Accelerated B.S./M.S. Program

Kent State undergraduate students in computer science who have met the following requirements are eligible for the combined B.S./Master's program:

  • Achieving a grade point average of 3.5 after 60 semester hours, or
  • Achieving a grade point average of 3.4 after 75 semester hours, or
  • Achieving a grade point average of 3.3 after 90 semester hours, or
  • Achieving a grade point average of 3.2 after 105 semester hours.

To enter this program, a student must:

1. Apply to the graduate program in the normal manner

2. Fill out the Combined Baccalaureate / Master's Program form (available from the CS Graduate Secretary). On this form, the student must:

    • List the hours completed to date and current undergraduate GPA
    • List the undergraduate courses remaining for the B.S. degree and the projected date each will be taken
    • Indicate the projected date for first graduate enrollment (when the first graduate course, including the double counted courses, will be taken)
    • List the graduate courses to be double-counted -- used to satisfy the requirements of the B.S. degree as well as the Master's degree

3. The completed form should then be given to the CS Graduate Secretary for signature by the CS Graduate Coordinator, Department Chair, and Undergraduate and Graduate Deans.

With regard to the double-counted courses, students may count up to 12 credit hours of graduate courses toward both their B.S. and Master's degree. These courses are typically at the 50000- or 60000-level, and may not include courses required by the B.S. degree, or required for admission into the Master's program. Instead, they are either:

  • 50000-level courses that would normally be taken as 40000-level electives for the B.S. degree, or
  • 60000-level courses required for the Master's degree.

Note that only 6 credits of 50000-level courses may count towards a Masters degree. Students considering this program should apply early enough to take the double-counted courses at the 50000-level as part of their B.S. degree. Courses taken earlier at the 40000-level can not be retroactively upgraded to 50000-level courses, and thus will not count toward the Master's degree.

Time Limits

All students admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences are subject to time limits for completion of their degree. Time limits are described in more detail in the Graduate Schools Catalog, but in general a Master's degree must be completed within six years.

Students may request, in writing, an extension of one year over the listed time limits. Such requests should be sent to the CS Graduate Coordinator. Departments must notify the College of Arts and Sciences if such an extension is granted. Requests of more than one year over the time limit must be approved by the College.