FAQs

• How should I use my Tech Electives if I am interested in the Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) in the future?

  • It is recommended to wait to take tech electives until your senior year. If taken early, please meet with AMP advising to ensure you are on track with your shared courses for your specific AMP.

• I still don't understand how the "reserve" credit works, can you briefly explain that?

  • Reserved credit is credit that does not share with any undergraduate requirements. If you have a light senior year or final term, you may consider taking an extra 5xx ("reserve") to help further accelerate your graduate program. This class will only apply to graduate degree requirements, but you are taking it early as an undergraduate student. The reserved class is considered "pre-admission credit" and thus MUST be completed with a 'B' or better to apply in the master's. The grade earned will count towards both the undergraduate cumulative AND graduate overall GPA.

• Can I still apply my 5xx credits and graduate if I withdraw from the accelerated track?

  • 5xx level credits may be applied to applicable undergraduate requirements. Only reserved 5xx level credits may be applied to future graduate studies if students withdraw. 

• Will the grade from my reserved 5xx course/s count towards my undergraduate GPA?

  • Yes, all courses completed in the undergraduate career at ASU will be incorporated into the CUM ASU GPA.

• Can I take any 5XX class I want in the AMP?

  • No, AMP students may only be given overrides into 5XX classes that apply to their bachelor's/master's degree programs.

• I only have 1 term remaining in my UG program and have exhausted my electives.

  • Please meet with AMP advising to determine your options.

• What are “anti-requisites”?

  • Courses that are equivalent and credit can only be applied for one or the other. CSE 511/512, CSE 450/551, IEE 431/541 are examples. The Class Search/Course Catalog details will indicate pre-requisites as well as any “anti-requisites” as appropriate. 

• When will my DARS be updated so that 5xx share with my UG requirements?

  • Advising will enter DARS exceptions as soon as possible or as soon as students confirm their plan.

• What classes would you recommend that we take if we're interested in AI?

  • CSE 571, CSE 591 or 598 Robotics topics, CSE 574, 575, 576, 578

• Does the CS Big Data Systems concentration still allow 6 credits of 4xx coursework?

  • Yes, UNLESS you add a thesis. BD concentration + thesis does not allow room for any 4xx credits to apply.

• Considering taking a CSE 5XX Topic course, but I wasn’t sure what 598 counts as for credit.

  • 598 Topic courses generally count for elective credit. Depending on the concentration and/or culminating event, the number of elective credits will vary.

• For the IEE black belt certificate, did you say we ARE able to take some of those classes before graduation?

  • For LSSB Graduate Certificate, you can carry a max of 6 applicable IEE 5xx credits from your undergrad career, however courses may not apply as undergraduate, graduate, and certificate courses. Per the Graduate College, students may share courses between 2 programs, but not 3. In other words, any LSSBB Certificate courses taken in the undergraduate career should be taken as reserve, not shared credits.

  • Note, you must submit a separate ASU Admissions application for the LSSB Graduate (Graduate Certificate) in your final undergraduate semester. See https://scai.engineering.asu.edu/ for details. 

• Is "4+1" the same as "accelerated"?

  • ASU has moved away from the "4+1" terminology due to the varying lengths of time and other reasons. The Accelerated Master's Program Program will depend on the student's individual progress within their degree.

• Am I automatically approved for my graduate program if I am accepted into the Accelerated Program? 

  • Students accepted into the Accelerated Master's Program must still meet graduate admissions criteria. Please note, admission into student's graduate program of choice is not guaranteed. 

• Can I change my graduate program after I am admitted?

  • You can make changes to the existing degree (add/remove concentration, change modality, etc) as a one time request prior to starting your graduate semester. Alert advising as soon as possible if you wish to change your master's degree plan.

• Can I switch from on-campus to online or vice versa? 

  • It depends on the specific degree plan. Meet with AMP advising to sort out the details, process and timeline of this request to see if it is possible. Planning is vital with this. Also note that tuition rates are different depending on plan and campus.

• Can I complete an accelerated track with a PhD program?

  • Please see PhD Q&A.

