5-year Integrated Degree Program in COE & CSEM

The 5-year Integrated Program in COE & CSEM leads to a Bachelor's degree in Computational Engineering (BSCOE) and a Master's degree in Computational Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (MSCSEM). The integrated program is a natural and advanced continuation of the Computational Engineering undergraduate program and provides students with a well-rounded education, enabling them to not only understand the fundamental science of computation, but how computation is used to tackle challenging problems. The CSEM Master's Program is highly interdisciplinary and consists of three concentration areas: Area A — applicable mathematics; Area B — numerical analysis and scientific computation; and Area C — mathematical modeling and applications.

The goals of the program include:

Preparing students for professional positions that require diverse perspectives on computation, applied sciences, mathematics, leadership, and technical depth; and
Improving student preparation for competitive PhD programs in computational modeling and simulation, data sciences, artificial intelligence and machine learning, Computational Science and Engineering, and Computational and Applied Mathematics.

Graduates of the BSCOE/MSCSEM integrated program will be prepared to become leaders in Computational Science, Engineering, and Mathematics in both academia and industry. Students will complete coursework and have opportunities to engage in research culminating in a Master’s Report or Thesis. The program will expose talented undergraduates to current advances in the dynamic fields of computational modeling and simulation, scientific computation, applied mathematics, data science, machine learning, and computational science. Students will be exposed to interdisciplinary problems in science and engineering and will have opportunities to develop communication skills necessary for all graduate students.

Program Requirements

The BSCOE degree requires a total of 122 hours. Contact the COE advisors for the BS degree program requirements.

The MSCSEM degree requires a total of 30 hours, including a Master’s Report (3 hours) or Thesis (6 hours).

During the 4th year (Stage One), students will continue to be enrolled as undergraduates in the Cockrell School of Engineering. They will apply to the Graduate School during the 4th year, for admission as graduate students in the 5th year (Stage Two). The BSCOE degree is awarded at the end of the 4th year and MSCSEM degree is awarded upon at the end of the 5th year.

MS Degree Options

Both degree options require a total of 30 credit hours. Regardless of option, a minimum of 24 credit hours must be taken for a grade in the three CSEM subject areas, which are denoted as Area A (applicable mathematics), Area B (numerical analysis and scientific computation), and Area C (mathematical modeling and applications). Approved courses for each Area are listed on the CSEM Course Information page.

Report Option (30 credit hours total):

27 hours approved coursework:
- 6 hours (2 courses) taken from Area A
- 6 hours (2 courses) taken from Area B
- 6 hours (2 courses) taken from Area C
- 6 hours (2 courses) taken from Area A, B, or C
- 3 hours (1 course) taken from Area A, B, or C; or any elective course approved by the CSEM Graduate Advisor
3 hours Report

Thesis Option (30 credit hours total)

24 hours approved coursework:
- 6 hours (2 courses) taken from Area A
- 6 hours (2 courses) taken from Area B
- 6 hours (2 courses) taken from Area C
- 6 hours (2 courses) taken from Area A, B, or C
6 hours Thesis (2-semester sequence)

For the MSCSEM degree, no more than 6 hours may be at the upper-division level. Note: any upper-division courses counted for the MS degree must be taken in stage 2 of the program. The Graduate School does not allow upper-division courses taken as an undergraduate student to be counted on a Master’s Program of Work.

The Graduate School rules state that no more than 20 percent of the hours listed on the Master’s Program of Work may be earned on the credit/no credit basis; thesis and report courses are not included in the 20 percent.

The Master's Report or Thesis is prepared under the guidance of a supervising committee with two or more members, one of whom is designated as the supervisor. The supervisor must be a member of the CSEM Graduate Studies Committee (GSC). The second committee member may be designated as a co-supervisor or a reader. The Thesis or Report is subject to the approval of the committee and ultimately of the graduate dean.

