Welcoming 3-Year Bachelor Degree Students

Many overseas students have completed 3-year bachelor degrees instead of 4-year degrees. We believe that 3-year degree students can excel in the MS programs within NJIT's Information Systems Department, and we are now giving them this opportunity.  This opportunity is primarily for students with scientific, engineering, mathematics or technically-oriented  bachelor degrees.   Students with primarily humanities-oriented degrees should contact us.

Information Systems MS  Programs for 3-Year Bachelor Degree Students

This arrangement applies to the following MS programs:

• MS in Information Systems (MS IS)
• MS in Business and Information Systems (MS BIS)
• MS in Emergency Management and Business Continuity (MS EMBC)

When accepted, 3-year degree students will have two stages of study.  During the pre-MS stage they will complete a 3-course humanities bridge, which will strengthen their communication skills. If they pass each humanities course with a numeric grade of 3.0 or better, then they automatically enter the second stage of taking regular MS courses.

Some applicants also will require some or all of the standard MS bridge program of technical, math and/or accounting courses.   Applicants requiring any of these can take them during either stage of study.  You will be assigned these automatically as part of your acceptance to NJIT.

Humanities Bridge

Students must take any 3 of the following courses.   At least one course must be ENG 336, ENG 352 or ENG 521 to ensure students have at least one writing course.  A maximum of one course may focus primarily on ethics (such as IS 350, STS 350, or PHIL 334).  STS courses may not focus on technology or new media.

• ENG 336 (Advanced Composition)
• ENG 340 (Oral Communication)
• ENG 352 (Technical Writing)
• ENG 360 (Collaborative Communication)
• ENG 502 (English for International graduate Students)
• ENG 521 (Technical, Written and Oral Communication)
• IS/STS 350 (Computers, Society and Ethics)
• Any 300 or 400 level course from History, Literature, Philosophy, or Science, Technology and Society (STS)

Ensuring Quality

Students must have had analogous success in their undergraduate program as 4-year bachelor degree applicants to be accepted.  For example, as with students with 4-year bachelor degrees from India, students will only be accepted into this program if they have achieved 1st Class performance in a 3-year Indian degree program.  Furthermore, because they must pass the first stage humanities bridge courses with a 3.0 and achieve the standard threshold GRE scores before final acceptance into the MS degree, this will ensure that students are adequately prepared for MS coursework.

Application Process

Students apply to the MS programs using the same application materials and process whether they have a 3-year or 4 year bachelors degree. 

IN ADDITION, you MUST also email is@njit.edu after you have submitted your application and inform us that you are applying as a 3-year degree student.  Include the full name you used on your application as part of your email message.

GRE and TOEFL Exams

Applicants with 3-year bachelor degrees from India, who already live in the United States and have received permanent residence status are permitted to defer their GRE exams until after they have taken the humanities bridge courses.  All other students must take the GRE (and TOEFL) exams before applying to NJIT.

Further Information

For further information, please contact Dr. George Olsen at is@njit.edu