Computer Science, MS

Admission Requirements

All applicants for admission to the graduate program in computer science must meet the university requirements for graduate admission as published in the Graduate Bulletin. In addition to these requirements, the applicant must also:

  • hold a baccalaureate degree in computer science or a related discipline;
  • three letters of recommendation;
  • statement of purpose;
  • resume;
  • successfully completed coursework in calculus: equivalent to MATH:221 Analytic Geometry-Calculus I and MATH:222 Analytic Geometry-Calculus II;
  • successfully completed coursework in computer science: Data structures and algorithms, Discrete math, and Programming.

Highly qualified students lacking preparation in a certain area may be considered for provisional admission.

Applications to the master's program in Computer Science are accepted on a rolling basis.

Degree Requirements

The master's degree program in Computer Science combines courses in computer science principles and practice. The program provides the student with a solid computer science background in preparation for governmental or industrial employment or for continued study at the Ph.D. level in computer science.

The program requires 30 credits of graduate coursework, and most full-time students admitted into the program will complete the degree requirements in two years. 

The program has two optional concentrations: Data Science concentration and Software and Systems concentration. Students in the Data Science concentration should complete at least nine credits in the Data Science course group, and students in the Software and Systems concentration should complete nine credits in the Software and Systems course group.

Thesis Option

Required Courses9
CPSC:601Research Methodology
CPSC:698Master's Research
CPSC:699Master's Thesis
Electives (600-Level Courses) 112
Select 12 credits in approved 600-level courses
Electives (500 and 600-Level Courses)9
Select nine credits in approved 500 or 600-level courses
Total Hours30

The thesis must be of publishable quality and must be successfully presented at a public defense moderated by three full time Graduate Faculty (two of which must be from Computer Science).

Non-thesis Option

Required Course3
CPSC:601Research Methodology
Electives (600-Level Courses) 115
Select 15 credits in approved 600-level courses
Electives (500 and 600-Level Courses)12
Select 12 credits in approved 500 or 600-level courses
Total Hours30

Optional Data Science Concentration

Select at least nine credits from the following courses:
CPSC:635Advanced Algorithms3
CPSC:636Graph Analytics3
CPSC:658Visualization3
CPSC:676Data Mining3
CPSC:677Parallel Processing3
CPSC:678Data Integration3

Optional Software and Systems Concentration

Select at least nine credits from the following courses:
CPSC:630Advanced Theory of Programming Languages3
CPSC:631Abstract Machines3
CPSC:635Advanced Algorithms3
CPSC:641Optimization for Parallel Compilers3
CPSC:653Software Security3
CPSC:677Parallel Processing3
CPSC:680Software Engineering Methodologies3