undergraduate electives from the department of systems engineering and operations research, the students may choose the graduate version of such elective courses to replace the corresponding undergraduate courses.
Degree Conferral
Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student's final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form that is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar and the VSE Graduate Admissions Office. At the completion of MS requirements, a master's degree is conferred.
Computer Science, BS/Computer Science, Accelerated MS
Overview
Highly-qualified students in the Computer Science, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Computer Science, MS.
For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Admission Requirements
Students in the Computer Science, BS program may apply to this option if they have earned 90 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Students must have successfully completed CS 310 Data Structures, CS 330 Formal Methods and Models and CS 367 Computer Systems and Programming.
Accelerated Option Requirements
Students must complete all requirements for the BS and MS programs, with 6 credits overlap.
Students register for 6 credits of CS 500-level basic courses in place of the corresponding CS 400-level courses required for the undergraduate degree requirements. Specifically, students must register for two of the following courses in place of the corresponding 400-level courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 540 | Language Processors | 3 |
| CS 550 | Database Systems | 3 |
| CS 551 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| CS 555 | Computer Communications and Networking | 3 |
| CS 571 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CS 580 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| CS 583 | Analysis of Algorithms | 3 |
| CS 584 | Theory and Applications of Data Mining | 3 |
Note:
Students are permitted to take additional graduate basic courses in their undergraduate programs. In such cases, those classes cannot be counted toward requirements for the MS.
Degree Conferral
Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student's final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form that is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar and the VSE Graduate Admissions Office. At the completion of MS requirements, a master's degree is conferred.
Computer Science, BS/Data Analytics Engineering, Accelerated MS
Overview
Highly-qualified students in the Computer Science, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Data Analytics Engineering, MS.
For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Admission Requirements
Students in the Computer Science, BS program may apply to this option if they have earned 90 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Students must have successfully completed CS 310 Data Structures, CS 330 Formal Methods and Models and CS 367 Computer Systems and Programming.
Accelerated Option Requirements
Students must complete all requirements for the BS and MS programs, with 6 credits overlap.
Students register for 6 credits of CS 500-level basic courses in place of the corresponding CS 400-level courses required for the undergraduate degree requirements. Specifically, students must register for:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 584 | Theory and Applications of Data Mining | 3 |
| Select one of the following courses in place of the corresponding 400-level courses: | 3 | |
| Database Systems | ||
| Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Note:
Students are permitted to take additional graduate basic courses in their undergraduate programs. In such cases, those classes cannot be counted toward requirements for the MS.
Degree Conferral
Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student's final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form that is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar and the VSE Graduate Admissions Office. At the completion of MS requirements, a master's degree is conferred.
Computer Science, BS/Information Security and Assurance, Accelerated MS
Overview
Highly-qualified students in the Computer Science, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Information Security and Assurance, MS.
For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Admission Requirements
Students in the Computer Science, BS program may apply for this option if they have earned 90 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Students must have successfully completed CS 310 Data Structures, CS 330 Formal Methods and Models and CS 367 Computer Systems and Programming.
Accelerated Option Requirements
Students must complete all requirements for the BS and MS programs, with 6 credits overlap. Students register for 6 credits of CS 500-level basic courses in place of the corresponding CS 400-level courses required for the undergraduate degree requirements. Specifically, students must register for two of the following courses in place of the corresponding 400-level courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 540 | Language Processors | 3 |
| CS 550 | Database Systems | 3 |
| CS 551 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| CS 555 | Computer Communications and Networking | 3 |
| CS 571 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CS 580 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| CS 583 | Analysis of Algorithms | 3 |
| CS 584 | Theory and Applications of Data Mining | 3 |
Note:
Students complete all MS in Information Security and Assurance core courses and apply the two courses from the above list toward the requirements.
Degree Conferral
Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student's final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form that is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar and the VSE Graduate Admissions Office. At the completion of MS requirements, a master's degree is conferred.
Computer Science, BS/Information Systems, Accelerated MS
Overview
Highly-qualified students in the Computer Science, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Information Systems, MS.
For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Admission Requirements
Students in the Computer Science, BS program may apply to this option if they have earned 90 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Students must have successfully completed CS 310 Data Structures, CS 330 Formal Methods and Models and CS 367 Computer Systems and Programming.
Accelerated Option Requirements
Students must complete all requirements for the BS and MS programs, with 6 credits overlap. Students register for 6 credits of CS 500-level basic courses in place of the corresponding CS 400-level courses required for the undergraduate degree requirements. Specifically, students must register for two of the following courses in place of the corresponding 400-level courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 540 | Language Processors | 3 |
| CS 550 | Database Systems | 3 |
| CS 551 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| CS 555 | Computer Communications and Networking | 3 |
| CS 571 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CS 580 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| CS 583 | Analysis of Algorithms | 3 |
| CS 584 | Theory and Applications of Data Mining | 3 |
Note:
Students complete all MS in Information Systems core courses and apply the two courses from above toward the elective requirements.
Degree Conferral
Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student's final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form that is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar and the VSE Graduate Admissions Office. At the completion of MS requirements, a master's degree is conferred.
Computer Science, BS/Software Engineering, Accelerated MS
Overview
Highly-qualified students in the Computer Science, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Software Engineering, MS.
For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
Admission Requirements
Students in the Computer Science, BS program may apply to this option if they have earned 90 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Students must have successfully completed CS 310 Data Structures, CS 330 Formal Methods and Models and CS 367 Computer Systems and Programming.
Accelerated Option Requirements
Students must complete all requirements for the BS and MS programs, with 6 credits overlap. Students register for 6 credits of CS 500-level basic courses in place of the corresponding CS 400-level courses required for the undergraduate degree requirements. Specifically, students must register for two of the following courses in place of the corresponding 400-level courses:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 540 | Language Processors | 3 |
| CS 550 | Database Systems | 3 |
| CS 551 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| CS 555 | Computer Communications and Networking | 3 |
| CS 571 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CS 580 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| CS 583 | Analysis of Algorithms | 3 |
| CS 584 | Theory and Applications of Data Mining | 3 |
Note:
Students complete all MS in Software Engineering core courses and apply the two courses from the above list toward the elective requirements.
Degree Conferral
Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student's final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form that is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar and the VSE Graduate Admissions Office. At the completion of MS requirements, a master's degree is conferred.