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Nova Southeastern University’s College of Computing, AI, and Cybersecurity offers the 3+1 Pathway Program that streamlines the path from undergraduate study into graduate-level education. Available to students majoring in Computer Science, Cybersecurity Management, and Information Technology, these programs allow qualified students to complete up to 12 credits of master’s-level coursework during their senior year, shortening the time and cost needed to earn an M.S. degree.
How the 3+1 Pathway Program Works
Start in Computer Science, Cybersecurity Management, or Information Technology and complete foundational coursework during your first two years.
During your junior year, meet with your advisor and request approval to begin taking graduate-level courses as a senior.
During your first semester of senior year, submit your graduate application. This program is not Dual Admission and requires separate admission.
Upon completing your B.S., move directly into your M.S. program with graduate credits already applied—reducing your time to completion.
Choose an Eligible Major to Begin Your 3+1 Pathway Program
Computer Science
B.S. in Computer ScienceComputer Science
B.S. in Computer Science
Cybersecurity Management
B.S. in Cybersecurity ManagementCybersecurity Management
B.S. in Cybersecurity Management
Information Technology
B.S. in Information TechnologyInformation Technology
B.S. in Information Technology3+1 Pathway Program Details
Program Introduction
The combined 3+1 Pathway Program offers students an accelerated pathway to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Through this program, students may complete up to 12 graduate credit hours that apply toward their B.S. requirements. Participants can take up to four graduate-level courses that count simultaneously toward their undergraduate major and their future master’s degree, helping them save time and reduce overall program costs.
Admission
To be eligible for the 3+1 Pathway Program, an undergraduate student must satisfy the following minimum criteria:
- Complete the required B.S. program-specific courses to pursue the M.S. courses.
- Maintain a minimum overall 3.4 undergraduate GPA.
- Maintain a minimum overall 3.4 undergraduate GPA in program-specific and Math courses.
- Undergraduate students will be invited to the 3+1 program during their junior year. If accepted, they must apply to the graduate school during the first semester of their senior year. Students are subjects to graduate catalog for all graduate level courses.
Graduation
Once students complete all B.S. degree requirements, they become eligible to apply for the conferral of the bachelor’s degree. After fulfilling the requirements for the M.S. program, students may then apply for the conferral of the master’s degree.
M.S. Courses
Students in this program may substitute up to 12 credits of M.S. Computer Science courses for B.S. Major Elective and Open Elective courses. See options below.
B.S. Computer Science Courses Required for M.S. Course Enrollment
Students must complete the following courses before taking the 12 credits of M.S. in Computer Science courses:
Students will then be eligible to complete the following M.S. courses (12 credits) towards the B.S. in Computer Science Degree:
M.S. Core Courses
M.S. Elective Courses
M.S. Courses
Students in this program may substitute up to 12 credits of M.S. level Cybersecurity Management courses for B.S. Cybersecurity Management major requirements or electives. See options below.
B.S. Cybersecurity Management Courses Required Before M.S. Enrollment
Students must complete the following courses before taking the 12 credits of M.S. in Cybersecurity Management courses:
- MATH 1200 Pre-calculus Algebra (or higher) (3 credits)
- MATH 2020 Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- CSIS 1800 Introduction to Computer and Information Sciences (3 credits)
- CSIS 2101 Fundamentals of Computer Programming (4 credits)
Students will then be eligible to complete the following M.S. courses (12 credits) towards the B.S. in Cybersecurity Management Degree:
- ISEC 615 Fundamentals of Cybersecurity (3 credits)
- ISEC 635 Information Security Operations Management (3 credits)
- ISEC 655 Information Security Governance (3 credits)
- ISEC 675 Information System Auditing (3 credits)
B.S. Cybersecurity Management Undergraduate Curriculum
First Year Seminar (3 credits)
General Education Requirements (30 credits)
Students are required to complete 30 credit hours as part of the General Education Program.
Open Electives (26 credits)
Major Requirements (52 credits)
- MATH 1200 Pre-calculus Algebra* (or higher) (3 credits)
- MATH 2020 Applied Statistics* (3 credits)
- Substitute ISEC 615 Fundamentals of Cybersecurity (3 credits) for CSIS 1800 Introduction to Computer and Information Sciences (3 credits)
- CSIS 2000 Introduction to Database Systems (3 credits)
- CSIS 2101 Fundamentals of Computer Programming (4 Credits)
- CSIS 3001 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3 Credits)
- CSIS 3020 Web Programming and Design (3 credits)
- CSIS 3023 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Computers (3 credits)
- CSIS 3500 Networks and Data Communication (3 credits)
- CSIS 4010 Computer Security (3 credits)
- CSIS 4351 Human-Computer Interaction (3 credits)
- TECH 3300 System Analysis and Design (3 Credits)
- TECH 3320 Technology Project Management (3 Credits)
- Substitute ISEC 635 Information Security Operations Management (3 credits) for TECH 4200 Cybersecurity Operation Management (3 Credits)
- Substitute ISEC 655 Information Security Governance (3 credits) for TECH 4220 Cybersecurity Governance (3 Credits)
- Substitute ISEC 675 Information System Auditing (3 credits) for TECH 4240 Cybersecurity Auditing (3 Credits)
- TECH 4900 Directed Project in Information Technology (3 credits)** OR TECH 4950 Internship in Information Technology (3 credits)**
* These courses count as six credits of the General Education Requirements.
