Accelerated Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Pathway for W&M Undergraduate Students (BMAP)

The Department of Computer Science offers a Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Pathway (BMAP) designed to enable particularly well-prepared students to obtain an M.S. in Computer Science (non-thesis option) approximately one year after receiving their bachelor’s degrees. 

The program requires the following steps: 

• Undergraduate students will first apply to the BMAP by applying to the Bachelor’s to Master’s Accelerated Pathway (BMAP) Application on the CDSP website. Application may occur once students achieve Junior standing (minimum of 54 completed credits) but must occur before the beginning of their final semester as an undergraduate student. Students must have an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of applying to the BMAP. 

• Students must have successfully completed CSCI 140 or CSCI 141, CSCI 241, and CSCI 243 or MATH 214. Additionally, students are expected to have completed any two of CSCI 301, CSCI 303, CSCI 304, and CSCI 312. Students should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all of these listed courses. 

• Once admitted to the BMAP, undergraduate students will be allowed to register for graduate level courses that count towards the master’s degree using the BMAP Double Count Form, including: 

• up to 18 graduate-level credits may double count for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 

• of the 18 graduate-level credits, no more than 12 graduate-level credits at the 500-level may double count towards both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Any 500-level course cross-level listed at the 400-level (except 543, 566, and 597) is eligible. The 500-level offering must be taken for graduate credit. 

• up to six (6) graduate-level credits at the 600-level with senior standing may also double count towards both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 

• In the Senior year, students will apply to the M.S. in Computer Science (non-thesis option) using the graduate admissions application. 

• Admission to the BMAP does not guarantee admission to the M.S. program. 

• Students who are accepted into the master’s program will complete the remaining requirements of the master’s degree in computer science. 

Plan of Study 

The total credit hour requirement for the M.S. in CS (non-Thesis option) is 32 credits, which must be accumulated by completing a program of courses approved by the Computer Science Department.  

• CSCI 653 - Analysis of Algorithms (3)    

• 21 credits of approved CSCI graduate level coursework (up to 12 credits may be 5XX) 

• At least 6 credits of approved CSCI 6XX coursework (may be taken while an undergraduate in the BMAP; may include CSCI 690 with approval) 

• CSCI 710 - Research Project (2)  

Note: Students may not use the following courses to satisfy degree requirements without prior written approval of the student’s advisor and the Graduate Admissions Committee: 

• CSCI 666 - Directed Studies  

• CSCI 685 - Colloquium   

• CSCI 700 - Thesis  

• CSCI courses designated as Computational Operations Research courses (last digit in the course number is an 8) 

• Courses taken in another department