Computer Science and Engineering Contiguous Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathway: Computer Engineering
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers a Computer Engineering Bachelor’s/Master's pathway. Undergraduate students in Computer Engineering (C.E.), Robotics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science can apply to the pathway in order to earn a B.S. degree in their own major together with a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Computer Engineering. Depending on the student’s progress and advance planning, the B.S./M.S. pathway can be completed in five years.
The B.S./M.S. pathway offers a competitive edge to students who are completing their undergraduate degree at UC Santa Cruz, by enabling those with advanced preparation to move directly from the undergraduate to the graduate program. The pathway assists qualified enrolled students with a simplified graduate application process that does not require students to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and makes it possible to complete an M.S. degree with as few as seven courses beyond the B.S. degree.
The pathway prepares students for leadership positions in industry, and is also attractive for undergraduate students planning to pursue a Ph.D. degree targeting research careers in industry or academia. The School of Engineering has many opportunities for undergraduate research, and B.S./M.S. students may be able to continue their undergraduate research projects with the same research group.
Students in the M.S. programs are not guaranteed any form of financial support from the department. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they have sufficient funds for completing the M.S. degree program. Most M.S. students manage their finances by working as interns at companies in the Bay Area during the summer months.
Particularly motivated B.S./M.S. students can complete the entire pathway in 15 quarters (or fewer with Advanced Placement credit). However, advance planning is essential. Interested students should contact the Graduate Affairs Office and their faculty adviser early in their college career—no later than the end of their junior year. B.S./M.S. students retain undergraduate status until the completion of all undergraduate requirements, but may begin graduate coursework in advance of graduate standing.
Admission to the B.S./M.S. Pathway
The undergraduate degree requirements are not changed by the Bachelor's/Master's pathway; however, the B.S./M.S. pathway capitalizes on graduate-level courses that may apply toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements (see Course Requirements below). Students should consult the Undergraduate Affairs Office with questions about their respective undergraduate degree requirements.
Acceptance into the Computer Engineering B.S./M.S. pathway is by informal application, and is very simple. Students interested in the B.S./M.S. pathway should declare their interest to the Graduate Affairs Office, and attend a Bachelor's/Master's Workshop (typically offered in the fall and spring quarters). Undergraduates interested in the pathway can complete the interest form at any time starting in the first quarter of junior standing. To qualify, applicants must be current UC Santa Cruz undergraduates declared in an approved major within the School of Engineering (computer engineering, robotics engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science), must have a 3.0 GPA when they apply to the B.S./M.S. pathway, and must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher until the completion of their undergraduate requirements. The Graduate Affairs Office will verify and track students' eligibility for the pathway until completion of the bachelor's degree. Applicants who maintain eligibility through completion of their undergraduate program will not be required to submit GRE scores when completing the C.E. M.S. graduate admission application.
Confirmed eligibility for the B.S./M.S. pathway does not guarantee admission to the C.E. M.S. program. Pathway applicants must formally apply and be admitted to the Computer Engineering Master's program through the regular graduate admissions process, although the GRE requirement is waived. The C.E. M.S. application deadline is usually in December or early January. Students who apply to the M.S. program through the B.S./M.S. pathway are not guaranteed admission to the M.S. program—they will be measured against the full applicant pool during the admissions decisions process. If admitted to the C.E. M.S. program, pathway students are able to count qualified courses previously completed as an undergraduate toward their C.E. M.S. degree requirements. To ensure courses are qualified to count toward the M.S. degree, students should review the C.E. M.S. degree requirements and communicate with their graduate student adviser.
Students who do not meet the B.S./M.S. pathway eligibility requirements or who wish to take time off between the bachelor's and Master's degree programs are encouraged to apply for admission to the standard Computer Engineering M.S. program through the regular graduate admissions process.
Course Requirements
Master's students can graduate by pursuing either Thesis Plan I or a Capstone Plan II. The Thesis Plan I is appropriate for students interested in advanced studies and in carrying out independent research, as well as for those students contemplating pursuit of a Ph.D. degree. The Thesis Plan I may extend the normative time for graduation beyond the expected one year as students typically take two to three quarters to complete a thesis. Advance planning is essential to graduate from the Computer Engineering M.S. program with the Thesis Plan I in one year. The Capstone Plan II is appropriate for students interested in advanced studies to better prepare themselves in the information technology workforce. The normative time for graduation with Capstone Plan II is one year for a full-time student.
B.S./M.S. candidates may count a maximum of two graduate courses taken as undergraduates toward both the M.S. degree and B.S. degree. One additional graduate course taken as an undergraduate may be counted toward the M.S. degree requirements, provided that it was not used to satisfy any undergraduate degree requirements. At the time graduate status is achieved, no more than three graduate courses taken as an undergraduate may count toward courses required for the M.S. degree. Furthermore, B.S./M.S. students may not apply undergraduate courses toward the M.S. degree.Students should refer to the Computer Engineering M.S. program statement for more specific information on degree requirements, academic progress, and applying to graduate.