• When do I need to submit the iPOS?

  • Accelerated students need to submit their initial iPOS as soon as registration is finalized for the first official graduate semester in order to ensure that students are on track and maintaining academic progress.

  • The iPOS is available 90 days before the official start of the graduate degree.

• What is the difference between MCS and MS?

  • MCS = Master of Computer Science (only allows non-thesis & is available only online)

  • MS CS = Master of Science Computer Science (allows thesis or non-thesis but is available only on campus)

• How do I add the accelerated program on my resume?

  • You can state that you are on an approved “Accelerated track” that allows high achieving students to complete a graduate degree in 1 year after graduation. Advising can also provide a letter on letterhead to attest that you have been accepted to Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) upon request.

• Are there any resources that give example focuses with recommended paths?

Please refer to Step 3 "Review Recommended Track & Shared Courses" for a recommendations on course planning by semester.

• What if I change my mind about completing the AMP?

  • You need to let your advisor know and they will instruct you on what to do next and how to adjust your schedule

• Will we still need to get 30 credits for the NAMU scholarships in our Masters program?

  • No, your full-time status will default to 9 credits per semester as a graduate student if eligible to carry NAMU scholarship funds. See https://students.asu.edu/NAMU-commitment to review if your NAMU scholarship will be eligible. For questions regarding your specific award package, please reach out to Financial Aid.  

Prior to applying, students should connect with Tuition and Aid for information regarding requirements and expectations. Students may also review additional opportunities for Fellowships and Funding for their program. SCAI uses one application for students interested in teaching and research assistantships. Please review the Graduate College's site regarding Funding Opportunities. 

• How do I decide between Thesis vs Non Thesis?

• Not all SCAI Accelerated Master’s Programs require a thesis. You may determine if a thesis is right for you by evaluating your academic and professional goals and interests. 

• You may also utilize these additional resources to decide if a thesis is right for you. 

Thesis vs Non Thesis Webinar

Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative

Graduate College Formatting Your Thesis or Dissertation

• When do I need to decide if I want to complete a thesis for my master's?

  • The sooner the better. You should decide before your first graduate semester so that you can enroll in 599 (3 credits). To be given consent to enroll in 599, you must have selected your research topic and thesis faculty supervisor. Your supervisor must also approve your iPOS (plan of study listing the 10 courses you plan to fulfill graduate degree requirements) before consent can be given by advising to enroll in 599.

• Is the thesis option available online? 

  • No,  the thesis is not an option for the Master of Computer Science online or the Master of Industrial Engineering online.

• You may review information regarding ASU's Graduate College's Culminating Experience here

• Students' CUM GPA will reset when they enter their first graduate program semester; however, any 5xx courses completed in the undergraduate career will count in the Overall Graduate GPA. 

• Please review ASU Grades and Policies for additional information.

• Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA (everything taken in the graduate career, including 4xx), overall graduate GPA (all 5xx level or higher taken at at ASU, including undergrad career), and iPOS GPA (plan of study/courses taken towards degree requirements).

• The repeat/replace policy does not apply to 5xx level courses. This includes 5xx level classes taken while in the bachelor's program. If a student repeats a 5xx level course, both grades are averaged in GPA. 

• Can I take classes online and in-person? 

  • Students attending in-person may take iCourses if available. iCourses are "online" courses for in-person students. In-person students may not take ASU Online courses. ASU Online students may not take in–person courses. 

• Can I do my Bachelor’s in-person and my Master’s online or vice versa?

  • Yes, students can complete their Bachelor's on one campus and then switch to the other for their master’s. The most important thing is to ensure that the correct graduate degree is offered in the correct campus and to take the correct shared classes. Please work with advising if you are wanting to do this. 

• Is the thesis option available online?

  • No, the thesis is not an option for the Master of Computer Science (MCS) or the Master of Industrial Engineering online. 

• How is the online campus structured?

  • Students in the online Master of Computer Science (MCS) mostly take classes in A/B sessions. 

  • Students in the online Industrial Engineering Master’s degree take mostly C session classes, but occasionally there’s an A/B session class.