The Linked BS/MS program in computer science offers high achieving undergraduate students in the computer science and computer engineering programs a chance to complete both a Bachelors degree and a Masters degree in five years. More specifically, up to 9 credits of the required 30 credits for a Masters degree can be waived. In order to waive 9 credits, you must include at least one graduate level course in your Bachelors program plan.
- When to apply: You should apply in your junior or senior year. Admission applications must be made during the prior spring
semester for an anticipated spring graduation or the prior fall semester
for an anticipated fall graduation to allow admission before the final
semester as an undergraduate. That is, if you are applying to start the MS program in Fall 2014, you should apply no later than Fall 2013.
- Requirements: Admission to the
program requires a minimum grade-point average of 3.5.
- Application Procedure:
- Inform the Graduate Director you plan to apply for the Linked BS/MS program by emailing graddir@cse.msu.edu.
- Find an initial Masters advisor (the Graduate Director can often serve in this role).
- Email your current BS program plan, an MS program plan, and up to 9 credits that will be shared between both program plans to graddir@cse.msu.edu. These shared credits will officially only be in your BS program, and the credits will be waived from the required 30 credits for your MS program. This can include at most 6 credits from 4xx level couses, so at least one course must be 8xx or 9xx if you use all 9 credits. The waived credits do count towards satisfying your
- Complete the linked BS-MS application form and email the form to graddir@cse.msu.edu.
- Apply to the MS program in computer science completing both the official graduate school application and the college of engineering supplemental application. See here for more information about this application process.
Additional Information:
If you are accepted into the Linked BS/MS program, you are under no obligation to complete the MS degree. You can complete your BS degree as if you had never applied to the Linked BS/MS program.
Once accepted into this program, you are also eligible for dual enrollment as a BS and MS student. For more information about dual enrollment, see http://www.reg.msu.edu/AcademicPrograms/Print.asp?Section=328.
