Combined BS/MS Degrees

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Since 2008, the Department has offered a combined B.S./M.S. degree program enabling talented students to earn both degrees in computer science within a shorter period than earning them separately — typically five years.

Students must satisfy all standard requirements for both the computer science B.S. and M.S. degrees. Students admitted to the combined B.S./M.S. program may use up to 9 credits taken as an undergraduate toward both degrees. Students should familiarize themselves with the M.S. degree requirements in our graduate policy manual.

Only courses in CMSC, AMSC, MATH, or STAT are eligible for double-counting.

Eligibility

Interested students must meet the following criteria before their application can undergo holistic review:

• Hold a major in computer science at UMD (double majors are acceptable; students from non-CS majors are ineligible)
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5*
• Have completed a minimum of 90 credits prior to application
  • No more than 30 remaining credits of CMSC courses for the B.S. degree
  • No more than six credits of General Education requirements left for the B.S. degree
• Preferably have engaged in research under the supervision of a graduate faculty member

* If your GPA is marginally below the threshold (e.g., 3.48) but you expect it to meet 3.5 by the admission deadline, you may begin the process; the CS Graduate Office will only proceed once your GPA reaches 3.5. Students who do not meet this requirement are welcome to apply to the non-combined M.S. program or a professional Master's program.

Your combined B.S./M.S. degree journey

1. 1
   Research and plan

   Two to three semesters before graduating, review the combined B.S./M.S. and CS graduate degree requirements. Plan your coursework and consider engaging in research to strengthen your application. Click here to view the slides from our most recent Info Session.

2. 2
   Submit your combined form(s) and M.S. Study Plan Updated

   Consult your advisor about course selection. For optimal progression, enroll in three 400-level (or higher) eligible courses within a single semester (see Course Selection).

   Submit the Combined Bachelor's/Master's degree form using this link to the CS Graduate Office form submission portal during the open submission window (see deadlines below).

   The CS Graduate Office will review your form for eligibility and completeness, then forward it to the Graduate School on your behalf.

   You may submit up to two (2) forms during your undergraduate career, and may list courses from your current semester and the immediate subsequent semester
   on each form.

   Every submission must include an M.S. Study Plan — a document outlining how your proposed double-count courses apply toward your M.S. degree requirements.

3. 2.5
   Receive Graduate School approval of combined form(s)

   After the Graduate School reviews and approves your form, you will be able to select "Combined Bachelor's-Master's" (CSMS-31P) in the online graduate application (when the application is open). Allow approximately four to five weeks total from your submission date for processing to complete.

4. 3
   Apply to the CS graduate program

   During your last Fall semester as an undergraduate, apply via the online graduate application and submit your B.S./M.S. program application. Students who plan to start their M.S. in the Spring must submit their application by Friday, September 25, 2026. Students who plan to start their M.S. in the Fall must submit their application by Tuesday, December 15, 2026.

5. 4
   B.S. program graduation!

   You must graduate with your bachelor's degree before you can begin the master's degree. Deferrals of the combined program are not allowed. See "Commencement delays" for details.

6. 5
   Post-admission submission

   After your second M.S. semester, and no later than the semester you plan to graduate, submit the UMD Graduate School Credit Inclusion Form to ensure your double-counted credits are applied to your Master's degree. Only courses labeled "Both Undergrad and Grad Credit received" or "Graduate Credit" on your transcript are eligible.

7. 6
   M.S. program graduation!

   Fulfill all program requirements and celebrate your achievement!

For admission deadlines, see the prospective student page.

Submission windows and deadlines Updated

Submit the combined B.S./M.S. form during your third-to-last or second-to-last semester, after registering for three 400-level (or higher) CMSC courses. Once approved by the Graduate School, proceed to submit your graduate admission application.

Forms must also be submitted before final grades are posted, before B.S. degree conferral, and before entering graduate student status. No submissions are permitted after any of these points. Late submissions may be accepted only with documented departmental justification.

Students are responsible for monitoring their cumulative applied credits across all submissions.

* See the Registrar's academic calendar for schedule adjustment period dates each semester.

Guidelines and regulations

Submission allowance Updated

Students may submit up to two (2) combined B.S./M.S. forms during their undergraduate career. Each form may include courses from the current semester and the immediate subsequent semester (see Semester Scope below).

• A maximum of 9 credits may be applied to the M.S. degree across all submissions, and only from courses that were both approved and successfully completed.
• A course is eligible for a swap only if it was previously approved and no grade has yet been earned.
• Students may not replace an approved course in which they received a poor grade with a course in which they earned a better grade.

Course selection

• Students may double-count between 3 and 9 credits total.
  • Note on CMSC 412: Because CMSC 412 is a 4-credit course, you may only pair it with one other 3-credit course for a total of 7 credits — the 9-credit maximum cannot be exceeded.
• To optimize your path, enroll in three CMSC courses (400-level or higher) in a single term. Courses must be regular lecture courses — independent study, special topics, CMSC 498, and CMSC 499 are not eligible. A suitable 400-level (or higher) course from AMSC, MATH (MATH461 is ineligible), or STAT may substitute for one CMSC course.
• Past courses: Courses from previous semesters will not be retroactively approved under any circumstances.

Semester scope Updated

Each form may include courses from your current semester (verified against your registration after the schedule adjustment period) and the immediate subsequent semester (not verified at submission — you are responsible for enrolling when registration opens).

Semesters are paired as follows:

Graduate credit option

• With the approval of their undergraduate advisor, students are permitted to take an additional graduate-level course (400 level or higher) for graduate credit only; this would allow students to bring in additional credits. If approved, you will need to complete a Graduate Credit Permission Form and submit it via this Google Form for graduate credit permission. 

