Graduate

Accelerated BSCS in Computer Science and MSCS in Computer Science

Description

Students pursuing a BSCS in Computer Science will earn an MSCS in Computer Science in an accelerated manner by sharing two (2) graduate courses (six (6) credit hours) taken as upper-level departmental (Technical) electives as part of the undergraduate Computer Engineering major. The BSCS requires a total of 120 hours and the MSCS requires 30 hours. By sharing six (6) credit hours, the total credit hours earned will be 144 hours. This accelerated major shares six (6) credit hours between already existing degrees:

  • BSCS in Computer Science
  • MSCS in Computer Science

Target Students and Expected Outcomes

Academically high achieving undergraduate students in the BSCS major with high overall and major GPA will be targeted for the accelerated major. Expected outcomes are the increase in MSCS degrees granted, increase in graduate SCH, decrease time to graduation, decrease in tuition dollars for the student, increase in the research productivity, increase in the number of US students receiving MSCS degrees, including minorities and students from under-represented groups in Computer Science and Engineering, close the national gap of computer scientists needed to satisfy the market demand, and enhance of the quality of the graduate major by addition of academically accomplished students. In addition, some of these MSCS students will continue on to the PhD major and enhance the doctoral major as well.

Admission Requirements

For admission to the program, a student must:

  1. Have completed 15 hours in the undergraduate major.
  2. Have a minimum 3.33 GPA overall. 
  3. Have a minimum undergraduate 3.50 GPA in the major.

Timeline and Benchmarks

  1. To be considered for acceptance into the Accelerated BSCS Computer Science/MSCS Computer Science major, students must have completed a minimum of 15 credit hours in the Computer Science undergraduate major.
  2. Students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.33 overall and a minimum GPA of 3.50 in the major.
  3. Following completion of a minimum of 15 hours in the undergraduate major, students may be considered for acceptance into the accelerated major through faculty nomination or student self-nomination, via submission of an Accelerated major Application Form. Both BSCS and MSCS majors will review the applications and approve the nominations. All applications require the approval of USF's Office of Graduate Studies, the College of Engineering's Graduate Major, and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering Majors.
  4. To be promoted to graduate status, students must meet all admission requirements of the MSCS in Computer Science.
  5. Students must earn a minimum of a "B" (3.00 GPA) in all shared graduate courses. Failure to earn at least a "B" in a shared graduate course will result in academic review by the graduate major. Failure to maintain good standing as a graduate student will result in academic probation, according to the procedures of the USF Office of Graduate Studies.
  6. A comprehensive plan of study to complete the Accelerated BSCS Computer Science/MSCS Computer Science major will be developed with the guidance of undergraduate and graduate advisors.

Shared Courses (six (6) credit hours)

Two (2) of the following three (3) core graduate courses replace six (6) credit hours of upper-level departmental (Technical) electives, including Independent Study, Supervised Research, and Industry Internship. Undergraduate Degree Requirements for the BSCS in Computer Science (107 credit hours). 

  • COP 6611 Operating Systems
  • COT 6405 Introduction to the Theory of Algorithms
  • EEL 6764 Principles of Computer Architecture

Note: Please see Undergraduate Catalog for major-specific requirements

See USF Course Inventory