The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) offers a combined bachelor's/master's pathway. Undergraduate students from any major in Baskin Engineering can apply to the pathway in order to earn a bachelor's degree together with an M.S. degree in Computer Science and Engineering. Depending on the student’s progress and advance planning, it is expected that the combined pathway can be completed in five years.

The five-year bachelor's/master's pathway offers a competitive edge to students who are completing their undergraduate degree at UC Santa Cruz, by enabling those with advanced preparation to move directly from the undergraduate to the graduate program and complete an M.S. degree with as few as seven courses beyond the bachelor’s degree.

The pathway prepares students for leadership positions in industry, and is also attractive for undergraduate students planning to pursue a Ph.D. degree targeting research careers in industry or academia. Baskin Engineering has many opportunities for undergraduate and graduate research, enabling Bachelor's/Master's pathway students to continue their undergraduate research projects as graduate students with the same research group.

Students in the M.S. programs are not guaranteed any form of financial support from the department. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they have sufficient funds for completing the M.S. degree program. Although obtaining an internship is not part of the program’s requirements, most M.S. students manage their finances by working as interns at companies in the Bay Area during the summer months.

Particularly motivated students can complete both the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees in 15 quarters (five academic years). However, advance planning is essential. Interested students should contact the Baskin Engineering Graduate Affairs Office and their faculty adviser early in their college career—no later than the end of their junior year. Students in this pathway retain undergraduate status until the completion of all undergraduate requirements, but may begin graduate coursework in advance of graduate standing.

Admission to the Contiguous Five-Year Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathway

The undergraduate degree requirements are not changed by the Bachelor's/Master's pathway; however, the pathway capitalizes on graduate-level courses that may apply toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements (see Course Requirements below). Students should consult the Undergraduate Affairs Office concerning their respective undergraduate degree requirements.

Acceptance into the CSE Bachelor's/Master's pathway is by formal application, and confirmed eligibility for the program does not guarantee admission. Students who apply to the M.S. program through the Bachelor’s/Master’s pathway will be measured against the full applicant pool during the admissions decisions process. Undergraduates interested in the pathway can complete the interest form at any time starting in the first quarter of junior standing. To qualify, applicants must be current UC Santa Cruz undergraduates declared in a major within Baskin Engineering, must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA when they apply to the Bachelor's/Master's pathway, and must maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA until the completion of their undergraduate degree The Graduate Affairs Office will verify and track students' eligibility for the pathway until completion of the bachelor's degree. Two of the three required letters of recommendation are waived for applicants with confirmed eligibility for the pathway.

If admitted to the CSE M.S. program, pathway students are able to count qualified courses previously completed as an undergraduate toward their CSE M.S. degree requirements. To ensure courses are qualified to count toward the M.S. degree, students should review the CSE M.S. degree requirements and communicate with their graduate student advisor.

Students who do not meet the Bachelor's/Master's pathway eligibility requirements or who wish to take time off between the bachelor's and master's degree programs are encouraged to apply for admission to the standard CSE M.S. program through the regular graduate admissions process.