Five-Year Program: BS College of Creative Studies MS Computer Science

What is the BS/MS Program?

This BS-MS Program is an academic program that enables participants to obtain in 5 years both a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the College of Creative Studies and a Master of Science in Computer Science from the College of Engineering. Participants take graduate courses in computer science during their Senior year which are used towards satisfying the M.S. degree requirements.

Why should I participate in the Program?

If you want to acquire an advanced degree in computer science, or think that you may want to do so, then you should immediately set your academic goals high enough for admission to the Program.

To be eligible for admission to this program, you must be a Creative Studies student in Computer Science who, based on the number of units completed, is either a Junior at the start of the Spring quarter, or a Senior at the start of the Fall quarter.

• Admission into the BS-MS program is granted to our most accomplished and creative students: Participation in the BS-MS program is an honor.
• By completing a Master of Science degree, your knowledge of computer science will be deeper, better preparing you for success as a computer science professional.
• Participation in our Master of Science program enables you to experience the excitement of participating in the cutting edge of computer science research.
• By completing your Master of Science degree in 5 years, you save time and money.

How do I apply?

Sophomore Year

Formulate your career goals as clearly as you can and determine which academic program best meets those goals. You may wish to consult your academic advisor to help with this formulation, and your course planning. 

Junior Year

You must have at least a 3.0 GPA to apply.

1. Take the Graduate Record Examination.
2. Submit the following directly to the Computer Science Graduate Program Assistant:
• An undergraduate Major Field Electives form and an M.S. Study Plan. These must be approved by the Undergraduate Faculty Advisor and the Graduate Advisor of the Computer Science Department.
• A standard graduate application (available in the Computer Science department office). You do not need to pay the $40.00 application fee.
• A statement of purpose.
• Three letters of recommendation, preferably from Computer Science Faculty.
• An official transcript

Application deadlines are June 1^st for Fall, December 1^st for Winter, and March 1^st for Spring.

After admission to the Program

During the Winter and Spring quarters of your Senior year, take 4 units of graduate computer science courses, increasing the total units for these quarters from 12 to 16. By taking these units in your senior year, you will complete the M.S. requirements in the fifth year.

Any graduate course taken after admission to the Program counts for graduate credit, provided that it is not used to satisfy the B.S. degree requirements.  When taking such a course, you are subject to the same rules that apply to computer science graduate students. Graduate courses taken prior to admission into the program cannot count towards the MS requirements.  

When all B.S. degree requirements are satisfied, if you file a declaration of candidacy, you will receive your degree. You also may elect to receive both degrees at the completion of your Masters year. Graduate status is attained after completing 180 units of undergraduate coursework.

For More Information:

Leslie F. Campbell, Undergraduate Advisor
College of Creative Studies
University of California, Santa Barbara
email: leslie.campbell@ccs.ucsb.edu
phone: (805) 893-5319

Greta Carl-Halle, Student Affairs Office Manager
Department of Computer Science
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
email: greta@cs.ucsb.edu
phone: 805-893-4323

Structure of the BS/MS Program

Freshman year (44 units)

Sophomore year (48 units)

Junior year (48 units)

Senior year (48 units)

Master's year (34 units)