Combined BA/MCS and BS/MCS Programs

The MCS is a course-based program for individuals who seek to enhance their careers with advanced knowledge of computer science. The MCS normally requires one and a half to two years of course work (32 semester hours) beyond the bachelor’s degree (120 semester hours). The combined BA/MCS and BS/MCS programs allow qualified students to obtain both degrees in five years. The combined bachelor/master's programs require a combined total of 140 semester hours. This reduction of 12 semester hours (maximum) is due to cross crediting of coursework -- credit applied to both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Students will typically apply for admission to the joint degree program in the third year of their undergraduate studies, will enter the program at the beginning of their fourth year -- becoming both an undergraduate and graduate student, will switch to graduate status only in the semester following the award of the baccalaureate degree (usually at the end of their fourth year), and should complete the program comfortably in one additional year.

Admission Standards

In order to be eligible for admission, candidates

• must already be enrolled in either the BA or BS program in Computer Science and
• must have completed a minimum of 80 semester hours of course work at the time of admission to the joint program, with at least 30 of these taken at the UI. In addition, the candidate
• must hold a minimum cumulative UI GPA of 3.25 as well as a UI major GPA of 3.25 (where the major GPA is computed only on the math prerequisites and core Computer Science coursework taken at the UI to date) at the time of application.

Application Process

Each applicant must:

1. submit (to the Department) an application for admission to the program as early as possible but no later than May 15 for a program beginning the following fall semester;
2. submit (to the Department) a statement of purpose expressing current academic interests and why a master’s degree is being pursued;
3. submit (to the Department) three letters of recommendation;
4. submit (to the Department) copies of all college transcripts; and
5. complete an application to the Graduate College. The Graduate College application must be submitted before an applicant can be admitted to the program. PLEASE NOTE: the Graduate College application process asks for the effective session of admission. For students in the combined program, this means the semester following the anticipated award of their bachelor's degree. If a student enters the program in the fall semester, the effective session on the Grad College application would typically be the following fall semester.  TOEFL or IESTL scores are required for international students; GRE scores may be submitted, but are not required.

Cross-Credited Coursework

Coursework credits to be applied toward the MCS must be earned after admission to the joint program.  The specific classes to be cross-credited are reflected on the Course Credit Form, which is filed with the Graduate College by the Department.  The Graduate College, in turn, notifies the Registrar’s Office, which places a designator on the student’s transcript.  This designator indicates pre-baccalaureate graduate credit.

A total of at most four courses (12 semester hours) will be typically cross-credited for both the BA and BS degrees.  These courses must be taken during the student’s senior undergraduate year, after admission to the joint program.  Cross-credited courses do not change program requirements for the BA, the BS, or the MCS degrees.  Rather, they must be carefully selected so as to satisfy requirements in both undergraduate and graduate programs.  The four courses to be cross-credited will be determined at a meeting with the Graduate Programs Director as soon as official admission to the program has been finalized.

Note that many (but not all) of the advanced technical electives that may be used by undergraduates to fulfill their advanced electives are graduate Computer Science courses numbered 22C:120 or above.  These courses are ideal candidates for cross crediting; students in the joint program should therefore choose their advanced electives carefully, being sure to avoid courses that do not carry graduate credit.  BS/MCS students will typically use cross-credited courses to satisfy the BS theory of computation requirement (22C:131 or 22C:135) and three of the four required advanced technical elective courses.  BA/MCS students will typically use cross-credited courses to satisfy their required advanced technical course and a maximum of 9 additional elective semester hours.

Granting of BA or BS

Students in the joint program will be granted the BA or BS after completing all requirements of the undergraduate degree, including up to 12 semester hours of cross-credited course work.  A total of 120 semester hours are required for both the BA and BS degrees.  If withdrawal from the joint program occurs prior to granting the BA or BS, all courses completed as cross-credited courses will be counted only as undergraduate credit on the student’s transcript.

Changes in Undergraduate Program

Students enrolled in the joint program who wish to switch from the BA to the BS or from the BS to the BA must do so prior to being awarded the undergraduate degree.

Tuition

Students enrolled in the joint degree program will pay undergraduate tuition and fees through the first semester of their fourth year.  Starting with the second semester of their fourth year, students will be assessed tuition and fees at the graduate rate and thereafter.  Please note: if award of the bachelor’s degree is delayed beyond the first two semesters of the program, students will continue to pay graduate tuition.  However, students in the combined program will be eligible to hold graduate assistantships starting the second semester of their fourth year.  Any student holding an assistantship of 25% or greater will be assessed tuition at the resident rate, and will be eligible for a tuition waiver as mandated by the graduate student collective bargaining agreement.

Model BA/MCS Student Schedule
Model BS/MCS Student Schedule

Last modified: October 31, 2009