Accelerated Dual Degrees Computer Science, B.S./M.S.
Accelerated Dual Degrees in Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Computer Science
Credits: 152
CIP Code: 110701
Program Description
The Department of Computer and Information Science offers highly motivated undergraduate students with superior record options to earn both the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees in Computer Science in a five-year period. Students must complete a minimum of 152 credits (122 undergraduate and 30 graduate hours).
At the beginning of the junior year, students may apply and be admitted into the Five-Year Accelerated Dual-Degree Program. Accepted candidates into the program take six (6) credits of approved advanced graduate-level computer science courses during their fourth (senior) year while completing the undergraduate (major and general education) degree requirements. These will apply toward the minimum 30 credits required for the Master of Science in Computer Science. During the fifth year of study, students complete the remaining 24 credits of graduate-level courses; maintain the minimum GPA required in the graduate computer science major courses; complete the master’s degree requirements at an accelerated rate of 12 graduate credit hours per semester instead of typical nine (9) credits; and satisfy the graduate residence requirement. Summer research may be required depending on the nature of the students’ thesis research project.
Students receive both the undergraduate and the graduate degrees upon successful completion of the prescribed course of study and specified program requirements. Students must apply for candidacy for each degree at the times specified in the University catalogues for awarding of the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Science degrees. Students who do not finish the graduate portion of the degree program, for any reason, will be allowed to earn the bachelor’s degree once the undergraduate degree requirements are satisfied.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and Master’s of Computer Science must meet the General Admissions Requirements as published in this Catalog.
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Accelerated Dual Degree in Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Computer Science will be able to:
- Have communication skills sufficient to gain employment in an industrial environment.
- Identify and solve problems in computation and show capability in applying integrative algorithmic theories and data structures to solve them.
- Apply theoretical knowledge of computer science to determine state of the art performance in the areas of networking, information storage in databases, and human-computer-interface.
- Perform independent research in the field of Computer Science.
- Assess the hardware and software aspects of computer systems that support application software development.
- Collaboratively develop software in groups.
Degree Requirements
This program consists of a minimum of 152 credit hours of coursework (a minimum of 122 undergraduate and a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours). Students must satisfy all undergraduate general education, requisite cognate and major courses required (122 credits) for the Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science including three (3) semesters of continuous science classes with laboratory either in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. Students must maintain a minimum final grade of "C" in all required Computer Science courses and complete the Senior Design Project capstone course leading to submission and presentation of an acceptable technical report. The 30 credit hours of graduate level coursework include completing and successfully presenting an acceptable research project.
The maximum credit hour load for undergraduate study shall be in effect through the fourth year of study during which students begin to pursue advanced graduate coursework and research while completing undergraduate degree requirements. During the fifth year, students are engaged in graduate study exclusively. Summer research opportunities are provided and may be required depending on the nature of the students’ research project.
Admission and Continuation
- Academic progress is monitored continuously
- Students must maintain a cumulative “B” or better average
- At the beginning of the second semester of the third (junior) year, students must apply for admission to the graduate program
- Students must be admitted into the accelerated program at the beginning of the fourth (senior) year
- Graduate admission may be provided upon recommendation of the department chair and approval of the School Dean
- During the fifth year, students must satisfy the graduate residence requirement
Clearance for Graduation
- Students must apply for candidacy for each degree at the times specified in the University catalogues
- Upon completion of the prescribed course of study, students receive two degrees – the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Science
Failure to Complete Graduate Requirements
At any point during the students’ participation in this program, they may elect, or be required because of academic performance, to pursue the traditional four-year bachelor’s degree program. In such cases the bachelor’s degree may be awarded once the undergraduate degree requirements are satisfied.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Undergraduate Courses | ||
| CCIS 101 | Introduction to Computers | 3 |
| CCIS 105 | Programming Principles I | 3 |
| CCIS 105L | Programming Principles I Lab | 1 |
| CCIS 106 | Programming Principles II | 3 |
| CCIS 106L | Programming Principles II Lab | 1 |
| CCIS 121 | Introduction to Computer Sys | 3 |
| CCIS 223 | Data Structures | 3 |
| CCIS 223L | Data Structures Lab | 1 |
| CCIS 227 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| CCIS 321 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| CCIS 329 | Rich Internet Applications | 3 |
| CCIS 371 | Computer Algorithms | 3 |
