Combined BS/MS Students

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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
• At the time of submitting the combined B.S./M.S. form, be within two to three semesters of undergraduate graduation
• 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.

2. 2
   Complete your combined B.S./M.S. coursework and submit the form Updated

   Consult your advisor about course selection. For optimal progression, enroll in three 400-level (or higher) CMSC 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.

   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. 3
   Receive Graduate School approval

   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. Allow approximately four to five weeks total from your submission date for processing to complete.

4. 4
   Apply to the CS graduate program

   Apply via the online graduate application and submit your B.S./M.S. program application (see admission deadlines).

5. 5
   B.S. program graduation!

   You must graduate in the semester indicated on your graduate application. See "Commencement delays" for details.

6. 6
   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. 7
   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).

Only approved and successfully completed courses may ultimately be applied to the M.S. degree, up to a maximum of 9 credits total across all submissions.

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, 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 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.

Questions? Contact the CS Graduate Office.