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.
• include no more than six independent study credits.
• demonstrate competence in the core areas of Algorithms, Software, and Systems at the undergraduate level. A student may demonstrate competence in a variety of ways, including taking a relevant undergraduate course, taking an examination, or taking a more advanced course. See the Computer Science Web site for more details.
• include at least two theory courses. A list of courses that satisfy the theory requirement may be found on the Computer Science Web site.
• include at least two systems courses. A list of courses that satisfy the systems requirement may be found on the Computer Science Web site.
• include 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.
• attend at least 50% of colloquia offered for each semester they are enrolled as a full-time student 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.