Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Computer Science, MS


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The Master of Science degree program in Computer Science is designed to prepare a person for a career in the computing field. Areas of emphasis in the program include: artificial intelligence; big data analytics; cloud and heterogeneous computing; computer graphics and virtual reality; computer systems and architectures; data mining and information retrieval; distributed and parallel computing; health and bioinformatics; machine learning; programming languages and software engineering; networks and mobile computing; and security.

Three tracks are offered in the program: coursework, project, and thesis.

Admission and Prerequisites


In addition to the general admission requirements of the Graduate School, admission to the Master of Science degree program in Computer Science requires that the four-year, undergraduate bachelor’s degree be in computer science, computer or electrical engineering, math, physics, or a related field of study. To be considered for admission to this program, applicants also are required to provide official results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); official scores must be sent directly from the test administrator to the Graduate School.

Students admitted to the program are expected to have knowledge of certain undergraduate computer science topics, including computer architecture, programming languages, operating systems, and database management systems. Additionally, software design and data structures, assembly language programming, and discrete mathematics and logic design are regarded as prerequisites for admission to graduate study in computer science. Foundation work will be required of students who enter with an inadequate background in these areas and may require completion of CMPS 430G  or CSCE 530 , CMPS 450G  or CSCE 550 , CMPS 455G  or CSCE 555 , and CMPS 460G  or CSCE 561  or CSCE 566 . If required, no more than 6 semester hours of 400G-level foundation coursework may be applied toward the degree.

Computer-related mathematics is also regarded as a prerequisite for admission. It is expected that those admitted will have completed, at minimum, two undergraduate courses in college-level differential and integral calculus as well as one course in applied statistics and probability.

Course Requirements


Students pursuing the MS degree program in Computer Science pursue one of three tracks:

  • Coursework track: a student must complete 33 semester hours of graduate course work.
  • Project track: a student must complete 33 semester hours of which 3 hours are special project credit CSCE 590 .
  • Thesis track: a student must complete 24 hours of course work and must earn 6 hours of thesis credit CSCE 599 .

These degree requirements may increase up to 12 additional semester hours (foundation courses) depending on the undergraduate courses previously completed. If required, no more than 6 semester hours of 400G-level foundation coursework may be applied toward the degree.

Foundation Courses


Coursework Track (33 Hours)


Project Track (33 Hours)


Thesis Track (30 Hours)


Notes


All tracks must complete three semesters of graduate seminar CSCE 595 - Graduate Seminar , a one-hour current research and results seminar course. These courses are not applicable to the graduate degree requirements above.

Students must receive a grade of B or better in any course applicable toward the degree.

Six hours of 600-level CSCE courses (with the exception of CSCE 699 ) may be taken and applied toward the degree as elective coursework provided that all other requirements are met.

Six hours may, with the approval of the Graduate Coordinator, be taken in a related discipline other than computer science.

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