Fast-Track Programs in the

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 (GRE). The number of hours required to complete the MS degree is reduced by the number of Fast-Track graduate hours completed with grades of B or better.  So, for example, a Fast-Track undergraduate who passed 12 hours of well-chosen graduate coursework with grades of A or B, would have only 33-12 = 21 hours of graduate coursework left in order to complete the 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.

Unconditional Admission:

An undergraduate qualifies to be admitted unconditionally to the Fast-Track program if he or she meets all of the following qualifications:

Students wishing to pursue a MS degree in Computer Engineering (or any other MS degree offered in the Erik Jonsson School may qualify for Fast Track while taking any of the four BS majors listed above(see “Cross-Tracking” below).

Conditional Admission:

Conditional admission may be granted if the applicant satisfies entry requirements 1 through 4 for unconditional admission (listed above), and has completed at least four of the benchmark courses with a GPA for those courses of at least 3.33.

Conditional Fast-Track students are expected to have completed at least six benchmark courses in one long semester after their conditional admission to the Fast-Track Program. Students who subsequently fail to meet all of the Fast-Track entry requirements will be removed from the program.  Any graduate credits earned by that time will be applied only to the student's undergraduate degree, and none of the other benefits of membership of the Fast-Track program will apply.

Applying for Admission to the Program:

Download the appropriate form (corresponding to your undergraduate major) from the list at the end of this document, or obtain it from the Office of Undergraduate Advising; submit the completed form to an undergraduate advisor.  In return you will receive an email indicating the decision of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education (ADU). A signed copy of the ADU's decision will be inserted in your file.

Choice of MS Degree and Cross-Tracking:

Fast-Track courses taken during the undergraduate senior year must be well chosen so that they satisfy the requirements of the BS degree AND those of the intended MS degree.

Fast-Track students who graduate with a BS in one program within the ECS School may request admission to a different MS program within the school.  For example, CS seniors may elect to Fast-Track into any of the MS programs in the school: CS, SE, EE, TE or CE. At the time of graduation, students who choose to cross-track should see a graduate advisor to arrange for the Change of Major.

Preparing to Cross-Track:

Students planning to cross-track should select MS courses from the following lists of prerequisite and core courses for their intended MS major. For example, those wishing to enter the Computer Engineering MS track must consider the following chart of required courses and prerequisites:

In preparation for the CE MS program, students should take the listed prerequisite courses as guided electives (if possible) or free electives in their undergraduate degree programs. The prerequisite courses listed in the chart also have prerequisites. A complete list of these dependencies must be prepared before the student can be sure of the cost of cross-tracking into this program. A similar process is required for any proposed cross-tracking experience. This research can easily be completed by studying the online catalog at www.utdallas.edu.

It may also be possible to cross-track to a MS degree in another School at UTD. See the ADU for details and advice.

Choice of Graduate Courses:

Each semester, Fast-Track undergraduates must consult the ADU before deciding on their graduate courses.  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.

Fast-Track students may, with the advice of the ADU, fulfill some of their major course requirements, their undergraduate guided electives and/or their free electives, by taking graduate level courses. Those graduate courses should either be electives or required courses for their intended MS major.

Students should not take more than one 5000 level course in CS or two in EE because of limits on the number of 5000 level courses that can be used to satisfy the requirements of the corresponding MS degree (graduate advisor consult with a graduate advisor to assure that the classes you plan to take can be used . The following 5000 level classes can not be taken by Fast Track students because they can not be used for credit towards the Masters degree or overlap with lower level degree requirements: 

Also, students should not take pairs of equivalent courses as listed below; you can take the graduate version on the right in place of the undergraduate version listed on the left, but can not take both. 

In addition, if an undergraduate course has a significant amount of overlap with a 6000+ level course, it is highly recommended that Fast Track students take the graduate course. If a student has already taken the undergraduate course, he/she will not be allowed to take a graduate course that significantly overlaps with it.  Since the Departments continually strive to improve the content of graduate classes, the following list is tentative/incomplete.  Final decisions will be made by the advisor/ADU at the time of registration.

Limits on the Number of Graduate Courses:

Before graduating with the BS degree, Fast-Track students must complete at least two and at most five Fast-Track graduate courses with grades of B or better. 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 number of hours required to complete the MS degree will be reduced by x.

Applying to Take Graduate Courses:

To register for graduate courses, you must obtain the ADU’s signature on a special course registration form.  You can obtain the form by clicking on the appropriate link below, or by visiting the Office of Undergraduate Advising.  The ADU will check that you are eligible for the classes that you list, that they fit into your undergraduate and graduate degree plans, and that you are not exceeding the 15-hour limit for Fast-Track courses.

Requirements for Staying in the Program:

If, at any time, you fail to satisfy these requirements, you will be removed from the program.  Any graduate credits earned will be applied only to your undergraduate degree, and none of the other benefits of membership of the Fast-Track program will apply.

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 Fast-Track graduate hours you have completed with grades of B or better. Graduating Fast-Track students should see a graduate advisor to ensure a smooth transition.

Taking a Break Between The Two Degrees:

You may take off up to, but not including, one year 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; 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 in the graduate catalog, but you must complete your MS degree within six years. Consult a graduate advisor for more details.

Links to forms (PDF)

CS fast-track application

EE fast-track application

SE fast-track application

TE fast-track application

Petition for Undergraduate to take Grad Courses