CDM Combined Degree
BS/MS Combined Degree
Academically gifted students may choose to enroll in the combined degree program. This dual degree program allows students to combine any CDM bachelor's degree with any CDM master's degree following the structure outlined below.
Students take three Master’s level courses in their junior and senior year that count toward both their bachelor's and master’s degree requirements at the same time. Students in this combined degree program will receive the bachelor's degree after meeting all graduation requirements including the standard 192 undergraduate credit hours. The master’s degree is awarded after the student completes 10 additional graduate courses (40 credit hours), instead of the standard 13 courses (52 credit hours).
- Minimum of 6 courses (24 credit hours) completed at DePaul
- GPA of 3.3 or higher in courses taken at DePaul
- Endorsement of faculty advisor
In order to apply for the BS/MS combined degree program, your faculty advisor must send an e-mail recommendation to Becky Krochmal. The recommendation should include your full name, student ID number, and the BS and MS degrees you wish to apply for.
Bachelor of Arts in Computing students who are enrolled via the School for New Learning are eligible for this program. Interested students who meet the admission criteria for a combined degree should contact Kenn Skorupa at SNL or Becky Krochmal at CDM for more information.
- Each student's cumulative GPA and course grades will be reviewed after each Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarter
- The student and Faculty Advisor will be notified when the student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.3 or when the students receives less than a C- in graduate level course (X-course)
- If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.3, the student must earn a term GPA of 3.3 or above in the following quarter to stay active. If the student does not achieve a 3.3 term GPA, then the student will be dismissed from the combined program and resume the traditional BA/BS. As long as the student’s cumulative GPA is below 3.3, the student must continue to achieve at least a 3.3 term GPA in all following quarters or face dismissal. If, at any point, the student’s cumulative GPA is once again 3.3 or higher, term requirements no longer apply.
- If a student does not maintain good standing, they will be dismissed from the Combined Degree and returned to normal undergraduate degree seeking status. Any graduate courses passed before dismissal will not be counted toward graduate credit and may not be retaken (if the student does pursue graduate study, other graduate courses must be substituted). If dismissed students wish to apply to a CDM graduate degree program, they may do so following normal CDM Admission procedures, but will still be required to take 13 graduate courses for a MS degree.
If, upon completion of the bachelor's degree, the student did not meet all prerequisites for the master's degree, then the student will need to complete (course, test or waiver) the missing prerequisites for the chosen master's Degree. If, while still in the undergraduate degree phase, the student receives less than a C- in graduate level course (X-course), the, X-course cannot count towards the MS/MA Degree.
It is extremely important that the student and faculty advisor work together on a course of study immediately upon admission to the Combined Degree Program.
This course of study may include which undergraduate classes to avoid taking in order to take the graduate version. Failure to put together a solid plan can lead to extra coursework and a lengthening of the Combined Degree program.
It is advisable for the student and advisor to enter the proposed plan of study in the student communication record on the CDM intranet so it is available to the student and CDM faculty and staff.
Students will register for "Combined Degree Course" each time they wish to take a Master’s-level course using the
Combined Degree Registration Form, which must be signed by their faculty advisor.