| CCIS 372 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CCIS 374 | Database Systems | 3 |
| CCIS 375 | Intro to Artificial Intel | 3 |
| CCIS 431 | Cybersecurity I | 3 |
| CCIS 473 | Intro to Operating Systems | 3 |
| CCIS 476 | Programming Langs. & Compilers | 3 |
| CCIS 493 | Senior Design Project | 3 |
| CCIS 400+ | CIS Elective | 3 |
| Cognate Courses | ||
| CMAT 321 | Mathematical Prob & Stat I | 3 |
| CMAT 214 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| or CMAT 311 | Mathematical Logic | |
| CCBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science I | 3 | |
| CCBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science I Lab | 1 | |
| CCBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science II | 3 | |
| CCBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science II Lab | 1 | |
| CCBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science III | 3 | |
| CCBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science III Lab | 1 | |
| Total Hours | 72 | |
General Education Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Area A: Humanities/Fine Arts | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking | ||
| The Biblical Heritage | ||
| Afr Amer Religious Experiences | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| United States,Africa & World | ||
| History of the United States | ||
| Area B: Social/Behavioral Sciences | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| General Psychology | ||
| American Govern & Politics | ||
| Intro. to Sociology | ||
| Intro. to Anthropology | ||
| Contemporary Social Problems | ||
| Intro. to Criminal Justice | ||
| Area C: Natural Sciences/Mathematics/Statistics | ||
| CMAT 111 | Calculus I | 4 |
| CMAT 112 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Area D: Communications | ||
| CENG 105 | College Composition I | 3 |
| CENG 106 | College Composition II | 3 |
| CSTA 101 | Fundamentals of Speech | 3 |
| Area E: Financial/Technological | ||
| CCIS 253 & 253L | Intro. to Comp. Sim/Analysis and Intro. to Comp. Sim/Analy(Lab) | 4 |
| CECO 107 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Other University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CGED 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| CGED 101 | 1st-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Total Hours | 2 | |
Free Electives: 12 Credits
Note: Free Electives should be chosen in consultation with the advisor depending on the choice of minor or stackable credentials.
Plan of Study for Accelerated Dual Degrees in Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Computer Science
(Students who are not prepared to complete calculus in their first year of study should arrange a revised plan of study in consultation with an advisor.)
The following suggested plan of study is to illustrate how required and elective courses can be arranged for students pursuing the Accelerated Dual Degree in Computer Science.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CCIS 101 | Introduction to Computers | 3 |
| CENG 105 | College Composition I | 3 |
| CGED 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| CMAT 111 | Calculus I | 4 |
| CCIS 105 | Programming Principles I | 3 |
| CCIS 105L | Programming Principles I Lab | 1 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CENG 106 | College Composition II | 3 |
| CGED 101 | 1st-Year Seminar | 1 |
| CMAT 112 | Calculus II | 4 |
| CCIS 106 | Programming Principles II | 3 |
| CCIS 106L | Programming Principles II Lab | 1 |
| CCIS 121 | Introduction to Computer Sys | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science I 1 | 3 | |
| CBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science I Lab 1 | 1 | |
| CXXX | Area A, B, C, D | 3 |
| CXXX | Area A, B, C, D | 3 |
| CCIS 223 | Data Structures | 3 |
| CCIS 223L | Data Structures Lab | 1 |
| CMAT 214 or CMAT 311 |
Linear Algebra or Mathematical Logic |
3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science II 1 | 3 | |
| CBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science II Lab 1 | 1 | |
| CXXX | Area A, B, C, D | 3 |
| CCIS 253 & 253L |
Intro. to Comp. Sim/Analysis and Intro. to Comp. Sim/Analy(Lab) |
4 |
| CCIS 227 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| Area A,B,C,D | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CCIS 229 | Web Site Design & Development | 3 |
| CBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science III 1 | 3 | |
| CBIO/CCHE/CPHY Science III Lab 1 | 1 | |
| CCIS 374 | Database Systems | 3 |
| CCIS 375 | Intro to Artificial Intel | 3 |
| CCIS 321 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CXXX | Area A, B, C, D | 3 |
| CCIS 329 | Rich Internet Applications | 3 |
| CCIS 371 | Computer Algorithms | 3 |
| CCIS 372 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CMAT 321 | Mathematical Prob & Stat I | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CCIS 431 | Cybersecurity I | 3 |
| CCIS 476 | Programming Langs. & Compilers | 3 |
| CCIS 400 | CIS Elective 2 | 3 |
| CXXX | Free Elective | 3 |
| CXXX | Free Elective | 3 |
| CCIS 671 | Algorithm Design & Analysis | 3 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CCIS 473 | Intro to Operating Systems | 3 |
| CCIS 493 | Senior Design Project | 3 |
| CXXX | Free Elective | 3 |
| CXXX | Free Elective | 3 |
| CCIS 674 | Database Design | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CCIS 672 | Computer Organization | 3 |
| CCIS 673 | Operating Systems Design | 3 |
| CCIS 500 | CIS Elective 3 | 3 |
| CCIS 500 | CIS Elective 3 | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CCIS 500 | CIS Elective 3 | 3 |
| CCIS 500 | CIS Elective 3 | 3 |
| CCIS 500 | CIS Elective 3 | 3 |
| CCIS 805 | Research/Design Proj.Data Base | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 152 | |
- 1
Three (3) semesters of continuous science classes with lab either in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
- 2
Computer Science Electives must be at the 400 level or higher.
- 3
Computer Science Electives must be at the 500 level or higher.