— Application Deadline: May 1, 2024 —

Eligibility

Must be currently enrolled in the Computational Engineering undergraduate program at the University of Texas at Austin
Should be within 12 hours of completing undergraduate courses at the time of application
Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

Application Materials

Online application form (link below)
Recommendations (2 required) — use the Reference Request form to submit contact information for your references. You should complete this form by April 15 to give your references adequate time to respond by the application deadline.
Statement of Purpose — Describe your reasons for pursuing graduate study, your specific interest in Computational Science & Engineering, and your academic and professional interests and goals (1-2 pages)
Resume
List of publications (optional)

APPLY NOW — BSCOE / MSCSEM Application Form (All materials will be collected via the application form)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between stage one and stage two of the program?

During stage one (the student’s fourth year), the student is registered in the COE program major code and is classified as an undergraduate student. During stage two (the student’s fifth year), the student is registered in the MSCSEM integrated program major code and is classified as a graduate student.
Is the GRE required to move to stage two?

The GRE is normally required for all applicants to the Graduate School (unless a waiver is granted for the given application cycle). The Graduate Coordinator will let students know if the GRE will be required for their application.
Is there a limit to how many graduate level courses can be taken as an undergraduate student (stage one)?

Yes, students in the integrated program may take no more than 6 hours of graduate level courses per semester during stage one. The Graduate School limits the total number of credit hours that may be reserved for graduate credit to 12 hours. There are no exceptions to this limit.
If I finish my undergraduate courses early may I take more graduate level courses in stage one?

No. Students will not be allowed to take more than 6 hours of graduate level courses per semester during stage one and no more than 12 hours total.
If I finish my undergraduate courses early can I move to stage two early?

No. Students may not enter stage two prior to the Fall of their 5th year.
How do I move to stage two?

In the Fall of the 4th year (stage one), students will submit a graduate application to the MSCSEM integrated program. At the conclusion of stage one (May of the 4th year), student progress will be evaluated. If satisfactory progress is being made, student will be admitted to stage two beginning Fall of the 5th year.
How many credit hours can be taken once a student is in stage two?

Graduate students in the integrated program are limited to 9 credit hours per semester (three 3-hour classes). This is a full-time course load for a graduate student. Exceptions will only be made in rare and unusual circumstances with the approval of the Graduate Adviser.
Is enrollment in courses outside of the CSEM department guaranteed?

We cannot guarantee that graduate courses offered by other departments will be available to integrated program students. We will work closely with the ASE/EM department to ensure that any ASE/EM courses recommended by the CSEM graduate adviser will be made available to students enrolled in the integrated program.
What is the difference between a Master’s Report and a Thesis?

A report is a library project, reviewing what scholars have said about a particular topic, and a thesis is an original contribution to knowledge in which a novel analysis or argument is offered, a problem is analyzed using a new or previously untried framework, or data about a subject is collected and analyzed. The work required to produce the document is expected to be equivalent to 3 credit hours for a report and 6 for a thesis.
I am interested in ultimately applying to the CSEM Doctoral Program – should I apply to the 5-year integrated program as a first step?

No. The BSCOE/MSCSEM integrated program is not intended for students who plan to pursue a doctoral degree in the CSEM program. Students interested in applying to the CSEM doctoral program should plan to complete their undergraduate degree and apply directly to the CSEM doctoral program. The integrated program is not a pathway to admission to the CSEM doctoral program.
How is tuition determined for students in the integrated program?

In the 4th year, the student remains enrolled in the undergraduate program major code and tuition rate will be calculated based on the student’s undergraduate status. In the 5th year, the student will be enrolled in the integrated program graduate major code and will be classified as a graduate student. Tuition will be calculated based on the student’s graduate status.

Tuition information may be found at: https://onestop.utexas.edu/managing-costs/cost-tuition-rates/. Graduate students in the CSEM program are charged the Engineering tuition rate, therefore, when using the tuition calculator, students should select “Cockrell School of Engineering” from the College or School drop-down menu.
Is there financial aid available for students in the integrated program?

The CSEM Program does not have funding available for Master’s students. Students may contact faculty for possible Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) positions once they have entered stage 2 of the program (graduate student status). GRA positions are managed directly by the hiring faculty supervisor.