All students must meet the Requirements for the Master's Degree
Overview
The M.S. program in Computer Science offers thesis, project, and course work only options. Acceptance into thesis or project options is conditional upon the student finding an eligible advisor who agrees to supervise the thesis or project. Please see the Department of Computer Science website for current research interests of the department's faculty.
Specific Requirements
Requirements for Admission to Graduate Studies for the Degree of Master of Science
A bachelor's degree in computer science or a related discipline is required for admission. Students should also demonstrate that they have taken the following courses or have equivalent knowledge:
| 2 courses that treat systematic program development in a high-level language, for example: | ||
| CS 1210 | Computer Programming I | 3 |
| CS 2100 | Intermediate Programming | 4 |
| 1 course in computer system organization, for example: | ||
| CS 2210 | Computer Organization | 3 |
| 1 course in data structures, for example: | ||
| CS 2240 | Data Struc & Algorithms | 3 |
| 1 course in computability and complexity, for example: | ||
| CS 2250 | Computability& Complexity | 3 |
| 2 courses in differential and integral calculus, for example: | ||
| MATH 1234 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 1248 | Calculus II | 4 |
| 1 course in linear algebra: | ||
| MATH 2522 | Applied Linear Algebra | 3 |
| Coursework in probability and statistics, for example: | ||
| STAT 2430 | Statistics for Engineering | 3 |
| STAT 2510 | Applied Probability | 3 |
Applicants who have strong academic records but lack 1 or more of these prerequisites may be accepted provisionally. Provisionally accepted students will be required to complete an approved program of remedial work within their first year of study.
Applicants whose native language is not English or whose formal education has been conducted in a language other than English must have a Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL) score of 90 (Internet-based test) or above or an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or above. To be considered for financial assistantship from the university, applicants must have an iBT TOEFL score of 100 or an IELTS score of 7.0 or above.
Minimum Degree Requirements
| Option A (Thesis) | ||
| 30 credits, including a minimum of 21 credits of approved course work, at least 6 of which must be at the 6000-level, and a minimum of 6 credits of thesis research (CS 6391) | 30 | |
| Option B (Project) | ||
| 30 credits, including a minimum of 24 credits of approved course work, at least 6 of which must be at the 6000-level, and a minimum of 3 credits of project research (CS 6392) | 30 | |
| Option C (Non-Thesis) | ||
| 30 credits of approved course work, at least 6 of which must be at the 6000-level | 30 | |
| All Options | ||
| Students in all options must take 4 other core Computer Science Courses, to be determined in consultation with and approval of the student’s graduate advisor and the CS graduate coordinator, depending on a student’s background and interests | ||
| Pass comprehensive exams covering material from the 4 approved core courses | ||
| Fulfill the credit requirement with approved graduate-level course work in computer science or related areas. (Only courses with grades of B- or above are counted towards course work requirements and students with 2 grades below B are eligible for dismissal.) | ||
Comprehensive Examination
Students must demonstrate mastery of the material by one of four possible routes: an oral exam, a written exam, a paper, or a portfolio. The exact format will be decided upon by the Curriculum Committee in consultation with the student. The Curriculum Committee will also designate three relevant faculty who will create the exam and or specify the format and content area of the paper and assess the student’s performance.
Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Science
Passing of the comprehensive examination.