Fast Track - Erik Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science at The University of Texas at Dallas

Fast Track

About the Jonsson School Fast-Track Program

The Fast-Track program enables well-qualified senior undergraduate students to include master’s level courses in their undergraduate degree plans and gain automatic admission to graduate school at UT Dallas. In the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, students can pursue graduate degrees in Biomedical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering (MSEN), Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering, and Systems Engineering and Management (SEM).

The Fast-Track program is designed to accelerate a student’s education so that both BS and MS degrees can be earned in approximately five years of full-time study. When Fast-Track students graduate with a bachelor’s degree, they are automatically admitted to graduate school at UT Dallas without need to take the Graduate Records Exam (GRE). Fast-Track participants may take up to 15 graduate semester credit hours that may be used to complete the baccalaureate degree and also to satisfy requirements for the master’s degree if these courses are completed with grades of B or better.

Guidelines >>

The admission standards, the requirements to remain in the program, and the procedures to be followed by Fast-Track participants are dependent on the academic program:

Beginning with applications for Summer 2021 and beyond, the following conditions for the required benchmark courses apply:

Biomedical Engineering: Up to 3 benchmark classes may be taken as CR/NC.

Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Telecommunications Engineering: 1 out of 6 benchmark classes may be taken as CR/NC.

Computer Science, Software Engineering: Up to 3 benchmark classes may be taken as CR/NC.

Materials Science and Engineering: 1 out of 6 benchmark classes may be taken as CR/NC.

Mechanical Engineering: No benchmark classes may be taken as CR/NC.

Systems Engineering and Management: 1 out of 6 benchmark classes may be taken as CR/NC. If a student has taken 2 out of 6 benchmark classes, these may be considered on a case-by-case basis using other factors such as overall GPA, performance in other key classes, etc.

Application Process >>

Check admission requirements to see if you qualify for admission to Fast-Track (see Guidelines )
- Please review the required guidelines for your intended department. Incomplete applications and applications that do not meet the minimum guidelines will NOT be accepted.
Consult the graduate catalog for the requirements of the graduate program you are interested in; discuss tentative course selections with the appropriate graduate advisor.
Discuss how the graduate classes fit your undergraduate degree requirements with your undergraduate advisor.
Complete the Application form (link to below list of application forms) and submit to undergraduate advisor during application timeframe.
The Graduate program will notify you of their decision after the application is reviewed by the department and Graduate Dean. You can expect to be notified shortly before the start of the term you are applying into.

Note: This will require you to enroll in undergraduate classes only during early registration. Your schedule may be updated at a later time if you are accepted into your chosen Fast-Track program.

Applications Timeframe

SPRING ADMISSION	LATE SPRING ADMISSION	SUMMER/FALL ADMISSION	LATE SUMMER/ FALL ADMISSION
(benchmark courses completed prior to Fall semester)	(completing benchmark courses during Fall semester)	(benchmark courses completed prior to Spring semester)	(completing benchmark courses during Spring semester)
Submit application between October 10 and October 21	Submit application after Fall grades have posted Dates TBA	Submit application between March 10 and March 21	Submit application between May 15 and May 20

Application Forms

Taking Graduate Courses >>

Process for undergraduate students enrolling in graduate courses:

Students who are admitted into a Fast-Track program will be contacted by their Graduate Program Head/ Advisor and will be required to attend an orientation before their semester of admission.
Student must complete the Petition for Undergraduate Student to Take Graduate Course(s) form to register for graduate courses.
Note: All signatures are required before the petition form can be processed.
- A guide for completing the petition form can be found HERE.
- A new form must be completed each semester in which an undergraduate student requests to take a graduate course.
The completed petition form should be submitted to the student’s Undergraduate Advisor for their signature.
- Students who selected Option A or Option B will be enrolled by the Undergraduate Advisor.
- Petition forms for students who selected Option C will be forwarded to the Registrar’s office for enrollment.

Important Information for undergraduate students regarding registering for graduate courses:

Students must be admitted to a Fast-Track program to be eligible to enroll in graduate courses as an undergraduate student.
Requirements to enroll in graduate courses are determined by each graduate program/school in conjunction with the Office of Graduate Studies. Criteria and list of courses approved are available from the Graduate Program Head/ Advisor.
All coursework must apply to either a student’s undergraduate or approved graduate degree program.
Students are recommended to take a maximum course load of 15 hours in a single semester while participating in Fast-Track (up to 6 hours of which can be graduate hours approved by graduate advising through the petition process referenced in point 2).
- Note: No Fast-Track student will be granted a unit maximum limit waiver.

Undergraduates have three options when registering for graduate courses:

Options	Course applies to UNDERGRAD degree	Course applies to GRADUATE degree
Option A Undergraduate Only	X
Option B Fast-Track	X	X
Option C Graduate Only		X

Regardless of option selected, Fast-Track students cannot exceed 15 hours of graduate course work prior to graduating with their bachelor’s degree

Option A	Option B	Option C
Undergraduate Only Maximum of 12 hours allowed within this option. Students must indicate this option on their petition form. The Undergraduate Academic Advisor will register students for Option A classes once the petition form has been completed and signed by all required parties	Fast-Track Maximum of 15 hours allowed with this option. Students must indicate this option on their petition form. The designation CANNOT be changed after a student’s undergraduate degree has been certified. The Undergraduate Academic Advisor will register students for Option B classes once the petition form has been completed and signed by all required parties.	Graduate Only Maximum of 12 hours allowed with this option. Students must indicate this option on their petition form and once enrolled, the designation cannot be changed. The Registrar’s Office will register students for Option C classes once the petition form has been completed and signed by all required parties. Students will need to bring the signed form to the Student Services Building (SSB) or email the Registrar’s Office directly to complete registration.

Option A

Option B

Option C

Undergraduate Only

Maximum of 12 hours allowed within this option.
Students must indicate this option on their petition form.
The Undergraduate Academic Advisor will register students for Option A classes once the petition form has been completed and signed by all required parties

Fast-Track

Maximum of 15 hours allowed with this option.
Students must indicate this option on their petition form.
The designation CANNOT be changed after a student’s undergraduate degree has been certified.
The Undergraduate Academic Advisor will register students for Option B classes once the petition form has been completed and signed by all required parties.

Graduate Only

Maximum of 12 hours allowed with this option.
Students must indicate this option on their petition form and once enrolled, the designation cannot be changed.
The Registrar’s Office will register students for Option C classes once the petition form has been completed and signed by all required parties.
Students will need to bring the signed form to the Student Services Building (SSB) or email the Registrar’s Office directly to complete registration.