Program Overview

Computer Science BS / Computer Science MS

The College of Computing & Informatics offers an accelerated degree program designed to allow students to complete both a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree along with cooperative educational experience in fewer years than would be typical if pursuing the degrees separately.

About the Program

The program is designed for students who want to complete both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Computer Science. The program allows students to take graduate-level courses during their undergraduate studies, which can be applied to both degrees.

Admission Requirements

The guidelines for applying to the Computer Science BS/MS Accelerated Degree program are as follows:

• University regulations require application after the completion of 90.0 credits but before the completion of 120.0 credits.
• Applicants must have an overall cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher.
• Letters of recommendation from two Computer Science faculty are required.
• Students must submit a plan of study.
• Applicants must have completed the following courses with a minimum GPA of 3.50.

Degree Requirements

The requirements of the Computer Science BS/MS program follow the requirements of both the BS in Computer Science and the MS in Computer Science. Students must complete all the requirements of the BS in Computer Science except that they may replace 6.0 credits of free electives with graduate coursework. In addition, students must complete 45.0 credits of graduate courses to satisfy the requirements of the MS in Computer Science.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

• Computer Science Requirements:
  • CS 164: Introduction to Computer Science
  • CS 171: Computer Programming I
  • CS 172: Computer Programming II
  • CS 260: Data Structures
  • CS 265: Advanced Programming Tools and Techniques
  • CS 270: Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science
  • CS 277: Algorithms and Analysis
  • CS 281: Systems Architecture
  • CS 283: Systems Programming
  • CS 360: Programming Language Concepts
  • SE 181: Introduction to Software Engineering and Development
  • SE 310: Software Design
• Upper Division Computer Science Courses: 6.0
• Computer Science electives: 18.0
• Computing & Informatics Requirements:
  • CI 101: Computing and Informatics Design I
  • CI 102: Computing and Informatics Design II
  • CI 103: Computing and Informatics Design III
  • CI 491: Senior Project I
  • CI 492: Senior Project II
  • CI 493: Senior Project III
• Mathematics Requirements:
  • MATH 121: Calculus I
  • MATH 122: Calculus II
  • MATH 123: Calculus III
  • MATH 200: Multivariate Calculus
  • MATH 201: Linear Algebra
  • MATH 221: Discrete Mathematics
  • MATH 311: Probability and Statistics I
• Science Requirements: 19.0
• Arts & Humanities Requirements:
  • COM 230: Techniques of Speaking
  • ENGL 101: Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research
  • ENGL 102: Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing
  • ENGL 103: Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres
  • PHIL 311: Ethics and Information Technology
• Writing & Communications electives: 6.0
• Arts & Humanities, Business, or Social Studies electives: 18.0
• University Requirements:
  • CIVC 101: Introduction to Civic Engagement
  • COOP 101: Career Management and Professional Development
  • UNIV CI101: The Drexel Experience
• Free electives: 15.0

Graduate Degree Requirements

• Core Courses: 15.0
  • Theory: CS 521 or CS 525
  • Computer Systems: CS 543 or CS 544
  • Intelligent Systems: CS 510 or CS 613
  • Programming Systems: CS 550 or SE 575
  • Applications: CS 500 or CS 523
• Major Specific Electives: 18.0
• Flexible Electives: 12.0

Sample Plan of Study

The sample plan of study is outlined below:

• First Year:
  • Fall: CI 101, CS 164, ENGL 101, MATH 121, UNIV CI101, (UG) Arts & Humanities Elective
  • Winter: CI 102, CIVC 101, COOP 101, CS 171, ENGL 102, MATH 122
  • Spring: CI 103, CS 172, ENGL 103, MATH 123, (UG) Lab Science course
  • Summer: VACATION
• Second Year:
  • Fall: CS 265, CS 270, MATH 201, SE 181, (UG) Science elective
  • Winter: CS 260, MATH 200, MATH 221, (UG) Science elective, (UG) Writing & Communications elective
  • Spring: CS 277, CS 281, COM 230, SE 310, (UG) Science elective
  • Summer: CS 283, CS 360, (UG) Arts & Humanities electives, (UG) Writing & Communications elective
• Third Year:
  • Fall: MATH 311, PHIL 311, (UG) Upper Division Computer Science Courses, (UG) Computer Science electives
  • Winter: (UG) Arts & Humanities elective, (UG) Computer Science electives
  • Spring: COOP EXPERIENCE
  • Summer: COOP EXPERIENCE
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: CI 491, (UG) Business elective, (UG) Science elective, (GR) MS Core Course
  • Winter: CI 492, (UG) Free electives, (GR) MS Core Course
  • Spring: CI 493, (UG) Free elective, (UG) Computer Science electives, (UG) Arts & Humanities elective
  • Summer: STUDENT CLASSIFIED AS GRADUATE STUDENT, (GR) MS Core courses, (GR) MS Major Specific elective
• Fifth Year:
  • Fall: (GR) MS Major Specific electives, (GR) MS Flexible Elective
  • Winter: (GR) MS Core course, (GR) MS Major Specific elective, (GR) MS Flexible elective
  • Spring: (GR) MS Major Specific elective, (GR) MS Flexible electives

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid "clustering" these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

Program Electives

• Science electives: any CHEM (100-499), BIO (100-499), PHYS (100-499), ENVS (100-499), ENSS (100-499), PHEV (100-499)
• Writing & Communications electives: any undergraduate WRIT (100-499), COM (100-499), ENGL (100-499) courses officially certified as Writing Intensive
• Business electives: any undergraduate ACCT (100-499), BLAW (100-499), BUSN (100-499), ECON (100-499), ENTP (100-499), FIN (100-499), HRMT (100-499), INTB (100-499), MGMT (100-499), MIS (100-499), MKTG (100-499), OPM (100-499), OPR (100-499), ORGB (100-499), SMT (100-499), STAT (100-499), TAX (100-499)
• Social Studies electives: any AFAS (100-499), ANTH (100-499), GST (100-499), HIST (100-499), JWST (100-499), PSCI (100-499), PSY (100-499), SOC (100-499), WGST (100-499)
• Arts & Humanities electives: any undergraduate ARCH (100-499), ARTH (100-499), CMGT (100-499), CJS (100-499), COM (100-499), CULA (100-499), DANC (100-499), EDEX (100-499), EDUC (100-499), ENGL (100-499), ESTM (100-499), FASH (100-499), FMST (100-499), FMTV (100-499), GST (100-499), INTR (100-499), LING (100-499), MUSC (100-499), PHIL (100-499), PHTO (100-499), THTR (100-499), VSCM (100-499), VSST (100-499), WRIT (100-499)