Program Overview

This accelerated program enables students to earn both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Computer and Information Science in 5 years. The program allows a BSCIS student to take up to 12 credit hours of designated CIS graduate courses and count these courses both toward the Bachelor's and the Master's degrees in CIS.

Admission Requirements

A student is eligible to apply for the accelerated program if the following conditions are satisfied:

• The student has been accepted as a CIS major;
• The student has completed at least 70 credit hours, at least 16 hours in CIS and at least 30 credit hours earned at CSU;
• The student has at least a junior standing at CSU; and
• The student has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or better and a minimum average of 3.25 in CIS courses.

In addition, students must apply to the accelerated MCIS program before the completion of 110 credit hours towards the BSCIS degree, including transfer credits. Typically, such applications should be made at the end of the junior year. Also, admission to the Accelerated MCIS program does not require completion of GRE or equivalent tests.

Application Process

Students applying to the accelerated MCIS program must submit an application that includes:

• An application form.
• Two recommendation letters from CIS faculty.
• A career plan describing why and how this program will enhance the student's scholarly and/or career goals.

Admission decision will be made by the CIS department and needs the approval of the CIS program director. Upon completion of the requirements for the BSCIS degree, a student's status will be adjusted from "Undergraduate" to "Graduate" provided the student has maintained an overall BSCIS GPA of at least 3.0.

Highlights of the Accelerated Program

An undergraduate student of the accelerated program may take up to a maximum of 12 credit hours from the following Master's level courses:

• CIS 524 Comparative Programming Languages
• CIS 554 Data Communications and Networking
• CIS 580 Introduction to Computer Architecture
• CIS 590 Foundations of Computing

Please be aware that admission to the Accelerated MCIS program does not require completion of GRE or equivalent tests.

When a grade of B or higher is earned in these courses, the credit hours will apply toward both the student's BSCIS degree and MCIS degree. Grades of B-, C+, and C apply as hours towards the BSCIS degree, but NOT the MCIS degree. Also note that when a student is dismissed from the accelerated program, these hours will not apply towards the MCIS degree.

MCIS degree requirements will NOT be different for students in the accelerated program. Students are still required to take the core (CIS 600, CIS 601, and CIS 620), and are subject to the analytical course requirement. If students choose the thesis option for the MCIS degree, they will be required to earn 31 MCIS credit hours (this includes up to 12 credit hours earned as an undergraduate) and must earn a minimum of 147 credit hours total as an undergraduate and as a graduate. If students choose the non-thesis option for the MCIS degree, they will be required to earn 33 MCIS credit hours (this includes up to 12 credit hours earned as an undergraduate) and must earn a minimum of 149 credit hours total as an undergraduate and as a graduate. For more information on what is required for the MCIS degree, visit this page.

A student admitted to the accelerated program will be assigned a CIS department advisor.

Fees

Before completion of requirements to earn the BSCIS degree, students will be assessed undergraduate credit hour fees. Once a student's status is adjusted, he/she will be expected to pay the applicable graduate credit hour fees.

Program Dismissal

Students who have not completed the requirements for the BSCIS degree and fail to maintain a cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0 will be dismissed from the accelerated program with no re-admittance. Upon completion of the undergraduate degree, dismissed students may apply for regular admission to the MCIS program, but their admission will be governed by existing MCIS and Graduate College regulations, which currently include:

• Completion of the GRE or equivalent test;
• Maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be in Good Academic Standing; and
• No hours completed during the undergraduate degree can be applied toward a graduate degree.