About the Program
The Accelerated BS to MS program allows high-achieving CECS undergraduate students to complete graduate-level courses in CECS which can count towards both BS and MS degree requirements. Students in the Accelerated BS to MS program may take up to four graduate-level courses while they are an undergraduate student, provided they meet the eligibility requirements for a given course. Participating in the program can help a student complete an MS degree at UCF in fewer semesters.
Available Accelerated BS to MS Programs
The following Accelerated BS to MS programs are available:
- Aerospace Engineering BSAE to Aerospace Engineering MSAE, Mechanical Engineering MSME, or Biomedical Engineering MSBME
- Civil Engineering BSCE to Civil Engineering MS or Civil Engineering MSCE
- Computer Engineering BSCpE to Computer Engineering MSCpE
- Computer Science BS to Computer Science MS or Cyber Security and Privacy MS
- Construction Engineering BSConE to Civil Engineering MSCE
- Electrical Engineering BSEE to Electrical Engineering MSEE
- Environmental Engineering BSEnvE to Environmental Engineering MS or Environmental Engineering MSEnvE
- Industrial Engineering BSIE to Industrial Engineering MSIE
- Information Technology BS to Cyber Security and Privacy MS
- Materials Science and Engineering BSMSE to Materials Science and Engineering MSMSE
- Mechanical Engineering BSAE to Mechanical Engineering MSME, Aerospace Engineering MSAE, or Biomedical Engineering MSBME
Eligibility Requirements
General Criteria
To be eligible for the Accelerated BS to MS program, students must meet the following general criteria:
- UCF GPA of 3.200 or higher.
- Completion of 60 credit hours (excludes in progress/future coursework).
- Have at least two major semesters (Fall/Spring) remaining in their undergraduate careers.
- Participating in the program must not delay graduation.
Major-Specific Criteria
In addition to the above requirements, each major has program prerequisites that must be completed with a “B” (3.0) or better:
- Aerospace Engineering BSAE: EGM 3601, EGN 3343, EML 3701
- Civil Engineering BSCE: CGN 3405, CWR 3201, EGN 3331C, STA 3032
- Computer Engineering BSCpE: EEL 3123C, EEL 3801C, COP 3503C
- Computer Science BS: COP 3503C, COT 3960
- Construction Engineering BSConE: CGN 3405, CWR 3201, EGN 3331C, STA 3032
- Electrical Engineering BSEE: CHM 2046, CWR 3201, EGN 3331C, EGN 3343, ENV 3001
- Environmental Engineering BSEnvE: EEL 3123C, EEL 3801C
- Industrial Engineering BSIE: EIN 3351, EIN 4360, MAS 3105
- Information Technology BS: CIS 3360, CNT 3004, COP 3502C
- Materials Science and Engineering BSMSE: EGN 3365, EMA 3102, EMA 3124
- Mechanical Engineering BSAE: EGM 3601, EGN 3343, EML 3701
Please note that a “B-” (2.75) does not count as a “B” (3.0). Additionally, a final grade must be available in all relevant course above to apply to the program.
Application Information
Students who meet the above general and major-specific criteria may apply to the Accelerated BS to MS program using the following form:
Please note that admission is not guaranteed, even if the general and major-specific criteria are completed.
Eligible Courses
Once a student has been admitted to the Accelerated BS to MS program, they must identify graduate-level courses to enroll in. A list of approved courses is available here. Appropriate graduate-level courses for a student’s interests should be determined with assistance from their department’s undergraduate and graduate coordinators.
Graduate Application Fee Waiver
Students in the Accelerated BS to MS program who meet certain criteria are eligible for a one-time fee waiver for a Graduate Application to pursue their MS degree at UCF. This one-time fee waiver can only be applied to the MS program that is part of your Accelerated BS to MS program.
To be eligible, a student must meet the following criteria:
- Have at least 9 credit hours of graduate-level coursework completed by the time of their graduation from the undergraduate program.
- Have an intent to graduate (ITG) filed.
To request a one-time fee waiver for the Graduate Application, please contact CECSOverrides@ucf.edu with your name, UCFID, intended MS program, and intended start term for the MS program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When should I apply to the Accelerated BS to MS program, and are there any deadlines to keep in mind?
A: Students may apply as soon as they meet the minimum criteria outlined above. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and should be submitted no later than 10 business days before the start of a semester. Submissions within 10 business days of the start of the semester may not be reviewed in time for the start of the semester. Application review cannot be expedited.
Q: Does participating in the Accelerated BS to MS program result in me receiving a BS degree and MS degree at the same time?
A: No, participating in the Accelerated BS to MS program does not result in receiving a BS degree and MS degree at the same time. Students in the program will complete a BS degree first using some graduate-level coursework. Then, the student would need to apply to the MS program at UCF and continue taking graduate-level coursework. Participating in the Accelerated BS to MS program allows students to complete their MS degree in less time (about 1 year) compared to students who were not in the program (about 2 years).
Q: Does participating in the Accelerated BS to MS program guarantee my admission to a MS program at UCF?
A: No, participating in the Accelerated BS to MS program does not guarantee admission to any graduate program at UCF. If you are interested in a graduate program at UCF, you must apply to it separately by the application deadlines set by the College of Graduate Studies.
Q: How many graduate-level courses can I take? Are there any restrictions?
A: You may take up to four graduate-level courses as part of the Accelerated BS to MS program. Program participants may enroll in no more than two-graduate level courses in one semester. Only one 6000-level course can be used, and this course can only be taken in the graduating term.
Q: What graduate-level courses can I take in this program?
A: For a list of eligible courses for each program, please click here.
Q: I do not know which graduate-level courses to take. Who can help me determine the appropriate courses?
A: To determine the appropriate graduate-level courses to take while in the program, please contact the department of your major. Your department’s undergraduate and graduate coordinators can help you to determine which courses are relevant to your interests and goals. Please refer to the contact information at the end of this page.
Q: How do I enroll in a graduate-level course?
A: Undergraduate students cannot self-enroll in graduate-level courses. Once admitted to the program, you may submit an override online at https://go.ucf.edu/CECS-Override. If approved, you will either be enrolled in your requested graduate-level course or given access to join its waitlist.
Q: Do I have to pay more for graduate-level courses?
A: Graduate-level courses are assessed a higher tuition and fee rate (typically $369.65/credit hour) compared to undergraduate-level courses (typically $212.28/credit hour). Many scholarships and grants will cover the undergraduate portion of the tuition and fees, but students will be expected to pay the difference. Please verify all financial information with the Office of Student Financial Assistance and Student Accounts.
Q: My application was denied, but I still want to take graduate-level courses. What can I do?
A: If your application was denied, you may still be eligible to take graduate-level courses as a Senior Scholar. Please visit the Senior Scholars page for more information. Please note that a denied application cannot be appealed; all application decisions are final.
Contact
For general questions about this program, including assistance with enrolling in graduate-level courses, please contact CECSOverrides@ucf.edu.
For advising questions about course selection and material, please contact your department using the contact information below.
| Department | Undergraduate Contact | Graduate Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering | Mary Rush | Woo Hyoung Lee |
| Computer Science | Mark Heinrich (Computer Science BS) | Liqiang Wang (Computer Science MS) |
| Computer Science | Mark Llewellyn (Information Technology BS) | Cliff Zou (Cyber Security and Privacy MS) |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | Charlese Hilton-Brown | Mingjie Lin |
| Industrial Engineering and Management Systems | Christin Saro | Mansooreh Mollaghasemi |
| Materials Science and Engineering | Akihiro Kushima | Kerry-Ann Wright |
| Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering | Rebecca Morales Magsino | Jan Gou |