Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Accelerated B.S/M.S. in Computer Science


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The accelerated B.S./ M.S. program is open to qualified University of Houston undergraduate Computer Science students wishing to continue their education at the graduate level immediately upon completion of the B.S. degree. This program allows students to take up to six (6) graduate-level credit hours in Computer Science that can be applied to both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. To take advantage of the accelerated program, a student will need to: 1) seek approval and take up to 6 credit hours of dual credit courses, and 2) apply and get admitted to the MS program. Approval and completion of dual credit courses does not guarantee admission to the Computer Science Master’s program. The Bachelor/Master accelerated program is designed to reduce the total number of undergraduate/graduate credit hours required to complete both degrees.

Eligibility and Approval process for Dual Credit courses

An undergraduate student wishing to enroll in dual credit courses to count towards the accelerated BS/MS program should complete an application to the Computer Science department (see page 2). The application should normally be submitted during the student’s junior year and will be reviewed by the Computer Science Director of Undergraduate Studies. On approval, an undergraduate student can enroll in up to 6 graduate level credit hours. The minimum eligibility requirements to enroll in dual credit courses are shown below:
  • Junior standing and completion of 24 semester hours of Computer Science coursework with a minimum of 12 credit hours completed at the University of Houston
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA over all course work completed at the University of Houston
  • Minimum 3.0 GPA over all Computer Science course work completed at the University of Houston
  • Approval from the Computer Science Director of Undergraduate Studies

Deadlines to apply for approval of dual credit courses is June 1 for Fall semester and October 1 for Spring semester.

Eligibility to enroll in dual credit courses does not constitute automatic admission to the graduate program. 

Process for Enrolling in Dual Credit Courses:

Once approved for dual credit courses, a student will need to submit a General Petition to enroll in a graduate level course at the NSM Undergraduate Advising Center. The petition should identify: 1) participation in the Accelerated program, and 2) the course (with number and title) and course ID. The courses eligible for dual credit are regular 6000-level Computer Science Courses with a number higher than COSC 6313, except for courses listed as PhD core courses. A list of eligible courses will be available from the department.

Admission to the Graduate Program

Students enrolled in the dual credit courses must complete the graduate application process before they will be formally admitted to graduate school. The admission committee reviews the entire application when making an admission decision. Students may apply in their final semester while completing the undergraduate degree; admission will be conditional pending conferral of bachelor’s degree.

To apply for graduate admission please follow instructions at: http://www.cs.uh.edu/graduate/admissions

First Year


Second Year


Fall Semester


Total: 15


Spring Semester


Total: 16


Third Year


Fall Semester


Total: 15


Spring Semester


Total: 15


Fourth Year


Fall Semester


  • COSC 43XX - COSC Advanced Elective (1) Credit Hours: 3.0
  • COSC 63XX - COSC Advanced Elective (2)^ Credit Hours: 3.0 
  • Minor/Free Elective Credit Hours: 3.0
  • Minor/Free Elective Credit Hours: 3.0
  • Minor Free Elective Credit Hours: 1.0

Total: 13


Spring Semester


  • COSC 43XX - COSC Advanced Elective (3) Credit Hours: 3.0
  • COSC 63XX - COSC Advanced Elective (4)^ Credit Hours: 3.0 
  • Minor/Free Elective Credit Hours: 3.0
  • Minor/Free Elective Credit Hours: 3.0
  • Minor Free Elective Credit Hours: 1.0

Total: 13


Total hours for degree: 120


Fifth Year


Based on choice of Core Track for the MS Program (Thesis Option)

Fall Semester


  • COSC 6320 - Algorithms Credit Hours: 3.0
  • COSC 6385 - Architecture Credit Hours: 3.0
  • COSC 6335 - Data Mining Credit Hours: 3.0
  • COSC 6399 - Thesis Credit Hours: 3.0

​Total: 12

Spring Semester


  • COSC 6364 - Numerical Methods Credit Hours: 3.0
  • COSC 6380 - Operating Systems Credit Hours: 3.0
  • COSC 6342 - Machine Learning Credit Hours: 3.0
  • COSC 7399 - Thesis Credit Hours: 3.0

Total: 12

Note^:


This course would be a graduate level COSC course approved via general petition to be applied towards the BS/MS Accelerated program.  Up to, but no more than 6 graduate level credits may be taken.  

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