Effective Spring 2024, all MS CS (Computer Science) academic advising will now be performed by Dr. Kasi Periyasamy (E-mail link). If you were originally assigned to Dr. Theodore Manikas for academic advising, please note that Dr. Periyasamy will now be your advisor.
The Accelerated Pathways (formerly 4+1) program permits undergraduate Lyle Engineering students to take some graduate courses while an undergraduate, which will count both toward B.A./B.S. and M.A./M.S. degrees. Up to nine (9) semester credit hours of graduate course work may be permitted to be taken as an undergraduate and be applied toward fulfilling the undergraduate degree requirements. In such cases, students may fulfill both Bachelor’s and Master’s degree requirements in as few as 21 semester credit hours beyond the B.A./B.S. coursework.
Furthermore, because the graduate work is spread over two or more academic years, students have a greater selection of courses in both their undergraduate and graduate studies and are able to complete a thesis, should they so desire. The student must work closely with his or her academic adviser to ensure that the requirements of the Accelerated Pathways program, the B.A./B.S. degree, and the M.A./M.S. degree all are met.
Please see the link Lyle Acclerated Master's Degree Program for further details.
The application for this program can be found at Accelerated Pathways Program Application
Welcome to the Accelerated Pathways program. If you have been recendly admitted into this program, it means that you are still enrolled in an undergraduate Computer Science program at SMU, so you will still need to work with your undergraduate advisor to ensure that you meet your undergraduate degree requirements.
For the Accelerated Pathways program, you are allowed to double-count up to three 5000/7000 level courses. The recommended approach is to select courses that will meet both your undergraduate and graduate core requirements. These will need to be pre-approved by your undergraduate advisor and myself. Please use the electronic form “Accelerated Pathways Master’s Degree Dual Program Credit Form” (see link below).
As you are nearing completion of your undergraduate degree, if you have completed (or will be completing) your three dual-count courses, and have room in your schedule for extra courses, you may start taking additional graduate courses while you are still an undergraduate student. You will need to get approval for these graduate courses by using the electronic form "Accelerated Pathways Graduate Credit Only Form" (see link below).
For graduate course requirements in your master's degree program, please consult the degree plan information on my main graduate advising page.
If you will complete your undergraduate degree this semester, congratulations! This means that you will be a graduate student next semester, and take the necessary graduate courses to complete your MS degree. Note that full-time enrollment for graduate students is 9 credit hours
Since you are still an undergraduate student, my.SMU may not let you enroll in these courses. Therefore, when you have your graduate courses determined, please contact Jim Dees in the Lyle Graduate Office so that he can matriculate you into these courses. You will want to identify the specific courses and sections, and give him your SMU ID number. Also mention that you are an Accelerated Pathways student who will be completing your undergraduate degree this semester.
For students who are enrolled in the Accelerated Pathways (formerly 4+1) program, the following forms may be helpful. Please consult with both your undergraduate and graduate advisors on the appropriate courses for these forms.