Bachelor's/Master's Program

This page was updated January 26, 2012.

• Application
• Statement of Purpose
• Letter of Recommendation
• Waiver for Letter of Recommendation
• Tentative Plan of Study
• Resume (See Application Requirements Below)
• Curriculum

Undergraduate CSE majors who maintain a distinguished record may apply to the master's program through the Five-Year Bachelor's/Master's Program. Acceptance into this program is an honor which carries with it practical benefits, one of which is the simplification of the graduate application process (no GREs are required). In addition, advanced students have access to graduate level courses and opportunities to do graduate level research under the direct supervision of UCSD's faculty before completing their bachelor's degree. Furthermore, with adequate planning, students accepted into this program will be able to complete the requirements for the master's degree within one year following receipt of the bachelor's degree.

CSE Five-Year Bachelor's/Master's Program and Admission Requirements

Exceptionally promising undergraduate students in the Computer Science and Engineering Department who are enrolled in the B.S. or B.A. Computer Science or B.S. in Computer Engineering degree programs, and who maintain a distinguished scholastic record through the junior year are eligible to apply for the Five-Year Bachelor's-Master's Degree Program. The number of students admitted during the fall, winter, and spring quarters will be based upon the availability of openings in the program. Because the program may become impacted for a particular time period, student requests for admission may be deferred to a later quarter.

Minimum requirements for the program include a cumulative GPA of 3.4, and a GPA of 3.4 in seven of the upper-division core courses (28 units). However, meeting or even exceeding these minimum requirements does not guarantee admittance to the program. Successful applicants are often further distinguished by a high level of accomplishment outside of their coursework, either through extensive industry internships or research experiences. Applications must be submitted by the published deadlines below. Grades for courses in progress will be reviewed before final action can be taken on the application.

Students interested in this program can enroll in graduate courses before being officially admitted to the graduate program. However, taking graduate courses does not guarantee admission. Once approved, up to six completed CSE graduate level courses can be counted toward the 49 units required for a Master's degree. Be advised that courses taken while in this program may be used to fulfill the degree requirements for only one of the programs, i.e. the Bachelor's of Arts, the Bachelor's of Science, or the Master's of Science. Courses may not be used for more than one program.

The Five-Year Bachelor's/Master's Program requires two applications. The first application (a link to the downloadable .pdf is below) is to the CSE Department and requires review and approval by the CSE Admissions Committee. The second (official) application is required for admission into UCSD's graduate program, and includes a $60.00 application fee ($80.00 for International students). Applicants will be notified of the official application deadline upon their acceptance into the Five-Year Bachelor's/Master's Program.

Application Deadlines

Application Requirements

1. Application: Students should apply no later than the fourth quarter prior to the receipt of the bachelor's degree; i.e. have at least three quarters remaining in the bachelor degree program. Exceptions or extensions to the application deadlines will not be considered.
2. Statement of Purpose: An applicant's statement of purpose is very important. Please be concise and as specific as possible in preparing your statement. Provide information that will aid the Admissions Committee in evaluating your potential for completing the M.S. program of study in CSE. Applicants are recommended to include information about internship/work or research/project experience. Please use the form included in this packet and attach an additional sheet, if necessary. For guidelines on how to write a statement of purpose, please visit the UCSD Career Services Center.
3. Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required. Your recommenders can use the forms provided in this application packet or use their own letterhead. Letters should be returned to the admissions advisor in the CSE Student Affairs office, Room 1234 EBU3b (CSE Building). (It is important that the letters of recommendation be completed by individuals who are in a position to analyze your ability and academic promise. If you wish to waive your right to inspect letters of recommendation, complete the forms provided in this packet and submit one with each letter of recommendation form that you give or send to an individual who you have asked to submit a recommendation on your behalf.)
4. Official Transcripts: You must submit official transcripts from UCSD and all institutions or colleges you have attended since high school regardless of the length of attendance.
5. Tentative Plan of Study: Please use the form provided. The plan you submit is important in that it demonstrates to the Admissions Committee that you have carefully thought about the requirements and the sequencing of the courses, and that you have a plan for how to complete the bachelor and the Master's degrees. You are not obligated to take the courses as you have listed them on the tentative plan.
6. Resume: Applicants should include relevant research/project or internship/work experience. 
7. Completed Application: The completed application to the Five-Year Bachelor's/Master's Program should be submitted to the Admissions Advisor, in Room 1234, EBU3b (CSE Building). You can also contact the Admissions Advisor at (858/822-5978) or via email at gradinfo@cs.ucsd.edu.

Student Advising and Program Management

The Graduate Admissions Advisor's office is located in EBU3B(CSE Building), room 1234. You can also contact the Admissions Advisor at (858/822-5978) or via email at gradinfo@cs.ucsd.edu.

Many students are not sure how attending graduate school can advance them along their career path. If you have questions about how gaining an advanced degree can benefit you, or about which schools and programs might be best for you, advisors in the CSE Student Affairs Office can offer you insightful information.

The CSE Admissions Advisor, can assist you with the following:

• Preparation for graduate school
• Assistance with your statement of purpose, letters of recommendations and waivers, tentative plan of study, and transcripts
• Final notification of acceptance

We have two CSE Undergraduate Advisors that can assist you with the following:

• Putting together a four-year plan to follow for your undergraduate degree
• Making graduate school part of your graduation goals
• How to prepare during your freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years for graduate school
• How your grades, research, internships and extra-curricular activities affect your application
• Reviewing undergraduate degree requirements for completeness
• Enrollment permission into CSE graduate courses as an undergraduate student

Viera Kair's office is located at EBU3B (CSE Building), room 1236. You can also contact her at (858/822-1535) or via email at vkair@cs.ucsd.edu.

Patricia Raczka's office is located at EBU3B (CSE Building), room 1238. You can also contact her at (858/534-3621) or via email at raczka@cs.ucsd.edu.