COMBINED BACHELOR/MASTER PROGRAMS
At CPS, you can accelerate your education journey.
BIS/MS IN HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
BIS/MPA or BA/MPA IN
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
BIS/MS IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
BIS/MAC or MBT IN ACCOUNTING
The combined Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (BIS) to Master's Degree (MS or MPA) programs offer exceptional College of Professional Studies (CPS) students the opportunity to continue their education in one of five Villanova graduate programs - the Master of Science in Human Resource Development (MSHRD), the Master of Public Administration (MPA), the Master of Science in Software Engineering (MSSE), the Master of Accounting in Data Analytics (MAC), or the Master of Business Taxation with Data Analytics (MBT).
If interested, you are encouraged to contact your CPS academic advisor. If you are qualified, you will need to complete the required formal notification process leading to your admission into the graduate program.
As a BIS/MS student, you will either earn your:
- MS in HRD in conjunction with your BIS in General Studies, Human Resource Management, Leadership, or Organizational Development and Management, or
- MPA in Public Administration in conjunction with your BIS or BA in Public Service Administration, Leadership, Organizational Development & Management, or General Studies
- MS in Software Engineering in conjunction with your BIS in Information Systems
- MAC (Master of Accounting in Data Analytics or MBT (Master of Business Taxation with Data Analytics) in conjunction with your BIS in Information Systems, ODM, or Entrepreneurship
The BIS/MS in Human Resource Development program offers qualified CPS students in the BIS in General Studies, Human Resource Management, Leadership, or Organizational Development and Management programs an educational path to prepare for a career in the field of human resources. As a BIS/MS student, you will earn an MS in HRD in conjunction with a BIS degree in an abbreviated timeframe.
Students are encouraged to discuss plans with their academic advisor early in their academic career. After determining that they meet all eligibility requirements students can begin the application process through Slate.
To be eligible for the combined degree program, students must have:
- General Studies, Leadership or Organizational Development and Management Major
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Completion of 90 or more credits
- Completion of all core curriculum courses
Application Requirements
- Unofficial undergraduate transcripts (uploaded on the Academic History page in application)
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Statement of Goals (1-2 pages)
- Resume
Once admitted into the BIS/MS program, students must adhere to all Graduate School policies on Combined Bachelor/Masters Programs. To register for a graduate level course, students must submit a "Permission to Enter a Graduate Course" form on MyNova. Upon departmental approval, students can enroll in three graduate HRD courses during their final undergraduate year. Only grades of B or higher will be counted toward the graduate degree. In addition, students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA according to the grading system and GPA policy. You must choose three courses from the five listed below:
- *HRD 8006 HR Analytics
- *HRD 8419 Foundations of Strategic HR
- *PSY 8425 Organizational Behavior
- *PSY 8475 Training & Development
- *PSY 8875 Organization Development
*These courses are required courses in the MS in HRD program. The remaining graduate courses required for the MS in HRD can be taken in the summer after the senior year and following graduation.
There is no change in requirements for the undergraduate major in General Studies, Leadership, or Organizational Development and Management; the same number of credits and the same required courses are still in place. The only difference is that we will apply the three graduate courses described above toward either your major course requirements or your free electives course requirements.
Application Deadlines
To begin graduate courses:
- Next Spring: October 15th
- Next summer: March 15th
- Next Fall: March 15th
The combined BIS/MPA or BA/MPA in Public Administration program offers exemplary students majoring in Public Service Administration, Leadership, Organizational Development & Management, or General Studies the opportunity to continue their study at the graduate level. As a BIS/MPA or BA/MPA student, you will earn your MPA (Master of Public Administration) in conjunction with a BIS or BA degree in an abbreviated timeframe.
Students are encouraged to discuss plans with their academic advisor early in their academic career. After determining that they meet all eligibility requirements students can begin the application process through Slate.
To be eligible, students must have:
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Major GPA of 3.2 or higher
- Completion of all core curriculum courses
Application Requirements
- Unofficial undergraduate transcripts (uploaded on the Academic History page of the application
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Resume
Once admitted into the BIS/MPA or BA/MPA program, students will enroll in three graduate MPA courses (typically during their senior year). To register for graduate level courses, students must submit the “Permission to Enter a Graduate Course” form on MyNova. Only courses with grades of B or higher count toward both the undergraduate degree and the MPA degree.
