No, they do not. You can complete a concurrent MSE in Computer Science (MSE CS) with a major in another department. However, you should complete core coursework in CS before applying. Similarly, you may complete a bachelor’s degree in CS with a master’s in a related field such as the MSSI or applied mathematics, pending admission to their master’s programs.

Entering students are expected to have completed a program of study equivalent to that required by the BS in computer science. Applicants from other disciplines are expected to have coursework (or equivalent experience) in intermediate programming (C++ and Java), data structures, computer system fundamentals, and mathematical foundations for computer science.

Interested students are encouraged to apply in the fall semester of their junior year, but must apply no later than the fall semester of their senior year.

University and departmental policy states that students in either a WSE combined bachelor’s/master’s program or who are seeking a WSE master’s degree after having earned a bachelor’s degree from either WSE or the Krieger School of Arts may double-count no more than two courses (400-level or higher) to both programs with the permission of the master’s faculty advisor. All other courses for your MSE degree should be separate from the total credits required for your bachelor’s degree. Courses from a previous institution can not be considered for double counting.

After a JHU student completes eight semesters in the fall or spring only and earns a bachelor’s degree, the Whiting School of Engineering’s Dean’s Master’s Fellowship will pay 50% of the student’s tuition every semester while a full-time graduate student in fall and spring only.

GRE scores are not required, but may be submitted if you want.

The only difference between the programs is that when you are a combined BS/MS student, in your first semester as a graduate student you can register a few weeks earlier than students who are regular MS students. All other policies ie double counting and the tuition fellowship are applied the same.

All MSE candidates must complete 10 (three credit/hour) courses or eight courses and project/essay, which can mean:

  • One three-credit hour course from at least four of the following sub-areas: Application, Reasoning, Software, Systems and Theory
  • Three-four electives from any CS area or closely-related departments such as Electrical and Computing Engineering, Cognitive Science, Mathematics, or Applied Mathematics and Statistics
  • Two additional graduate level courses in CS or a supervised-project or a thesis

Undergraduate research does not satisfy the graduate level project requirement.

Yes, it is possible to complete both degrees while retaining undergraduate status, although most students do require one or two additional semesters following the completion of their BS degree.

Only 601.4XX or higher level courses can be used to satisfy graduate level requirements with permission from the master’s faculty adviser.

Yes. CS 601.4XX courses or higher that are not applied to the BS degree can be used to satisfy the graduate degree with permission of the master’s faculty adviser. If the courses are not CS courses, but are closely related, they could possibly satisfy electives.

As long as a student retains undergraduate status, they must register at the 601.4XX level only. Once their status is changed to graduate, after eight semesters or completion of their undergraduate requirements, then registration for 601.6XX courses is required.

Students who graduate with a Johns Hopkins University undergraduate degree automatically earn a Dean’s Master’s Fellowship, covering half of their tuition for every semester of full-time, residential enrollment (fall and spring semesters only; summers and intersessions are not included; and EP courses are not included) in a WSE master’s degree program, provided they have either: (a) completed eight full-time* semesters of study at Johns Hopkins, or (b) have not been enrolled at Johns Hopkins for at least one year. Students who are pursuing JHU combined bachelor’s/master’s degrees at the same time who have not yet completed eight full-time semesters of study at JHU, and have retained undergraduate status, are eligible to continue to apply for undergraduate financial aid through the Office of Student Financial Services.

*Students who took advantage of the COVID-19 Graduating Senior Course Drop Option in the spring 2020 semester will remain eligible for the Dean’s Master’s Fellowship (even if they changed to part time status in their eighth semester) provided they meet all other criteria and have completed seven semesters of full-time status.