BA/MA in Computer Science and Cognitive & Neural Systems

The BA/MA in Computer Science and Cognitive & Neural Systems is an interdepartmental program in the College of Arts & Sciences and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. The program allows undergraduate majors in computer science to begin working toward an MA in Cognitive & Neural Systems while still completing the Department of Computer Science BA requirements. Although new admissions to this program have been suspended, there may be a successor program with admission and degree requirements similar to those given below. For updated information, contact Professor Daniel Bullock of the Graduate Program in Cognitive & Neural Systems.

Admission to the BA/MA Program

College of Arts & Sciences students currently in or entering the junior year are eligible to apply for admission. Students must apply before March 1 of their junior year and must meet a GPA requirement of at least 3.0 through the end of their junior year. Students admitted to the BA/MA program will typically have completed at least one 300-level or above CNS course. In order to be admitted into the BA/MA program, students must have completed at least Calculus I and II (MA 123 and 124, or equivalent) and Linear Algebra (MA 242).

The application should include a letter from the student’s Department of Computer Science advisor. Application forms for admission to the BA/MA program may be obtained from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Office, 705 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 112.

Requirements

Students must complete all requirements for the BA in Computer Science and all requirements for the MA in Cognitive & Neural Systems. In particular, 32 courses (128 credits) are required for the BA and 8 courses (32 credits) are required for the MA. In total, 40 courses (160 credits) are required. Students receive the BA and MA simultaneously. Graduation applications must be submitted for both the BA and MA portions of the degree.