Computer Science M.S.

In addition to meeting the degree requirements of the Office of Graduate Education, a candidate must plan a degree program and complete the Plan of Study form in consultation with a faculty adviser. The M.S. degree requires 30 credits and must include:

• at least 18 credits at the 6000 level.
• no more than six independent study credits.
• at least two theory courses, one of which must be selected from CSCI 6020 Design and Analysis of Algorithms (preferred), CSCI 6220 Randomized Algorithms, or CSCI 6510 Distributed Systems and Algorithms.
• at least two systems courses. In general, one of the systems courses must be CSCI 6140 Computer Operating Systems. However, students who have taken CSCI 4210 Operating Systems while enrolled in our undergraduate program should not take CSCI 6140, but should take two systems courses beyond what was studied at the undergraduate level.
• either 3-4 credits of a master’s project (CSCI 6970 or CSCI 6980) or 6-9 credits of a master’s thesis (CSCI 6990). Students completing a thesis must do an oral presentation, while students completing a project must present a poster at a departmental poster session.
• full-time students must attend at least 50% of colloquia offered for each semester they are enrolled in the graduate program (up to a maximum of four semesters).

Outcomes of the Graduate Curriculum

Students who successfully complete this program will be able to:

• demonstrate a solid understanding of computer systems, algorithms and theory, and the application of computer science.
• successfully plan, design, and conduct independent, publishable-quality research or an extensive independent project.
• clearly articulate the results of their independent work in computer science in both oral and written form.