Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's in Computer Science
The CIS department offers an accelerated B.S. and M.S. program in Computer Science, designed to allow students to complete both undergraduate and graduate degrees in a shortened time frame. Students accepted into the program begin graduate course work in their senior year that is double-counted toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Up to three graduate courses (9 units) may be taken during their undergraduate study, leaving 24 units (of the 33 units required for the M.S. degree) to be completed during their graduate study. All students in the accelerated program are required to do a master’s thesis (6 units). A bachelor's degree will be awarded after all degree requirements for the B.S. in Computer Science are met. Students who do not complete the bachelor's portion of the program or who do not maintain a required 3.3 GPA may not remain in the accelerated program. Students must earn a "B" or better in the graduate level, double-counted courses.
Admission Requirements
Admission Criteria:
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completed COSC 336, Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis, with a grade of B or better. Students are encouraged to apply while they are registered in COSC 336.
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a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better
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one recommendation letter from a CIS faculty member at Towson University
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completed a proposed Degree Completion Plan (DCP) that satisfies the accelerated major requirements
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a written statement of purpose for applying to the program
All computer science majors, regardless of track are eligible to be admitted to the accelerated program. There is no expectation that students completing a specific undergraduate track would continue that track in the graduate portion of the accelerated program.
After being accepted into the accelerated B.S.-M.S. program, students must maintain a 3.3 GPA to remain eligible for admission to the graduate program. Additionally, students in the program must request approval of the 9 graduate level units of double-counted courses before they are taken. These courses will not be approved retroactively.
During the final term of their undergraduate studies, an official application to the master’s program must be submitted to Admissions. Applications will be reviewed for the required GPA and successful completion of the required 9 units of pre-approved double-counted courses. Students intending to apply to the program are encouraged to discuss this with their academic adviser. Please see the detailed M.S. degree requirements in the Graduate Catalog.
Degree Requirements
Below are the required and elective graduate level, overlap courses that can be taken in the accelerated major:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| COSC 519 | OPERATING SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES (substitutes for COSC 439) | 3 |
| COSC 578 | DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS I (substitutes for COSC 457) | 3 |
| One of the following courses: | 3 | |
| ADVANCED DATA STRUCTURES AND ALGORITHM ANALYSIS (substitutes for COSC 483) | ||
| SOFTWARE ENGINEERING I (substitutes for COSC 412) | ||
| APPLIED CRYPTOLOGY (substitutes for MATH 314) | ||
| OBJECT-ORIENTED METHODOLOGY (substitutes for COSC 436) | ||
| Total Units | 9 | |
Recommended schedule for a one year completion of the M.S. degree (including a summer term):
- Fall Term: 9 units (three courses)
- Spring Term: 9 units (three courses)
- Summer: COSC 897 (Computer Science Thesis) 6 units
NOTE: The thesis may be started in an earlier semester (COSC 898 for 3 units) and completed in the summer (for an additional 3 units).