UT Computer Science is launching two new integrated five-year master's programs in partnership with the School of Information and the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences (ICES). The integrated programs are modeled after an existing program offered by UT Computer Science in which students earn both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the field of computer science.

"The department is thrilled to offer these new five-year programs to our students. Pairing a bachelor’s in Computer Science with a master's in Information Studies or Computational Science, Engineering and Mathematics will allow students to broaden their technical knowledge and specialize in areas that are extremely relevant in the expanding world of technology," says Tiffany Grady, Associate Director of Academics for UT Computer Science.

Students in the program will be able to complete the integrated program in five academic years of full-time study—one year less than it would take to complete the two degrees individually and consecutively. Students can begin applying for these programs in spring 2015 and the programs will begin fall 2015.

Computer Science and Information Studies Five-Year Integrated Program 

UT Computer Science and School of Information are launching an integrated five-year program leading to two degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) and the Master of Science in Information Studies (MSInfoStds).

"This program is ideal for students who want to broaden their CS background to include design, user experience and policy studies. I have talked with many companies who are looking for graduates with this background," explains Bruce Porter, Chair and Professor for UT Computer Science.

Graduates of the program will be uniquely qualified for professional positions that require diverse perspectives on information, leadership, and technical depth such as human-computer interaction design, user experience design, information architecture, and the design, development, and management of digital services in governmental, academic, or corporate institutions, as well as for competitive Ph.D. programs in computer science and information studies.

Computer Sciences and Computational Science, Engineering and Mathematics Five-year Integrated Program 

UT Computer Science and the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences (ICES) are introducing an integrated five-year program leading to the simultaneous awarding of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) and the Master of Science in Computational Science, Engineering and Mathematics (MSCSEM) degrees.

While the BSCS degree program prepares undergraduate students with a strong foundation in computing, the master’s degree program in CSEM complements CS’s focus on data with a strong emphasis on mathematics, scientific computing, and applications of computing to real-world problems.

"Computer science is an essential technology for all areas of science and engineering, and this program is ideal for students who want to deepen their understanding of mathematics, scientific computing, modeling and simulation," says Porter.

As computing moves into the mainstream, successful developers and managers must understand the applications of computing to a diverse set of problems, and the underlying algorithms that are the basis for numerical analysis. The BSCS/CSEM Integrated Program will provide students with a well-rounded education enabling them to not only understand the fundamental science of computing, but how computing is used to tackle challenging problems, leading to careers in such fields as computational and mathematical modeling.