** These courses can be counted only once, either as a core course or as a major elective;
only 3 credits of each of these courses may be applied to the major.
Major Electives (15 credits)
Select 15 credits from any TECH or CSIS courses not counted in the major.
Total 120 Credits
M.S. Cybersecurity Curriculum
Graduate Courses (18 Credits)
- MMIS 621 Information Systems Project Management (credits 3)
- MMIS 623 Ethics in Computing (credits 3)
- MSIT 630 Database Management and Applications (credits 3)
- MMIS 653 Telecommunications and Computer Networking (credits 3)
- MMIS 680 Human-Computer Interaction (credits 3)
- ISEC 695 Information Security Management Project (credits 3)
M.S. Courses
Students in this program may substitute up to 12 credits of M.S. Information Technology courses for B.S. Information Technology major requirements or major electives. See eligible courses below.
B.S. Information Technology Courses Required Before M.S. Enrollment
Students must complete the following courses before taking the 12 credits of M.S. in Information Technology courses:
- MATH 1200 Pre-calculus Algebra (or higher) (3 credits)
- MATH 2020 Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- CSIS 1800 Introduction to Computer and Information Sciences (3 credits)
- CSIS 2101 Fundamentals of Computer Programming (4 credits)
Students will then be eligible to complete the following M.S. courses (12 credits) towards the B.S. in Information Technology Degree:
- ISEC 615 Fundamentals of Cybersecurity (3 credits)
- MMIS 623 Ethics in Computing (3 credits)
- MMIS 653 Telecommunications and Computer Networking (3 credits)
- MSIT 630 Database Management and Applications (3 credits)
B.S. Information Technology Undergraduate Curriculum
First Year Seminar (3 credits)
General Education Requirements (30 credits)
Students are required to complete 30 credit hours as part of the General Education Program.
Major Requirements (40 credits)
- MATH 1200 Pre-calculus Algebra (or higher) (3 credits)
- MATH 2020 Applied Statistics (3 credits)
- CSIS 1800 Introduction to Computer and Information Sciences (3 credits)
- Substitute MSIT 630 Database Systems (3 credits) for CSIS 2000 Introduction to Database Systems (3 credits)
- CSIS 2101 Fundamentals of Computer Programming (4 credits)
- CSIS 3020 Web Programming and Design (3 credits)
- Substitute MMIS 623 Ethics in Computing (3 credits) for CSIS 3023 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Computers (3 credits)
- Substitute MMIS 653 Telecommunications and Computer Networks (3 credits) for CSIS 3500 Networks and Data Communication (3 credits)
- CSIS 4010 Computer Security (3 credits)
- CSIS 4311 Web Services and Systems (3 credits)
- CSIS 4351 Human-Computer Interaction (3 credits)
- CSIS 4501 Wireless Network Infrastructures (3 credits)
- TECH 4900 Directed Project in Information Technology (3 credits)* OR TECH 4950 Internship in Information Technology (3 credits)*
Major Electives (15 credits)
Substitute ISEC 615 Fundamentals of Cybersecurity (3 credits) for CSIS 3001 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3 Credits)
Select 12 credits from any TECH, CSIS, EENG, and CENG courses.
*Can be counted only once, either as a core course requirement or a major elective requirement
M.S. Information Technology Curriculum
Graduate Courses (18 Credits)
- MSIT 650 Platform Technologies (credits 3)
- MSIT 660 Software Development (credits 3)
Select an additional 12 credits from the courses below.
- MMIS 621 Information Systems Project Management (credits 3)
- MMIS 680 Human-Computer Interaction (credits 3)
- ISEC 635 Information Systems Operations Management (credits 3)
- ISEC 655 Information Security Governance (credits 3)
- SEC 675 Information System Auditing (credits 3)
- MMIS 671 Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (credits 3)
- MMIS 642 Data Warehousing (credits 3)
- MMIS 643 Data Mining (credits 3)
- MMIS 680 Human Computer Interaction (credits 3)
- MMIS 636 Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (credits 3)
- MMIS 644 UX Strategy for Social Media (credits 3)
- CISC 683 Object-oriented Design (credits 3)
- CISC 685 Interaction Design (credits 3)
- MMIS 621 Information Systems Project Management (credits 3)
- MSIT 675 Deep Learning (credits 3)
- ISEC 635 Information Systems Operations Management (credits 3)
- MMIS 636 Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (credits 3)
- MMIS 653 Telecommunication and Computer Networking (credits 3)
- MMIS 692 Data Analytics Project (credits 3)
- MMIS 690 Special Topics in Information Systems (credits 3)
- ISEC 695 Information Security Management Project (credits 3)
Why Choose a 3+1 Pathway Program?
Earn graduate credits while still an undergraduate and reduce your overall time to completion.
Graduate courses taken in year four apply to both degrees—allowing you to finish your M.S. with fewer credits and lower overall tuition.
Early access to advanced coursework prepares you for internships, full-time roles, and industry certifications.
Taking M.S. courses as a senior helps you adjust to the expectations of graduate-level work.