Five-Year B.S./M.S. Track

The Five-Year Information Systems Track is an accelerated, rigorous program option available to St. Cloud State undergraduates who maintain a 3.0 GPA and who show the ability and discipline necessary to successfully complete an accelerated combination undergraduate program in Information Systems and graduate program in Information Assurance. 

• Students may complete the Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Master of Science in Information Assurance with nine fewer required semester credits than if they chose to take the BS and MS through the traditional tracks.
• Students interested in the five-year track are encouraged to begin discussion with the Information Assurance graduate dirctory early in the sophomore year. This will allow for correct selection of course work. 
• Students should apply and are eligible to be granted early provisional admission to graduate school upon successful completion of the undergraduate requirements detailed below:
  • After completing or registering for the 21 required core credits of IS 250, IS 356, IS 363, IS 443, IS 450, IS 451, and IS 460, and before taking 500-level classes, students should apply formally to the School of Graduate Studies.
  • Following provisional graduate admission, students may select nine credits from any 500 level IS elective courses during the fourth year of the program.
• Provisionally admitted students will be coded as five-year students and a degree audit (DARS) created to reflect the requirements of the accelerated track.
• Students remain in undergraduate student status through the fourth year of the program which may affect financial aid eligibility. In addition, students will need to request permission and overrides to enroll in graduate level courses through submission of the Undergraduate Permission to Enroll form.
• Credits completed at the graduate level are used to fulfill requirements at the undergraduate level.
• All credits required for the graduate degree will be completed at the graduate level.
• Students may opt out early with a bachelor’s degree provided certain course requirements are satisfied. Graduate level courses used to complete the undergraduate degree may not be applicable to a graduate degree program in the future.
• Students may enroll in culminating project credits, such as thesis, starred paper, or internship courses between their fourth and fifth years. Students are encouraged to begin work on their culminating project during the summer between their fourth and fifth years.
• Five-year students are eligible for graduate assistantship funding after completion of the Bachelor’s degree.
• Students must maintain at a minimum a 3.0 GPA in all 500- and 600-level courses

Program students are eligible to apply for one of 45 National Science Foundation STEM scholarships, a two-year grant that includes a $12,000 stipend.