Computer Science, MS

The Department of Computer Science offers a program leading to the Master of Science in Computer Science. Courses at the graduate level and the undergraduate courses required for admission to the graduate program are regularly offered in the late afternoon or evening to enable students from local industry to continue their studies.

Learning Outcomes

The candidate must have a broad knowledge of computer science, covering a variety of fundamental areas (like operating systems, design and analysis of algorithms and theoretical aspects of computability). This broad background can be a result of a combination of undergraduate and graduate course work.

The candidate must be able to read, understand, and evaluate professional literature in computer science.
The candidate must be able to write technical reports and software project documentation
The candidate must be able to make oral presentations of technical information.
The candidate is expected to have in-depth knowledge of at least one area of computer science, including the topic of the candidate’s thesis or project.

Admission Requirements

An overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0. In special cases a student may be admitted with a lower grade point average as a provisional degree student. Students with an average below 3.0 who completed their undergraduate degree a significant number of years ago will also be considered on an individual basis. Students with grade point average deficiencies who take several undergraduate courses to meet entrance background requirements will have their performance in those courses considered in making the admission decision. Students who recently earned an undergraduate degree in computer science with a grade point average below 3.0 may be asked to take the general GRE before they can be considered for admission. The Graduate Studies Committee will make the admissions decision on an individual basis.
Four semesters of mathematics courses: two semesters of university calculus, a course in discrete mathematics and one additional course of a mathematical nature.
Courses in computer science equivalent to the following courses: Principles of Computer Science (Java or C++), Data Structures and Algorithms, Programming in UNIX, Programming in C, Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming, Concepts of Programming Languages, and Software Engineering. A student who has completed the requirements for Principles in Computer Science and Data Structures and Algorithms but not the other computer science prerequisites could be admitted, but would still be required to take the unfulfilled prerequisites after admission. Students lacking four or more courses should register as an unclassified student until the courses are completed.
Additional requirements may be specified by the Graduate School.

Application forms may be obtained in the Computer Science Office.

Additional Degree Requirements

Graduate course work must include CS 5500 (Operating Systems I), CS 5700 (Computability, Automata, and Formal Languages) and CS 5720 (Design and Analysis of Algorithms), if they have not been taken previously.
Up to 6 semester hours of graduate courses can be taken from other departments if first approved by the student’s MS Advisory Committee.
At most four computer science courses may be taken that are cross-listed. Note that the three required courses are cross-listed; if taken, they are counted among the four.
After completion of 24 credit hours, a student must be continuously enrolled; a student has a maximum of six years to complete the program.

See also Graduate Degree Requirements for EAS and the Graduate School requirements .