4-and-1 program for JMU Computer Science students

JMU has partnered with the Virginia Tech College of Engineering to help our students pursue an accelerated Masters of Engineering (MEng). Currently, enrolled students can be prepared for early admission to Virginia Tech’s MEng degree in Computer Science and Applications (CSA) as early as spring of their junior year.  

Once accepted, CS students can take up to 6 credits during their senior year that can count toward their CS graduation requirements at JMU and as graduate credits toward their MEng degree at VT. 

Once students begin their MEng degree at VT, they can complete their coursework for the MEng degree in as few as 12 months: a fall, spring, and summer semester with a 9-credit course load. 

How to Apply

James Madison University students can apply to the CSA MEng in the second semester of their third year.

To apply students will need: 

  • Minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA in the last 60 hours of Bachelor's coursework
  • Statement of purpose, including career objectives
  • A resume
  • One letter of reference 
  • Official transcripts

VT is offering a fee waiver, so contact the CS Advisor, Paige Normand, for details. Students do not need to take the GREs to apply to the VT program.

After you submit your application

Students will need to complete and submit the Collaborative UG/G Degree and Course Designation Form. This will indicate the courses that you intend to take during the Collaborative UG/G period. This form will be reviewed and signed by the Virginia Tech Computer Science and Applications (CSA) department graduate program director and an appropriate authority at James Madison University. 

The signed Collaborative UG/G Status and Course Designation form will be sent to the Virginia Tech Graduate School for processing. This completed form and the computer science and applications department admission recommendation with review from an appropriate authority at James Madison University are required before an admission decision can be finalized by the Virginia Tech Graduate School.

Once accepted into the accelerated MEng CSA program 

The student can take up to 6 credit hours of 400-level coursework that will count toward their MEng during the last academic year (senior status equivalent) and earn a “B” from the following list of eligible courses for transfer to the MEng computer science and applications degree program.   

 

JMU courses that have equivalencies for the VT MEng CSA program

JMU Course

VT Equivalent

CS 430: Programming Languages

CS4XXX Generic Elective

CS 432: Compiler Construction

CS4304:  Compiler Design and Implementation

CS 452: Design and Analysis of Algorithms

CS4104: Data and Algorithm Analysis

CS 470: Parallel and Distributed Computing

CS4234: Parallel Computation

CS 444: Artificial Intelligence 

CS4804: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

CS 445: Machine Learning

CS4824: Machine Learning

CS 456: Computer Architecture

CS4XXX Generic Elective

CS 457: Information Security

CS4264: Principles of Computer Security

CS 458: Cyber Defense 

CS4XXX Generic Elective

CS 488: Computer Graphics Applications

CS4204: Computer Graphics

For questions or more information regarding the Virginia Tech MEng degree program in Blacksburg, contact the Assistant Director of Graduate Recruitment, Luisa Burgos,  luisab93@vt.edu

For questions or more information regarding what courses to take in preparation for admission into the Virginia Tech MEng degree program, please contact the James Madison University Computer Science Advisor,  Paige Normand.

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