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Jun 08, 2025
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2025 Undergraduate Catalog
5-Year (4+1) BS-MS Degree (Computer Science and Information Technology - MCST)
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 Return to: Undergraduate Programs
The Department of Computer Science offers a special program for high-achieving Computer Science and Information Technology undergraduate students at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) who desire to pursue graduate study. By taking specific Computer Science & Information Technology (MCST) graduate courses in their senior year instead of the corresponding undergraduate courses, the student can obtain the B.S. degree in Computer Science (CS) or the B.S. in Information Technology (IT) and then, with an additional year of graduate study, obtain the M.S. degree in Computer Science and Information Technology. Completing this program cuts a year off the standard two-year time required to obtain an M.S. degree in Computer Science and Information Technology from WSSU. You earn two degrees by spending an extra year in school, and this may significantly increase your starting salary!
Eligibility
To be eligible for this program, the potential student should, by the end of the first semester of his/her junior year:
- Have earned credit for (including courses received through placement or transfer) at least 75 hours of coursework applicable to the undergraduate CS or IT degree;
- Have achieved a GPA of at least 3.2 overall Computer Science courses; and
- Have met with the M.S. Program Coordinator to receive advising and approval for applying to the early-entry program.
Timeline
- First semester of junior year – meet with the M.S. Program Coordinator before mid-semester to receive advising about the early-entry program; Identify and meet with a research mentor to make initial plans for the MCST capstone thesis research or project;
- Second semester of junior year – complete and submit early-entry application for graduate study in M.S. in Computer Science and Information Technology to Graduate Admissions.
- Notification of acceptance will be made before the start of the senior year.
- Senior year – enroll in MCST substitute courses.
- At the end of senior year, if you successfully complete the requirements for a B.S. degree in CS or IT, at least 9 hours of undergraduate coursework can be substituted with corresponding graduate courses (and these graduate courses can also be applied to the MCST degree program).
Additional Information
- First semester of junior year – meet with the M.S. Program Coordinator before mid-semester to receive advising about the early-entry program; Identify and meet with a research mentor to make initial plans for the MCST capstone thesis research or project;
- Second semester of junior year – complete and submit early-entry application for graduate study in M.S. in Computer Science and Information Technology to Graduate Admissions;
- Recommendation for the second semester of junior year- apply for a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) grant and/or academic year undergraduate research grant for the senior year;
- Notification of acceptance will be made before the start of the senior year;
- Senior year – enroll in MCST substitute courses;
- End of senior year – successfully complete requirements for B.S. degree in CS or IT, at least 9 hours of undergraduate course work can be substituted with corresponding graduate courses (and these graduate courses can also be applied to the MCST degree program).
Approved Course Substitutions:
Graduate Degree/Option Requirements
The MS in Computer Science and Information Technology requires 30 to 33 credit hours. A minor is not required. Students must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 (a “B” average). No more than two grades of “C” may be earned in the program.
Students pursuing an MS in Computer Science and Information Technology must choose one of the following concentrations, along with the corresponding culminating activity (project, thesis, or exam) for that concentration:
| Concentration |
Core
(Credit hours)
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Required
(Credit hours)
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Elective
(Credit hours)
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Other requirements
(Credit hours)
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Total Credit
Requirements
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| Computer Science |
9 |
9 |
6 |
Thesis research with a written research report and presentation |
30 |
| 6 |
| Information Technology |
9 |
9 |
12 |
Project work with a written report and presentation |
33 |
| 3 |
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Computer Science or
Information Technology
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9 |
9 |
15 |
Comprehensive exam on the content of the MCST core and required courses. |
33 |
| 0 |
Course of Study
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