Accelerated B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science
The accelerated B.S. and M.S. degree offers the students in VCU's Computer Science program an opportunity to obtain both an B.S. and M.S. degree in five years. In order to accomplish this, students may take 126 credits during their first four years of study. Students who intend to take this program must plan carefully from the start of their studies to schedule necessary classes.
It is recommended that students apply before their fifth semester of study. Applying at a later date may not allow enough time for students to complete the program in the five-year time frame.
Students applying to the program must meet the Undergraduate Director, after satisfying the following requirements:
- GPA of at least 3.4 in the first six CMSC courses, typically in 255, 256, 257, 302, 311, 355
- Overall GPA of at least 3.0.
Once the department accepts a student into the five-year program, they are initially still undergraduate students, but with guaranteed admission into the M.S. program.
To apply to this program, please fill out this application form.
Accelerated B.S. and M.S. In Computer Science
Students accepted into this selective program accomplish both the B.S. and M.S. degrees within five years by taking up to four additional graduate courses within the first four years of the program. Two of these courses can count both as technical electives in the B.S. program and as a coursework in the M.S. program. The total coursework for the B.S. and M.S. would be 144, instead of the 120 for the B.S. and 30 for the M.S. This saves students 6 credit hours, and allows an additional 6 credit hours to be taken at the undergraduate level. This will allow students to take the final 18 hours for the Masters in one additional year.