BS/MS Information Systems Co-Terminal Degree
New for 2018: International students are now eligible for BS/MS
The BS/MS Information Systems co-terminal degree is a unique option for current University of Utah Information Systems majors to complete the MSIS Online program concurrently with their undergraduate degree. The BS/MS program allows for a seamless, integrated program of study and a pre-screened, expedited MSIS Online admissions process. Students in this combined program can begin taking graduate courses as soon as the beginning of their senior year, and BS/MS students are eligible for a scholarship upon matriculation to the MSIS program.
BS/MS students will graduate with both their BS and MS Information Systems degrees. Both degrees are conferred simultaneously following completion of the entire co-terminal program. Students complete a minimum of 152 credit hours.
Undergraduate students in the BS/MS program are allowed to take up to 12 credit hours of graduate-level courses while still classified as an undergraduate student* to be used in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the graduate degree.
Students can apply to be pre-screened for the BS/MS program as soon as they have completed 90 undergraduate credit hours and have grades posted for a minimum of 3 upper-division IS courses. Once pre-screened to start the BS/MS program, undergraduate students can start to enroll in graduate IS courses.
Students will then submit an official university graduate program application for the MSIS Online program during the semester in which they will have completed both their undergraduate degree requirements and up to 12 graduate credits.
The ultimate authority to admit a student into any graduate program is the University of Utah Graduate School. As such, pre-screening approval does not guarantee admission into the MSIS Online program. However, applicants are carefully evaluated during the pre-screening process and it’s predicted that most pre-screened applicants will be admitted to the graduate program.
Students will follow all official MSIS Online application requirements with the exception of GMAT/GRE and recommendations requirements. Once admitted to the MSIS program and matriculated into graduate status, all BS/MS students are awarded a scholarship (approximately $4,400) as part of the co-terminal program.
*Note that international students are eligible for the BS/MS program but cannot take graduate courses while in undergraduate student status. Students should work with their academic advisor to meet this requirement.
New for 2018: International Students are now eligible for the BS/MS program
International students who are admitted to the BS/MS program have the opportunity to waive the GMAT/GRE exam requirement and letters of recommendation on their MSIS Online application. Additionally, international BS/MS students will receive a $4,400 scholarship upon matriculation to the MSIS program.
International students follow the same application and admissions processes as outline below. One important note – international students are not eligible to take any graduate courses while still in undergraduate student status. Students should work with their academic advisors to ensure this requirement is met.
Pre-screening Application
- Accepted University of Utah IS major
- Minimum of 90 credits completed
- Grades posted for a minimum of 3 upper-division IS courses
- Unofficial transcripts
- 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA
- 3.0 minimum GPA in upper-division IS courses
- Resume
- Statement of purpose written essay – 750 word maximum
- Tell us about your interest in and experience with information technology.
- Why are you choosing to pursue the BS/MSIS program at this time in your career and what do you hope to achieve while in the program?
- What goals do you have for after the program, and how will the MSIS Online degree help you achieve them?
- Tell us about the personal qualities and/or experiences that make you a strong candidate for the program.
- Why do you think the MSIS Online program at the Eccles School is the right place for you?
- Video essay – 1 minute maximum
- Imagine you are at the MSIS orientation. Please introduce yourself to your new peers and faculty members. Include any personal and/or professional aspects that you believe are significant. Additionally, include one interesting thing about yourself that is unrelated to your work/field of study.
- If a personal situation through the Americans with Disabilities Act precludes an applicant from submitting a video, please contact MSISinfo@Eccles.Utah.edu for alternate submission options.
MSIS Online Application
- Eccles School online application and fee
- Unofficial transcripts
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA
- Resume
- Statement of purpose & video essays
- Both the written and video essay from the pre-screening application can be used for this requirement.
Once admitted to the MSIS Online program and matriculated to graduate status, all BS/MS students are awarded a scholarship as part of the co-terminal program. The BS/MS scholarship is awarded in full during student’s first semester as a matriculated MSIS Online student.
- At 90 credit hours (or later) in their undergraduate program, undergraduate IS students apply to be pre-screened for the BS/MS program. Applicants must also have grades posted for at least 3 upper-division IS courses at time of pre-screening application.
- If accepted, students can take up to 12 graduate credits while completing their undergraduate degree.*
- Students will officially apply for the MSIS Online program during the semester in which they will complete credit requirements for their undergraduate degree and up to 12 graduate IS credits.
- Once formally admitted to the MSIS Online program, students complete the remaining credit hours required for the MSIS degree.
- Students graduate with their BS and MS in Information Systems at the same time, following completion of requirements for both degrees.
*Note that international students are eligible for the BS/MS program but cannot take graduate courses while in undergraduate student status. Students should work with their academic advisor to meet this requirement.
- A minimum of 122 credits must be completed to meet the requirements of the IS bachelor degree.
- A maximum of 12 graduate credits can be completed while students are in undergraduate status.
- A minimum of 30 graduate credit hours are required to meet the requirements of the MSIS Online degree. Up to 12 of these credits can be taken while an undergraduate, with any remaining credits taken as a graduate student.
- Once pre-screened and accepted to the BS/MS program, students may begin working with their MSIS academic advisor to develop a program of study to complete the MSIS Online degree. Students will continue to work with their undergraduate advisor to ensure that all requirements for the undergraduate degree have been met.
- International students are not eligible to take graduate courses while in undergraduate student status. Students should work with their academic advisor to meet this requirement.
- Students should work with their undergraduate advisor to delay their undergraduate graduation until they have completed the co-terminal degree program.
- Students wishing to exit the co-terminal program can apply qualified undergraduate coursework toward their bachelor’s degree.
- No student will be awarded a separate MSIS degree without satisfying all requirements for their bachelor’s degree.
- Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate student will remain on the undergraduate record but will be recorded as credit toward the graduate degree.
- Courses used to earn the undergraduate degree may not be used toward a graduate degree, nor may courses used to earn the graduate degree be used toward an undergraduate degree.
- Students who drop out of the BS/MS program cannot use graduate credits toward their undergraduate degree and are not guaranteed acceptance of these credits toward any graduate degree.