Fast-Track Program
Computer Engineering
Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
Summary:
This program enables exceptionally
gifted senior undergraduate students to include master’s
level courses in their undergraduate degree plans. When
a successful Fast-Track student graduates
with the BS degree,
he or
she is automatically admitted to graduate school at UT Dallas without
need to take the Graduate Records Exam. The number of hours required
to complete
the MS degree will be reduced by the number of Fast-Track graduate
hours completed by the student with grades of B or better.
So, for example,
if a Fast-Track student took 12 hours of well-chosen graduate course
work
while she was an undergraduate, and earned grades of A or B in all
these courses, she would have only 33-12 = 21 hours of
graduate coursework
left in order to complete her MS degree.
This document explains the qualifications necessary to enter the program,
the requirements to complete the program successfully, and the procedures
to be followed by Fast-Track students.
Qualifications:
An undergraduate qualifies to be admitted unconditionally to the Fast-Track
program if he or she meets all of the following qualifications:
-
Completed at least 15 hrs at UT Dallas.
-
Within 30 hours of graduation.
-
An overall GPA for all college courses of at least 3.0.
-
A GPA in quantitative work of at least 3.3.
-
Completion of
at least six of the following specified courses,
corresponding to the student’s
choice of major, with an average grade of at least
3.5:
Conditional Admittance:
A student may gain conditional
admittance if, during the semester that he or she applies
to join the program, the student is taking courses
that will complete the requirements listed above. Students who fail
to meet these conditions at the end of their semester of application
may
be removed from the Fast-Track program. Any graduate credits earned
at that time will be applied to the undergraduate degree, but none
of the
other benefits of membership of the Fast-Track program will apply.
Choice of MS Degree and Cross-Tracking:
Fast-Track students who
graduate with a BS in one program within the ECS School
may request admittance to a different MS program in that
school. Fast-Track courses taken during the undergraduate senior
year must be
well chosen so that they both satisfy the requirements of the BS
degree
and those of the intended MS degree. For example, CS seniors may
elect to Fast-Track into the CE MS programin the school.
Such students may,
with the advice of the College Master or an Academic Advisor, fulfill
their undergraduate guided electives and free electives by taking
graduate level courses that are either prerequisites or
required courses for
their intended MS program.
Graduate Courses that can
be Taken as a Fast-Track Student:
It is always best to
consult an Academic Advisor or the College Master
before deciding on the graduate courses that you wish to take.
Only organized 5000 and 6000 level courses can be used
as Fast-Track courses.
An organized course is one that is advertised in the schedule for
classroom (or online) delivery. Independent study courses
do not qualify. Students
are discouraged from taking more than one 5000 level course. The
reason is that the maximum benefit of the Fast-Track
program comes from maximizing
progress towards fulfilling the 6000 level requirements of the
MS degree. Only one 5000 level course can be used to satisfy
the requirements
of the MS degree. Students should also avoid taking certain graduate
level courses for which they have already taken an equivalent undergraduate
course. Here is a list of current forbidden pairs:
The graduate courses in this list may be taken in place of the equivalent
undergraduate courses.
Number of Graduate courses
that a Fast-Track Student can take:
In order to qualify
for the Fast-Track privileges noted in the summary
above, students must complete at least two and at most five graduate
courses, with grades of B or better, before graduating with the
BS degree. If a student takes x hours of well chosen graduate
courses
under Fast-Track rules, and earns grades of at least B in these
courses, the MS hours requirement for that student will
be reduced by x.
In addition to the Fast-Track program, senior undergraduates may
also take up to 12 hours of graduate course work to be used either
for credit
towards the undergraduate degree or the graduate degree. See the
College Master for permission.
Applying for admission to
the Fast-Track Program:
To apply for admission to
the Fast-Track program, download and complete
the appropriate form for your major from the list below and submit
it to your advisor. In return you will receive a signed copy indicating
the decision of the College Master and Program Head. The decision
will be one of {Admit, Admit Conditionally, Deny}.
Applying to take graduate courses once admitted to Fast-Track:
To apply for graduate courses
that will be completed before you graduate with your BS
degree, you must obtain the College
Master’s signature
on a special registration form. You can obtain the form by clicking
on the appropriate link below. The College Master will check that you
are
eligible for the classes you want to take, that they fit into your
undergraduate and graduate degree plans, and that you are not exceeding
the 15-hour
limit for Fast-Track courses. You will have to take this form to Records
in person in order to register.
To apply for graduate courses
during your last semester as an undergraduate, use the
regular course registration form, or apply
online or via touchtone.
You will not need the College Master’s signature at this time.
Requirements for staying
in the Fast-Track program:
You must maintain an overall
GPA of at least 3.0 and must earn grades
of B or better in your graduate courses.
Transition to the MS degree:
Assuming that you graduate
in good standing as a Fast-Track student, a graduate matriculation
will have already been created for you.
There is no need to apply for admission to graduate school;
no application
fee or letters of reference are required, and you need not take
the GRE exam. The hours required for you to complete your
MS degree
will be adjusted according to the number of graduate hours you completed
with grades of B or better under the Fast-Track program.
Taking a break in between
the two degrees:
You may take off one long
semester, plus a summer, before starting your
studies as a graduate student. If you do take a break, you will
not lose any of your Fast-Track privileges, but you may
be required to
complete an application form when you return to UT Dallas. Consult
the officials in the Records department on your return.
Taking breaks during graduate
studies; a minimum course load:
Once you are a graduate
student, you are governed by the rules for all
graduate students. There is no minimum course load, and you can
take breaks, as outlined above, so long as you complete
the requirements
of your MS degree within 6 years.
