Apr 24, 2024  
Graduate Catalog (ARCHIVED) 2019-2020 
    
Graduate Catalog (ARCHIVED) 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Fast Track (4+1) Program


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Program description, goals, and benefits

The Fast Track program at DSU provides a unique opportunity for high achieving undergraduate students to obtain both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years. This is accomplished by allowing these students to take selected graduate courses during their senior year. These courses will also count towards their undergraduate course requirements thereby accelerating completion of a graduate program. In effect, students will be able to:

  • Leverage their presence on campus to complete some of the requirements of the graduate program during the last semesters of their undergraduate degree, thus reducing completion time by at least one semester. In effect, obtaining a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years.
  • Save on tuition cost by taking up to 9 credits of graduate course work that will count towards undergraduate and graduate program requirements.

Specific Undergraduate and Graduate Programs for Fast Track Requirements

The Fast Track programs are specifically for the Masters of Science in Cyber Defense (MSCD), Information Systems (MSIS), Analytics (MSA), Computer Science (MSCS) and Health Informatics and Information Management (MSHIIM) graduate programs.

Undergraduate students in:

  • Information Systems (CIS) would select the MS in Information Systems or MS in Analytics program;
  • Network and Security Administration (NSA) would select the MS Cyber Defense program;
  • Cyber Operations (CyOp) would select either the MS Cyber Defense or MS Computer Science programs;
  • Computer Science (CSC) would select either the MS Cyber Defense or MS Computer Science programs;
  • Health Information Administration (HIA) would select the MS Health Informatics and Information Management program.

Admission requirements

Students with a major in Computer Information Systems, Network and Security Administration, Cyber Operations, Computer Science or Health Information Administration may be admitted to the Fast Track program upon completion of their junior year. Accordingly, they can apply to the program in the last semester of their junior year. To be considered, the student will have to meet the following requirements:

  • Have senior status by the time they commence their joint undergraduate/graduate program.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher after grades have been posted from their junior year.

Application requirements

A Fast Track application form can be found in the Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences, or the College of Business and Information Systems or the Graduate office. A completed application package is required once a student has earned his/her bachelor’s degree. See program information for specific application requirements.

Sample Programs of Study


CIS with MSIS Program of Study


Students will be allowed to take up to 3 graduate courses from either Plan A or Plan B during their senior year.

Plan A


Substitute three specific INFS core courses for three specific IS courses (a total of nine credits):

Plan B


Substitute three specific INFS core courses from the list to replace three CIS Electives (a total of nine credits)

CIS with MSA Program of Study


Students will be allowed to take up to 3 graduate courses during their senior year.  Substitute three specific INFS core courses to replace CIS 368, CIS 372 and CIS 474 undergraduate courses (a total of nine credits).

Recommended selections:


Cyber Operations/Network and Security Admin/Computer Science with MSIA Program of Study


Students will be allowed to take up to 3 graduate courses during their senior year. Substitute three specific INFA core courses to replace three electives (a total of nine credits).

Cyber Operations/Computer Science with MSACS Program of Study


Students will be allowed to take up to 3 graduate courses during their senior year. Substitute three specific CSC core courses to replace three electives (a total of nine credits).

HIA with MSHIIM Program of Study


Students will be allowed to take up to 3 graduate courses during their senior year. Substitute three specific HIMS core courses to replace three electives (a total of nine credits). Students who complete the HIA major as an undergraduate will not be required to take HIMS 701 in the MSHIIM program.

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