4+1 Software Engineering Program

The Software Engineering (SWE) 4+1 option allows the most qualified UM-Dearborn undergraduate Software Engineering students to earn both the BS in SWE and the MS Software Engineering (MS-SWE), MS in Computer and Information Science (MS-CIS), MS in Artificial Intelligence (MS-AI), MS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance (MS-CIA) or MS in Data Science (MS-DATA) in an accelerated format.

Admitted students can double-count up to 9 credits of 500-level Computer and Information Science, and Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, and Data Science core, concentration/specialization/application or elective courses taken during their junior or senior years.

Only one such option can be pursued (e.g. BS SWE and MS AI). Interested students must apply for admission to the program as described below. 

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the option, a student must:

• Be enrolled in the undergraduate SWE program at the UM-Dearborn.
• Have earned 60 credit hours in the undergraduate program.
• Have a 3.2 cumulative GPA or better.
• Students must have completed CIS 310, CIS 350/3501, CIS 375, and CIS 427 with a grade of B or better.
• A regular admission review will be streamlined for students with a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher at the UM-Dearborn after completing at least 85 credits.
• Not be enrolled in two undergraduate programs or in a dual-degree program in either their undergraduate or graduate program.
• Deferred enrollment by 4+1 students into the Master’s program is not permitted. 

Double Counting and Transfer Credits:

1. The accelerated option allows current UM-Dearborn Software Engineering majors to complete both the BS- SWE and the MS in Computer and Information Science (MS-CIS), MS in Software Engineering (MS-SWE), MS in Artificial Intelligence (MS-AI), MS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance (MS-CIA) or MS in Data Science (MS-DATA) degrees in an accelerated format. Admitted students can double-count up to 9 credits of 500-level MS core, concentration/specialization/application or elective courses taken during their junior or senior years.
2. In practice with the usual graduate student program rules, students may also transfer a maximum of 6 additional 500-level credits toward the 30-credit hours master's degree. These additional transfer credits can be taken during the junior and senior years and cannot be used for any portion of the undergraduate degree and should be listed in the corresponding graduate program.
3. Depending on the number of double-counted and transfer credits, 15-21 credits of graduate coursework would be needed to complete the master's program after completion of the undergraduate degree.  

Admission to the 4+1 Option:

1.  Participation in the accelerated option is limited to students who have completed at least  60  undergraduate credit hours, have attained junior standing, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2. and should have completed CIS 310, CIS 350/3501, CIS 375, and CIS 427 with a grade of B or better.
2. Admission to the accelerated option is at the discretion of the graduate program committee.
3. Students must attain a grade of B or better in each 500-level class taken as an undergraduate student and used for graduate credit in the accelerated option. Failure to do so may result in removal from the accelerated option.
4. Applying to the 4+1/Accelerated option is a two-stage process coordinated with both your undergraduate and graduate advising teams. For detailed instructions and application links, please visit the central 4+1 programs webpage. 

To successfully achieve the 4+1 option within a five-year time-frame, students can look forward to completing core courses, and electives. Additionally, for those who opt not to use the six additional credits of 500-level courses not used for their undergraduate study, there is an opportunity to engage in the thesis or project and your additional coursework during the final year of study, providing  an enriching academic experience. In this case, students should plan on completing the master’s degree in three terms after the BS degree is completed.

4+1 Curriculum

In the Software Engineering 4+1 option, students would complete the curriculum requirements for the BS Software Engineering and the MS in Software Engineering, MS in Computer and Information Science, MS in Artificial Intelligence, MS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance or MS in Data Science programs, but with the following substitutions (based on application sequence) of up to 9 credit hours of 500-level courses shown below for the BS Software Engineering. 

Courses eligible to be double-counted include (undergraduate equivalent noted):

Major required: CIS 476/566                                      

Students admitted to the 4+1 Option BS-SWE + MS-SWE may substitute: 

CIS 411/511, 412/512, 421/556¹ , 435/525, 437/537, 439/536, 446/546, 447/544, 449/549, 451/515, 452/552, 474/574, 476/566, 479/579 , 481/581, 482/582, 483/583, 4851/545, 487/587, 488/588, 489/589

Students admitted to the 4+1 Option BS-SWE + MS-CIS may substitute: 

CIS 405/505, 411/511, 412/512, 421/556¹ , 435/525, 437/537, 439/536, 446/546, 447/544, 449/549, 451/515, 452/552, 474/574, 476/566, 479/579 , 481/581, 482/582, 483/583, 4851/545, 487/587, 488/588, 489/589

Students admitted to the 4+1 Option BS-SWE + MS-AI may substitute: 

CIS 405/505, 411/511, 412/512, 439/536, 451/515, 452/552, 479/579 , 481/581, 482/582, 483/583, 487/587, 488/588, 489/589

Students admitted to the 4+1 Option BS-SWE + MS-CIA may substitute: 

CIS 405/505, 412/512, 421/556¹ , 435/525, 437/537, 439/536, 446/546, 447/544, 449/549, 474/574, 476/566, 479/579 , 481/581, 482/582, 483/583, 4851/545, 489/589

Students admitted to the 4+1 Option BS-SWE + MS -DATA may substitute: 

CIS 411/511, 412/512, 421/556¹ , 435/525, 439/536, 446/546, 451/515, 452/552, 479/579 , 481/581, 482/582, 483/583, 4851/545, 489/589

 Note:

¹ If students take CIS 556 (3 credits), they need to take an additional tech elective credit hour for the undergraduate study.

Major Requirements

In order to receive the full benefit of the 4+1 option, make sure you enroll in the 500-level courses, not the corresponding undergraduate courses.

MS Graduation Criteria

• Courses in which grades of C- or below are earned cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements.
• A minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher is required at the time of graduation.
• All students admitted to the 4+1 program are expected to complete 30 credit hours of graduate coursework from the respective MS curriculum to complete the masters.