The 3-2 Program allows undergraduate students to complete both the Bachelors and Masters Degree in Computer Science in five years. The program assumes the completion of all undergraduate Bachelor's requirements and most likely some of the graduate course requirements within the first 4 years. Ideally the fifth year is devoted to graduate courses, research, and a final exam, thesis, or equivalent.
General Information:
1. Students with AP or transfer credits who wish to do CS research or desire a MS degree in CS should definitely consider the 3-2 program.
2. Students planning on the 3-2 program should get advice on course scheduling prior to Junior year, to facilitate proper course selection.
3. Aspiring 3-2 students ideally should ideally find a CS faculty MS advisor before applying. Accepted 3-2 students must choose or be assigned an advisor by the end of the Spring semester Junior year. The faculty advisor helps design the strategy for and specifics of the student's, program of study. (A Program of Study form must be submitted to the College before the first term of graduate matriculation, usually in the 4th year).
4. Aspiriing 3-2 students are strongly encouraged to take 400 level courses as part of their undergraduate degree coursework. There are enough graduate courses to complete 30 credits without taking both the 200 and 400 level versions of any course.
5. Applying to the 3-2 Program: Use the URCS graduate application form , with these differences: a. GREs are not required. b. Of the minimum two letters of recommendation, we expect at least one to be from a URCS professor. c. The application should be submitted by March 1st of the Junior year. d. An excellent academic record is an advantage when applying.
6. 3-2 students must finish all undergraduate requirements by the end of the 4th year; at that point they receive the Bachelor's degree.
7. The MS advisor supervises and advises the 3-2 student in research and course work, and with the student will propose a relevant MS examination or final project for faculty approval.
8. The faculty meets twice yearly to evaluate the progress of all graduate students.
9. 3-2 students need to complete 30 credits of graduate work, including 7 classes and 2 credits for graduate teaching assistant responsibilities.
10. Departmental office space is not guaranteed for 3-2 Students. A ``research assistant'' type stipend is possible but not guaranteed. We may be able to offer 3-2 students some tuition assistance: this issue is under negotiation as of November 2007 and depends on factors like the amount of teaching assistant duties required of 3-2 students.
Revised 7/9/08 by Marty Guenther (marty@cs.rochester.edu)