Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's (BAM)

A Bachelor's/Accelerated Masters (BAM) is a program that allows undergraduate students to take graduate level courses that would apply to both the BS and the MS, at the undergraduate tuition rate. Up to 18 credits of graduate coursework can be taken while in undergraduate status. 12 of these credits would apply to both the BS and the MS. The last 6 credits would apply only to the MS program.

Highly-qualified students in the Information Technology, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated MS. Students may apply if they have earned 60 undergraduate credits and meet the minimum GPA requirements designated in the University catalog.

The advanced standing (courses that apply to the BS and MS, max 12 credits) and credit in reserve (courses that apply only to the MS, max 6 credits) options are dependent on the BAM you pursue. Details are linked, below:

• Information Technology, BS/Information Systems, Accelerated MS
  • CS 550 (satisfies IT 414)
  • SWE 619 (satisfies a DTP core)
• Information Technology, BS/Software Engineering, Accelerated MS
  • CS 550 (satisfies IT 414)
  • SWE 619 (satisfies a DTP core)
• Information Technology, BS/Digital Forensics, Accelerated MS
  • DFOR 510 (satisfies a CYBR core)
  • DFOR 660 (satisfies IT 357)
  • DFOR 663 (satisfies a CYBR core)
• Information Technology, BS/Telecommunications, Accelerated MS
  • TCOM 500 (satisfies IT 300)
  • TCOM 515 (satisfies NTEL core)
  • TCOM 631 (satisfies IT 484)
• Information Technology, BS/Applied Information Technology, Accelerated MS
  • AIT 512 (satisfies IT 306)
  • AIT 524 (satisfies IT 314)
  • AIT 542 (satisfies IT 342)
  • AIT 580 (satisfies IT 322)
  • AIT 664 (satisfies IT 415)
  • AIT 682 (satisfies IT 366)

University policies for BAMs are available here and here. 

To be eligible for the BAM SWE or BAM ISYS, students must satisfy all the CS foundation requirements prior to admission: https://cs.gmu.edu/current-students/ms-students/foundation-courses/.

Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student’s final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form. At the completion of MS requirements, a master’s degree is conferred.