Master of Science (M.S.) Program

The M.S. program combines a firm grounding in theoretical foundations with training in current technologies and applications. The program also incorporates research experience and depth in a chosen area of concentration. The M.S. degree requires 30 course credits with at least eight advanced courses in computer science or a related field, chosen to satisfy breadth and depth requirements. M.S. candidates also complete a research project or thesis under the supervision of a faculty member. M.S. students participate in a special research seminar during their first semester to expose them to computer science research. The M.S. program provides flexibility for part-time enrollment and is considered “terminal” in that it does not automatically advance into our Ph.D. program.

The anticipated time to earn the Master of Science degree is two years.

Thesis or Project: Each Master’s student must complete a thesis or a project under the supervision of a faculty member. A thesis usually consists of original research work or a detailed survey of a research topic. A project usually consists of the production and documentation of code to perform a particular task. The student must also complete a written report describing the objectives of the work, the previous state of the art, the results obtained, and (in the case of software or hardware projects) how to use the results of the project. The student is examined on the thesis or project by a committee consisting of three faculty members.

top