The Department of Computer Science offers a combined BS/MS degree program. The requirements for both degrees are not altered, except that nine credits of approved graduate level courses can be used as free electives for the BS program and also for the MS program, provided the student earns both degrees within five calendar years, beginning with the student's first term as a degree-seeking student at Purdue, regardless of major, campus, or discontinuities in registration.
All other graduate courses to be used for the MS must be taken after the award of the BS.
The student's primary degree objective will remain the BS until the BS is awarded. The MS will be the student's secondary degree objective from the time the student is accepted as an MS student by the Graduate School until the award of the BS. During this period, the student must take at least one three-credit graduate course each semester.
Admission Requirements
Students who apply should have a GPA of at least 3.5 in CS and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. A student's plan of study should show the completion of at least 100 of the 124 credits required for the BS before entering the combined BS/MS program.
Admission Process
Students should apply for admission by submitting the usual Graduate School application to the CS Graduate Office when they expect to fulfill the requirements for the BS within two semesters. Supporting documents required include a Purdue transcript, a recommendation or comments from the student's academic advisor, two additional letters of recommendation, and a term-by-term plan of study showing how they propose to complete the requirements for both degrees within the five calendar years.
Program Policies
After admission to the program the student will have an advisor for each degree.
It is expected that students follow the plan of study submitted with the application. The part of the plan relating to the MS will be used to create the MS plan required by the Graduate School. Changes can be made in the plan but must be approved by the student's undergraduate advisor and the chair of the Graduate Committee. Students who do not follow the plan may continue in the BS program only.
Students who withdraw from the BS/MS program may continue as BS students but will not be able to count any courses toward both degrees if they later apply for the MS and are admitted.
Updated: March 14, 2013
