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Application Form:  /graduate/_files/fast%20track_feb%202024%201.pdf

Admission Information: 

What is the Fast Track program?

The Fast-Track Program enables outstanding undergraduate ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ students to receive both undergraduate and graduate credit for up to 15 hours of ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ course work as determined by participating Master's and Doctoral programs.

The Fast Track program allows Computer Science undergraduate students to earn credit for ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ Courses while an undergraduate. With approval of the program advisors, courses may be applicable for a Master’s in Computer Science, Master’s in Software Engineering, and Master’s in Data and Information Science.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Students must have completed 90 hours of undergraduate coursework toward their first undergraduate degree with a minimum of 24 of those hours at ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ
2. Students must have and maintain a minimum 3.30 undergraduate GPA
3. Students must satisfy additional requirements set by the Department of Computer Science
4. To be considered for the Fast Track Program, students need to complete a ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ School application. Once the ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ School clears the application based on the recommendations of the intended graduate program, students will be assigned a fast track code until the Bachelor's degree is conferred. The student will be subsequently admitted as a new student in the graduate program.

Instructions for Applying:

1. Look at the course listings on the CS Website/Goldmine
2. Discuss the courses you would like to take with your undergraduate advisor as part of the Fast Track program
   1. If you are unsure about what courses to take, the graduate programs, or anything related to Fast Track, please make an appointment with
3. Complete the Fast-Track form and include the courses of your choice along with their CRNs (e.g., CS 5xxx – 12345); you should include only the courses for the upcoming semester
4. Fast Track form reviewed and approved by undergraduate advisor
5. Once approved, Dr. Mejia will send your form to the College of Engineering for Dean approval (you will be notified once you are approved)
6. Your application will be sent to the ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ School where you will be registered for the courses that you have been approved for
   1. Complete the ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ School Application (First Time Applicants Only – See section below)
   2. ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ School will register you for the Fast Track Courses ONLY – you will NOT be able to register yourself for these courses on Goldmine
   3. You will still be responsible to register yourself for all other Non-Fast Track courses on Goldmine
   4. If you are currently registered for the equivalent undergraduate course (e.g., registered for CS 4361 – Machine Learning and want to register for CS 5361 – Machine Learning through Fast Track), you must drop the undergraduate course once you have been approved by the College of Engineering
7. ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ School will inform you that you have been registered
   1. Verify registration on Goldmine
8. Attend the course during its regularly scheduled meeting days/time

First Time Applicants Only:

Once you are approved by the College of Engineering, you will be notified with the following instructions. Note: Do not complete these steps until you have been notified by the College of Engineering

 Go to:  Scroll down and click on: “Apply Now”. 

1. Select an application path to continue: 
   1. Select either U.S or Mexican Applicant
   2. Or International Applicants.
2. When the new website loads/appear, scroll down and look for the section displayed in the image below (Type Fast-Track or click on select Fast Track Program from the drop-down menu in the search bar): 
3. Select the appropriate term that you are applying to
   1. Create an account and sign in
4. Complete the application process
   1. The Fast Track form needs to be uploaded as an attachment once you apply to the fast-track program. 
   2. A $45.00 fee will be assessed to your account since this will be your official admissions application to the graduate program.

Requirements to Obtain ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ and Undergraduate Degree Credit:

1. Fast-track students must earn a grade of B or higher in the graduate course to count as graduate credit towards their graduate degree.
2. Anything below a grade of C on a graduate course will not be counted towards the student’s graduate degree.
   1. A grade of C in the graduate course will only count towards the student’s undergraduate degree.

Tuition for ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ Courses:

1. Tuition will be based on the level of the course, not the level of the student.
2. Financial aid may be adjusted – please communicate with the Office of Financial Aid for more questions.

Additional Information:

1. Your credits will be used in both your undergraduate and graduate degree
2. You are not committed to continuing your master’s program immediately after you graduate with your undergraduate degree
3. You may change your intended master’s degree program (within the Department of Computer Science) with approval from the program advisor upon completion of your undergraduate degree
4. You will be given information on how to smoothly transition between your undergraduate program to your graduate program upon completion of your bachelor’s degree

Point of Contact:

• Daniel Mejia – dmmejia2@utep.edu