Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog (ARCHIVED) 2021-2022 
    
Graduate Catalog (ARCHIVED) 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Fast Track (4+1) Programs


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Program description, goals, and benefits

The Fast Track programs 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 Business Admnistration (MBA), Masters of Science in Cyber Defense (MSCD), Information Systems (MSIS), Analytics (MSA), Computer Science (MSCS), Health Informatics and Information Management (MSHIIM) and Educational Technology (MSET) graduate programs.

Undergraduate students in:

  • BBA in Business (BBA) would select the MBA, General Management;
  • BBA in Business, Business Technology Specialization (BBA) would select the MS Information Systems
  • Computer Information Systems (CIS) would select the MS in Information Systems or MS in Analytics program;
  • Network and Security Administration (NSA) would select either the MS Cyber Defense or MS Information Systems programs;
  • 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.
  • Elementary Education (ELED) would select the MS in Educational Technology program.
  • Elementary Education/Special Education (ELED/SPED) would select the MS in Educational Technology program.
  • Biology (Biology Education Specialization), Business Education, Computer Education, English (English Education Specialization),  Mathematics (Intermediate or Secondary Education Specialization) or Physical Education would select MS in Educational Technology program.

Admission requirements

Students with a major in Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Network and Security Administration, Cyber Operations, Computer Science,  Health Information Administration, Elementary Education, Elementary Education/Special Education, Biology (Biology Education Specialization), Business Education, Computer Education, English (English Education Specialization), Mathematics (Intermediate or Secondary Education Specialization) or Physical Education 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 offices of Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences, College of Business and Information Systems, College of Education or on the Graduate programs website. A completed application package is required once a student has earned their bachelor’s degree. See program information for specific application requirements.

BBA Business with Masters of Business Administration


Students in the Management Specialization will be allowed to substitute three specific BADM graduate courses to replace three courses.

Students in the Accounting, Business Technology, Finance and Marketing Specializations will be allowed to substitute one specific BADM graduate course and two electives.

BBA Business, Business Technology Specialization with MS Information Systems


Students in the BBA Business, Business Technology Specialization will be allowed to take up to 9 graduate credits during the senior year. 

Option 1:  Substitute three specific INFS courses to replace three CIS courses.

Option 2:  Subsititute three of the INFS courses listed below to replace electives in the BBA program.

Computer Information Systems with MS in Analytics


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:


Computer Information Systems with MS in Information Systems


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)

Cyber Operations / Computer Science with MS Computer Science


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).

Cyber Operations / Network and Security Admin / Computer Science with MS Cyber Defense


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).

Network and Security Administration with MS Information Systems


Students will be allowed to take up to 9 graduate credits to replace electives during their senior year.

Health Information Administration with MS Health Information Informatics Management


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.

Elementary Education with MSEd. Educational Technology


Students will be allowed substitute three specific masters level core courses to replace undergraduate courses (a total of nine credits) during their senior year.  The three graduate courses are:

Elementary Education-Special Education with MSEd, Educational Technology


Students will be allowed substitute three specific masters level core courses to replace undergraduate courses (a total of nine credits) during their senior year.  The three graduate courses are:

Secondary Education with MSEd, Educational Technology


Students will be allowed substitute three specific masters level core courses to replace undergraduate courses (a total of nine credits) during their senior year.  DSU’s secondary education majors include BSEd in Biology, BSEd in Business, BSEd in Computer Education, BS in English (English Education Specialization, BS in Mathematics (Intermediate or Secondary Education Specializations) and Physical Education.  The three graduate courses are:

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