Why a combined Bachelors/Masters? The purpose and benefits of the program

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For prospective students:  BS/MS main page  CSE Advising (Dropin Hours)  FAQ for prospective students For admitted students:  Courses and Requirements  For newly-admitted students  FAQ for admitted students  MyCSE  Anonymous Feedback Additional information:  Career Information

Background The CSE department created this combined Bachelors/Masters program in direct response to student requests, and based on industry feedback that this program would be valuable. CSE undergrads wanted to earn more depth of knowledge in their favorite subjects, and the ability to achieve greater breadth by studying topics they couldn't fit in during their undergrad time. The program admitted its first cohort of students in Spring 2008, and the first graduating students will finish their Masters in Science in Computer Science & Engineering in Spring 2009. The program is currently funded for 10 students per year; we hope it will expand to accomodate more students. Purpose and expectations for graduate students Most masters degrees take a couple years to complete, but BS/MS students earn a masters degree with roughly only one year of courses beyond their bachelor's requriements. This accelerated program works because, in theory, students begin some graduate requirements during their senior year. Ideally, students should be admitted after finishing 300-level requirements, so they can plan their senior CSE requirements and graduate requriements as a coherent two-year plan. The program was created with industry-bound students in mind. A masters degree can be the most cost-effective industrial degree: the relatively short amount of time spent on a masters (and realitively low expense of one year's tuition) can bring a significant boost in compensation and job opportunities. Both starting salary and long-term prospects are improved with an advanced degree. For students headed to industry, we expect this opportunity to be efficient and effective. While the additional coursework, research options, and faculty connections available through this program may benefit students interested in further graduate study, we recommend that most strong students intent on a PhD apply directly to PhD programs (rather than using the BS/MS as a transitional option between undergrad and PhD). If you're uncertain about your plans, the combined BS/MS may help you explore your options. The CSE advisers and faculty are available to discuss these otpions with you.

	Computer Science & Engineering University of Washington Box 352350 Seattle, WA  98195-2350 (206) 543-1695 voice, (206) 543-2969 FAX [comments to ugrad-advisor]