Combined BS/MS in Computer Science (4+1)

Students interested in pursuing the combined BS/MS in Computer Science should first consult the Graduate Program Advisor to obtain the supplemental application form. This form must be filled out with the assistance of the student’s undergraduate advisor. It is used to ensure that the student has the appropriate number of credits to be eligible for the combined program. Students should then return the required documents to the Graduate Program Advisor to be submitted for review and processing. Students selected for admission will be notified via email. Students should not begin taking graduate-level courses until they have been formally notified of their acceptance and their admission term has begun.

Minimum Requirements for Admission

• Current enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program at FIU.
• Completed at least 75 credits but no more than 90 credits; that is, the student must have at least 30 credits left to complete for the major.
• Current GPA of 3.3 or higher.

Required Documents

• Application Form for Admission to the Combined BS/MS Degree Program.
• Combined BS/MS Program Supplemental Application Form (obtained from Graduate Program Advisor).
• Panther Degree Audit.
• A non-refundable application fee ($30) in the form of a check or money order payable to Florida International University.

Degree Progress

Registration. Admitted students meet with both the Graduate Program Advisor and the student’s undergraduate advisor to map out the graduate coursework that will be counted for both programs. Students will need permission to enroll in graduate level coursework. Only 5000 or higher-level courses and no more than 6-12 graduate credits, as specified in the catalog description for the program, can be applied to both degree programs. Students must earn a grade of B or higher in any graduate-level courses in order to apply them to the graduate degree while enrolled as an undergraduate student. Students who earn less than a B but still earn a passing grade may apply the course to their undergraduate degree only and will be expected to retake the course or a suitable substitution while in the master’s program, as determined by the Graduate Program Director.

Graduation from BS Program. Students are expected to apply for graduation from their bachelor’s degree in the semester in which their undergraduate requirements are met. (Note: students who have yet to graduate from the bachelor’s degree are considered undergraduates and are therefore ineligible for graduate assistantships and other graduate benefits.)

Entry into Graduate Program. Once the bachelor’s degree has been posted, students are automatically enrolled in the master’s degree program.

Graduation from MS Program. Students are expected to graduate from the master’s degree program within a year of completing their bachelor’s degree and will need to apply for graduation in the term in which they complete the master’s degree program requirements. NOTE: The bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree cannot be awarded in the same semester. The bachelor’s degree must be awarded before the master’s degree.

General Requirements

The coursework includes 12 credits of required courses and 18 credits of elective courses as required for the regular M.S. students described in Section 4.2.2 of the Graduate Program Booklet or on the Master of Science in Computer Science web page.

Overlap

Up to four (4) courses (12 credits) may be used in satisfying both the bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements. Courses must be 5000-level SCIS Graduate courses and must be completed with grade of B or higher. Students should consult the undergraduate advisor to ensure that the overlapping courses taken while in pursuit of the BS will satisfy undergraduate requirements. 

Sample Courses

This list is intended to give students a general idea of acceptable overlap courses. It is not necessarily comprehensive. Students in the 4+1 should always consult their undergraduate and graduate advisors when choosing courses.