Mar 26, 2025  
2025-2026 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2025-2026 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog

Computer Science, MS


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The Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science degree program is designed to prepare students 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 Requirements


In addition to the general application and admission requirements  of the Graduate School, admission to the MS in Computer Science degree program 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 a curriculum vitae. Applicants may submit an optional statement of purpose describing their interest in the program and applicable research/publication/professional work experience.

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 the following courses:

If the above courses are required, no more than 6 credit 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.

Degree Requirements


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

  • Coursework Track: students must complete 33 credit hours of graduate coursework
  • Project Track: students must complete 33 credit hours of graduate coursework which 3 credit hours are special project credit, CSCE 590  
  • Thesis Track: a student must complete 24 hours of graduate coursework and must earn 6 credit hours of thesis credit, CSCE 599  

These degree requirements may increase up to 12 additional credit hours (foundation courses) depending on the undergraduate courses previously completed. If required, no more than 6 credit 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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