If entering UMD with a significant amount of meaningful AP and dual enrollment credits that would put me in sophomore standing, is it possible to complete the program in four years?
I’m not asking if it would be difficult because I know that it would be. I’m just asking if it would be reasonably feasible.
Coming in with a “significant amount” and “meaningful” credits…you would need to define that. A lot depends on equivalencies, meaning how many are accepted as just credit that give you advanced standing, but don’t apply to meeting either university (GenEd) requirements or requirements in your major.
It is highly likely you can “save” a semester and load semesters to graduate with Bachelors degree early, but more than that is questionable.
So, assuming you “save” a semester, and then push yourself to take max credits each semester…is it possible? I can’t say; that is something to ask an adviser. Taking the max load every semester to complete undergrad in 3 years may mean there is no room for grad classes in your schedule in your last undergrad year…the way the combined degree works is that you take up to 3 graduate classes in your final undergrad year, spread out over the final two semesters, and you take one or two grad classes in the summer after undergrad.
For Masters, you need a total of 30 credit hours. While you can “easily” take 5 classes a semester as an undergrad, you really cannot do that as a grad student. Seriously. The courses are FAR more intensive, and the most they recommend is 3 a semester, which is why summer is needed. The plan is designed to have you take one grad class fall senior undergrad year, two in spring semester, one in summer and then three in fall and three in spring. Remember also that a Master’s requires a thesis, which also takes a lot of time, so you may opt to take two classes in the summer instead of one and knock your final semester down to two classes so you have time to work on thesis.
Thanks for the quick response @maryversity. I know I can always count on seeing you in these UMD discussions, lol.
I will be coming into UMD this fall with 31 credits, but only 27 of them count towards my major and gen eds. My train of thought with this post was that I thought since I’m entering UMD effectively in sophomore standing (even if you take out the no equivalency credits) that I may be able to complete the 5-year program in 4 years.
It sounds like you can get your undergrad in three years, but since some classes have specific prereqs (and those prereqs have prereqs) you should understand there are some speed bumps you might come across.
That’s why I think getting the two degrees in 4 years may not be as realistic …again, I am only a parent, and I honestly cannot say with any authority, so you should def can ask an adviser! Hope it works out for you though…
@maryversity It sounds like you know what you’re talking about. I’ll admit I was a bit too ambitious. I’m just gonna go to school normally for now and hope I can do this maybe down the line, but maybe not. Thanks for the help.
Nothing wrong with being ambitious! As for sounding like I know what I’m talking about, lol. Just bear in mind that I am not an authority - what I am saying is still as a parent/second-hand based on my son’s experience - and that’s in engineering, not CompSci.
You might want to consider taking advantage of having “breathing room” in your schedule - it’s an opportunity to explore other programs, research, study abroad (and trust me, that is something you really want to consider/plan early because in STEM majors, it is much harder to do when you are further along and need to take specific advanced classes), or even classes that just plain interest you but have no “value” towards graduation requirements.