Information Technology and Computer Science and Information Systems, Bachelor’s/Master’s Combined Program

Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Jeff Cummings

The combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program is designed to provide qualified students the means to complete the requirements for both degrees in a period of five years. Upon completion, a student will earn a B.S. in Information Technology and an M.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems. A key feature of the program is that a student can count up to 12 hours of graduate-level courses to fulfill requirements for the B.S. and use those same 12 credits toward the M.S. in Computer Science and Information Systems.

The program is designed for students in the B.S. program in Information Technology who have:

Completed a minimum of sixty-seven (67) credit hours in their undergraduate programs. (Note: more hours may be permitted if the student is a double major.) Transfer students must have completed a minimum of two semesters as full-time students at UNCW, a minimum of 24 hours.
Completed BUS 500 and CSC 500.
A minimum accumulated grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 on all 100-400 level courses that are core or required within Information Technology at UNCW.

Second Semester of Junior Year

Students who meet the above criteria should meet with the Graduate Coordinator to fill out and submit the IT 4+1 Application Information Form (opens as PDF) requesting permission from the department chair to apply up to 12 hours of graduate-level credit earned during their senior year towards their future master’s work in Computer Science and Information Systems.
The program coordinator, in consultation with the M.S. CSIS graduate committee, may grant permission to apply up to 12 hours of graduate-level credit earned during the senior year towards the future master’s degree in Computer Science and Information Systems. ( Program permission to apply to the bachelor’s/master’s degree program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School. Admission to the Graduate School is contingent upon meeting eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program.)
If permission is granted, the student meets with the Graduate Coordinator for advising and degree planning. During pre-registration, the students must fill out the Undergraduate Request to Enroll in Graduate Course(s) form (opens as PDF) for graduate courses to be taken in the fall (typically 2 courses). This form requires signatures of approval from instructors of requested graduate courses, the Graduate Coordinator, the Cameron School of Business and the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Graduate School.

Summer before Senior Year

Students should complete both the online BUS 500 course (3 credits) and the CSC 500 course (3 credits) during the summer before their senior year.

First Semester of Senior Year

The student typically will be enrolled in 3 graduate classes and 1-2 undergraduate classes. He or she should prepare to submit the standard application for admission to the Graduate School during the second semester of the senior year.
During pre-registration for the following spring, the student must fill out the Undergraduate Request to Enroll in Graduate Course(s) form (opens as PDF) for the graduate courses to be taken in the spring (typically 3 courses). This form requires signatures of approval from instructors of requested graduate courses, the Graduate Coordinator, the Cameron School of Business and the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Graduate School.
The student must submit a CSIS Graduate Degree Plan during the first semester of his or her senior year, signed by the prospective student, the department chair, and the graduate coordinator.

The Graduate Degree Plan for the master’s degree must clearly indicate:

The specific 500-level CSC or MIS courses (maximum of 12 graduate credit hours between CSC and MIS courses) that will be double-counted for both bachelor’s and master’s degrees; and
The intended graduation date for the master’s degree (typically one year after the B.S. in the spring).

Second Semester of Senior Year

Student will typically be enrolled in 2-3 graduate courses and 1-2 undergraduate courses.

Student should submit the standard application for admission to the Graduate School early in the semester. The application is here.

Upon the graduate committee’s review of the submitted materials, a letter of acceptance (or denial) to the master’s program will be sent to the student. Acceptance will be provisional and contingent on meeting specified degree requirements, including completion of the bachelor’s degree and maintaining a 3.0 or better on all 500-level courses. A student who is ineligible to participate or continue in, or withdraws from, the bachelor’s/master’s program, can only count earned credits towards an undergraduate degree. For more details, see the graduate coordinator.

Summer after B.S. Graduation

Because this is an accelerated program, students will need to complete 3 hours during the summer. They may choose from among internships, DIS, or a single graduate CSC or MIS course for the 3 hours.

Final Year in Program

Students will need to be registered full-time (9 hours) each semester. Students with TA or GA positions need to be aware of other obligations.

The program is 36 hours total (12 of which are counted for both B.S. and M.S.).