2nd BS vs MS in Computer Science

  • Graduate courses cost more than undergraduate courses
  • Graduate students cannot hold an assistantship until they have completed most of their prerequisites (at least past CS 270)
  • A BS degree will better prepare you for a career as a software developer
  • A MS degree will introduce you to advanced topics (including research topics) in Computer Science
  • Starting as 2nd BS does not eliminate the ability to switch to the MS program at a later point

MS

See requirements and prerequisites

  • Graduate courses - 34 credits
  • CS prerequisites - 24 credits
    • CS 151 - Introduction to Programming with Java – 4
    • CS 170 – Computer Organization and Architecture - 3
    • CS 251 - Programming with Java – 4
    • CS 252 - Introduction to Unix for Programmers - 1
    • CS 270 - Introduction to Computer Architecture - 3
    • CS 361 - Data Structures & Algorithms - 3
    • CS 381 - Introduction to Discrete Structures - 3
    • CS 471 - Operating Systems - 3
  • MATH prerequisites - 14 credits
    • MATH 211 - Calc I - 4
    • MATH 212 - Calc II - 4
    • MATH 316 - Linear Alg - 3
    • STAT 330 - Prob/Stats - 3
  • TOTAL - 72 credits

2nd BS

See advising

  • CS required courses - 48 credits
  • CS electives - 12 credits
  • MATH - 14 credits
  • TOTAL - 74 credits

Overlap between 2nd BS & MS

  • MATH prereqs - 14 credits
  • CS prereqs for MS - 24 credits
  • TOTAL - 38 credits