The four courses listed below will count toward both the BA/BIS degree and MPA:
- MPA 8011: Public Administration Theory
- MPA 8021: Leadership Ethics
- MPA 8041: Public Personnel Management
- MPA 8051: Applied Data Analysis
There is no change in requirements for the undergraduate majors; the same number of credits and required courses are still in place. The only difference is that we will apply the three graduate courses described above toward free electives.
Application Deadlines
To begin graduate courses:
- Next Spring: October 15th
- Next summer: March 15th
- Next Fall: March 15th
The combined BIS/MS in Software Engineering program offers exemplary students majoring in BIS (Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies) in Information Systems the opportunity to continue their study of systems concepts at the graduate level. As a BIS/MS student, you will earn your MS (Master of Science) in Software Engineering in conjunction with a BIS in Information Systems degree in an abbreviated timeframe.
To be eligible, students must have:
- Computer Science major with sophomore academic status
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Computer science major GPA or 3.5 or higher
Application Requirements
- Unofficial undergraduate transcripts (uploaded on the Academic History page of the application)
- 2 Letters of recommendation
- Statement of Goals
Once admitted into the BIS/MS program, students must adhere to all Graduate School policies on
The two courses
- CSC 8490 Database Management
- CSC 8540 Software Engineering
- You may also get approval to take an additional Computing Science graduate course as part of the combined degree. Please note that undergraduate students are only permitted to take nine credits of graduate work to double count. Any additional courses will only count toward the student's undergraduate degree.
There is no change in requirements for the undergraduate major in Information Systems; the same number of credits and required courses are still in place. The only difference is that we will apply the two or three graduate courses described above toward either your major course requirements or your free electives course requirements.
Application Deadlines
To begin graduate courses:
- Next Spring: October 15th
- Next summer: March 15th
- Next Fall: March 15th
Students are offered the opportunity to transition from the bachelor's degree studies in CPS into the Master of Accounting program with Villanova School of business with the following stipulations:
- Complete your major in CPS in Information Systems and Technology, Organizational Development and Management, or Entrepreneurship.
- As an undergraduate student at Villanova, take four core accounting courses offered at VSB: Intermediate I, Intermediate II, Federal Taxation, and Auditing. These courses will count as elective choices within the degree program, and students may also earn an Accountancy Certificate if they complete the requisite coursework.
- Prior to taking these courses, you should complete a basic finance, financial accounting, and managerial accounting course at the community college, at Villanova, or at another four-year institution, typically with a grade of “B” or better).
- While enrolled in your bachelor’s degree, you are expected to earn at least a “B” or better in the four core accounting courses and maintain a 3.0 overall GPA in order to move into one of the two graduate accounting programs.
- While pursuing your bachelor’s degree, you will be invited to participate in firm recruiting events and student groups, as well as interview for internships.
- Students who are accepted to the BIS/MAC program will receive a $14,000 tuition scholarship ($7,000 per semester) for their graduate study.
Students are offered the opportunity to transition from the bachelor's degree studies in CPS into the Master of Business Taxation program with Villanova School of business with the following stipulations:
- Complete your major in CPS in Information Systems and Technology, Organizational Development and Management, or Entrepreneurship.
- As an undergraduate student at Villanova, take four core accounting courses offered at VSB: Intermediate I, Intermediate II, Federal Taxation, and Auditing. These courses will count as elective choices within the degree program, and students may also earn an Accountancy Certificate if they complete the requisite coursework.
- Prior to taking these courses, you should complete a basic finance, financial accounting, and managerial accounting course at the community college, at Villanova, or at another four-year institution, typically with a grade of “B” or better).
- While enrolled in your bachelor’s degree, you are expected to earn at least a “B” or better in the four core accounting courses and maintain a 3.0 overall GPA in order to move into one of the two graduate accounting programs.
- While pursuing your bachelor’s degree, you will be invited to participate in firm recruiting events and student groups, as well as interview for internships.
- Students who are accepted to the BIS/MBT program will receive a $14,000 tuition scholarship ($7,000 per semester) for their graduate study.