Deferments and leaves

• Admitted students cannot defer their M.S. program start. Students may request a leave of absence during their first year in the M.S. program. The only reasons a combined B.S./M.S. student may take time off immediately after earning the bachelor's degree are: childbirth, adoption, serious health condition, caring for incapacitated dependents, financial hardship, and military service — as permitted under the Graduate School's leave of absence policy.

Commencement delays

• If students do not start the M.S. program immediately after finishing the B.S., any credits set to count toward both degrees will apply only to the B.S. degree. The combined B.S./M.S. form cannot be approved retroactively once the student has entered graduate studies.

Information sessions

The CS Graduate Office hosts information sessions before each submission deadline to walk students through eligibility, the submission process, credit planning, and important dates.

• Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 5 PM - 6:30 PM (VIRTUAL)
• Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 5 PM - 6:30 PM (IN PERSON)
• Tuesday, February 16, 2027, 5 PM - 6:30 PM (VIRTUAL)
• Wednesday, March 31, 2027, 5 PM - 6:30 PM (IN PERSON)

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are admissions competitive?
  • Yes, admissions are competitive. However, we have managed to accommodate/admit the majority of qualified applicants; we encourage all applicants to acquire some research experience and to submit the most robust application package they can assemble.
• Can I use coursework taken abroad towards the BS/MS program?
  • ​​​​​​​Study abroad courses are not eligible to be used towards the Combined Form for the BS/MS program. If you have further questions, please contact the graduate office.
• Do my scholarships, like the Banneker/Key Scholarship or any extra scholarship funds carry over?
  • No, scholarship funds, including the Banneker/Key Scholarship, do not carry over. Any extra or unused funds from the scholarship will not be transferred or extended.
• Do recommenders need to be CS faculty?
  • It’s highly recommended that at least one of your three recommenders is a tenured CS professor. Recommendations can also come from tenured professors in other fields or from supervisors in research-based internships, provided they can comment confidently on your potential in the program.
• How long does the program take? How can I complete the MS program in one year?

  • The MS program involves completing 30 credits. By flagging 3 courses (9 credits) for double-counting, you shorten the program length by one semester. However, to feasibly complete the MS within one-year post-BS, you should consider taking an additional graduate-credit only course during your undergraduate studies. This brings the remaining credit requirement down to 18, allowing for the completion of the program in two semesters with a load of three courses per semester. Consult with your undergraduate studies advisor to ensure this aligns with your academic plan and doesn't hinder your undergraduate degree completion. If this path is suitable, you’ll be guided to fill out a Graduate Credit Permission form to proceed.

• How many letters of recommendation are needed?

  • Three (3) letters. While completing other parts of your application, identify and contact references who will provide a strong letter of recommendation for you. Recommenders should be the applicant’s current or former professors or other individuals who can speak to an applicant’s academic talents, work ethic, and intellectual strengths. The online application will ask applicants to provide their references' names and email addresses. The references will then be contacted via email with instructions on how to electronically submit a letter of recommendation. This process can begin prior to submitting the graduate school application. Please note that students do not need to submit any letter of recommendation at the time of submitting the Combined BS/MS form; references will only be needed for the graduate school application.

• I am not involved in research. Should I still apply?

  • Those without research experience can still apply, but a strong recommendation from a faculty member who plans to advise you with suitable justification for admission would be needed.

• I do not see “Combined BS/MS” as an option on the application

  • The Combined BS/MS program is not a formal academic program upon matriculation; however, once the Graduate School reviews and approves your Combined BS/MS form, the "Combined Bachelor's/Master's" option will become accessible for selection under "Level of Study".

• Is there an academic plan that I can follow?

  • Yes, please see our sample plan to review the recommended academic plan for students interested in pursuing the BS/MS program. For questions regarding your BS requirements, including your 3 combined BS/MS courses, please consult your assigned undergraduate advisor. For all questions regarding your MS program and application process, please contact the graduate office.

• What courses are eligible for double counting towards both the BS and MS degrees?

  • ​​​​​​​Students are permitted to take any Computer Science (CMSC) course at the 400-level or higher, excluding independent studies (CMSC499) and special topics (CMSC498).
    Suitable 400-level (or higher) courses from Applied Mathematics & Statistics, Scientific Computation (AMSC), Mathematics (MATH), and Statistics (STAT) AMSC/MATH/STAT may also be used as substitutes. Please note that since CMSC412 is a 4-credit course, you can only double count two courses totaling 7 credits, as the maximum allowed cannot exceed 9 credits.

• What happens after I submit my form, and how long does it take to process?

  • Students will submit forms via the Combined Form Submission System.

    CS Graduate Office reviews for:
    - Eligibility and completeness
    - Semester scope compliance
    - Registration verification

    Approved forms are forwarded to the Graduate School.

    The Graduate School:
    - Verifies policy compliance
    - Grants system access to the Graduate School application

    The Registrar applies double-count indicators after grades are posted

    Processing Timeline
    CS Graduate Office review: rolling basis
    Graduate School processing: approximately 3 weeks
    Students should plan for 4–5 weeks total from submission to final approval.

• When should I submit the combined BS/MS form, and for which semester should I apply?

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Forms must be submitted:
    - After the schedule adjustment period has closed
    - Before final grades are posted
    - Before B.S. degree conferral
    - Before entering graduate student status

    No submissions are permitted after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

Questions? Contact the CS Graduate Office.