Plus 2 Integrated International Graduate Track

Plus 2 Integrated International Graduate Track in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Cybersecurity and Biomedical Informatics

The primary purpose of this program is to provide outstanding qualified undergraduate students from selected international partner universities to join the College of IS&T with an option to complete the graduate degrees (MS) in Biomedical Informatics, Computer Science, Cybersecurity and Management Information Systems starting at UNO in the fourth or senior year of their home-based undergraduate program in computing disciplines.

This graduate degree pathway is designed for dedicated students who have successfully completed the necessary background coursework, are highly motivated, and willing to take on early the challenges relating to graduate education. As such, the program involves both intensive study and preparation in the relevant computing field.

Rationale for Program

The vision of the iIGT-IS&T program aligns very well with the overall NU and UNO campus priorities of emphasizing graduate education, STEM areas, and Globalization. Furthermore, the proposed program will directly help UNO with its campus goal to achieve 20,000 students by 2020.

Our international partner schools in Southeast Asia (e.g. China, India, Korea), Europe (e.g. Norway, Germany, and Austria), and potential new partners in Latin America have indicated a strong interest in integrating their undergraduate degrees with IS&T’s graduate IT programs. There is great interest in sending highly qualified senior undergraduate students for study in the USA, and in particular in the College of IS&T at UNO. Such integrated study from their perspective provides several advantages for selected students:

Qualified foreign students are given an opportunity to complete their BS at their home institutions while doing an MS in the College of IS&T in a shorter time frame by taking their 4^th year classes at the graduate level at UNO.
The students will benefit from their association with other traditional graduate students whose level of work and whose intensity of interest and commitment parallel their own.
The program permits coherent planning of studies through the graduate degree for this select group of students, with collaborative advising covering not only the requirements of the baccalaureate program at their home institution but also the longer-range goals of the graduate degree at UNO.
The students have the opportunity to have earlier contact with the rigors of graduate study and with graduate faculty.
The resources of the Graduate School at UNO are accessible to these students.
Studying abroad at UNO for 2 years allows these students to get accustomed to the pedagogical approaches used at UNO and immerse themselves in the subject matter at a higher level, understand and appreciate another culture, and also potentially participate in applied capstone projects and thesis in a focused domain – the latter feature is, in particular, a feature of interest to Southeast Asian universities that tend to be more theoretical in their pedagogical approach.

Program of Study

The iIGT track is a traditional two year (30-36 credit hour) graduate track that allows selected eligible students to work towards their graduate (MS) degree requirements while satisfying requirements for completing their undergraduate degree from their home institution. A sequence of courses (plan of study) sample for the three IS&T MS degree programs are provided in Attachments I (CSCI), II (MIS), III (CYBR), and IV (BMI).

General Guidelines

Time of admission to the program: Students will be eligible for admission to this international graduate track when they have completed their third year at their home institution. Students will need to apply for consideration in the last part of their third or junior year through their home institution. No direct solicitation from students will be entertained. Students will start taking courses in the graduate program in the fourth year of their home institution. After one year at UNO, the student’s home institution will ensure transfer of credits for award of their Bachelor’s degree. Students will only be allowed to continue in the 2^nd year of MS programs at UNO’s CIST after written certification is obtained from the students’ home institution of the undergraduate degree completion.

Plan of study: Students without exception will follow a recommended plan of study as closely as possible for their chosen program. The plan will cover the entire time period of the program and it will be periodically reviewed with a graduate advisor.

Advising: Once admitted, students will work in close consultation with the UNO graduate advisor.

Tuition charges: Students will be required to pay 150% of in-state graduate tuition rates, plus appropriate UNO fees, plus an additional IS&T-based program management fee of $750 per student when taking graduate courses at UNO. The program management fees will include costs associated with the coordination of student curricular advising, housing arrangements, and cultural and corporate field visits during the semester.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

Students with junior or 3^rd year or 6^th semester standing and at least 90 UNO semester credit hours or equivalent of completed coursework in their undergraduate degree program may apply for admission consideration into the international graduate track in the college of IS&T’s graduate programs. The undergraduate degree must be in an appropriate computing related discipline. The sending institution will nominate the students for this program each year (nomination form). Once the nomination is accepted by the college, students will apply online through UNO’s graduate application process and select the appropriate graduate program – CYBR, MIS, CSCI or BMI.
At the time of application, a student must have an equivalent undergraduate GPA in their major area greater than or equal to 3.50 and an overall GPA of 3.25 or above. (This is on a 4.00 scale).
Interested students will be required to submit a “portfolio” of the following credentials through their designated campus representative. Students will clearly identify whether they are applying for the Plus 2 Track in the MS in CSC or MS in MIS or MS in CYBR or other new areas of graduate study offered by the College of IS&T. The respective graduate program committee will serve as a selection committee for this special program. The respective program GPC shall designate their GPC Chair and/or Graduate Advisor as their primary point of contact for this process.
1. Two letters of recommendation, at least one from a faculty member and one from the student’s primary departmental head recommending them to this special program.
2. Statement of intent—a personal statement about why the student wishes to apply for a graduate degree not to exceed 500 words.
3. GRE/GMAT will be waived for recommended students from the select partner schools.
4. Official undergraduate transcript.
5. TOEFL score of 57 or more (iBT or equivalent).
6. One writing sample – a project or paper can be submitted as a sample.
7. A detailed résumé
All applicants will need to meet any other admission requirements established for the relevant CIST graduate program and satisfy all prerequisites necessary to succeed in the graduate program.

Other Requirements

The application to this special international graduate track will be considered as a complete package and therefore obtaining a high undergraduate GPA is not a guarantee of admission.
Transfer credits to the home institution for the award of the BS degree or equivalent will be the responsibility of the students and their undergraduate institutions.
Students applying to this track must be recommended by their undergraduate institutions that have signed partnership agreements with the college of IS&T.
Students must submit a Bachelor’s transcript or similar completion certificate (degree or letter of degree award) from their home institution prior to starting their second year in their MS program at UNO.