Graduate Program - Master of Science
The Master of Science in Computer Science is a traditional research-oriented degree. Normally, a thesis is required. However, students who plan to proceed directly to PhD studies in the Department may request the non-thesis option. All incoming MS students must register for an orientation course: CSC600 (Computer Science Graduate Orientation).
- Prerequisites For Application
- Degree Requirements
- Registration and Residence
- Advisory Committee and Plan of Graduate Work
- Curriculum
- Colloqium Attendance
- Thesis Option
- Non-Thesis Option
- Thesis Defense and Master's Examinations
- Patent Agreement
- Minor
- Pursuing PhD Studies
Prerequisites For Application
Preparatory course work should include a three-semester sequence in differential and integral calculus, a calculus-based course in probability and statistics and Computer Science courses equivalent to CSC 216, 226 (224), 236 (234), 316 (314) and one of 312, 333, or 456.
Individuals must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in order to be considered for a graduate degree program. This is a minimal GPA and strong GRE scores and letters are then needed for admission.
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Degree Requirements
The Master of Science (MS) is a research-oriented degree. The curriculum requires 30 graduate credits, including at most six for thesis research. Each student is advised by a three-member Advisory Committee. MS students writing a thesis are required to take at least one course in each of the two categories (see categories below) and will be allowed at most 3 hours of 600-level courses in addition to the 6 hours of CSC 695 currently allowed. The MS degree without thesis is a non-terminal degree, provided only for students intending to pursue a PhD. Hence students who do an MS without thesis are required to accomplish the PhD core-course requirements before they get their MS, allowing them to begin work on a dissertation thereafter. MS students are required to declare their core courses in their plans of work (and point out prerequisite-based substitutions, as in "CSC 720 is used in place of CSC 520 for a Systems course"). However, the replacement course and the core course must be in exactly the same area so that, for example CSC 513 cannot be used to replace CSC 501 even though CSC 501 is a prerequisite for CSC 513. You may use CSC 573 or CSC 576 in place of CSC 570 since they are in the same area. A minor, consisting of three courses, is optional. The MS thesis must be defended in a final oral examination.
Category 1:
Theory: CSC 505 (Algorithms), CSC 512 (Compiler Construction), CSC 565 (Graph Theory), CSC 579 (Performance Evaluation), CSC 580 (Numerical Analysis), CSC 707 (Theory of Computation).
Category 2:
Systems: CSC 501 (Operating Systems), CSC 506 (Parallel Architectures), CSC 510 (Software Engineering), CSC 520 (Artificial Intelligence), CSC 540 (Database Systems), CSC 562 (Graphics), CSC 570 (Networks).
To graduate, a student must have a minimum 3.00 average on all graduate course work as well as all courses on his or her Plan of Graduate Work. This policy is strictly enforced.
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Registration and Residence
The Graduate School has a continuous registration policy. A student
must be registered every semester (Fall, Spring.) Otherwise, a student
must take an official leave of absence as approved by the Graduate School.
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Advisory Committee and Plan of Graduate Work
You should identify and request an academic advisor before the middle of the semester in which you complete your twelfth graduate credit. Your advisor chairs your Advisory Committee and will help you find two more members and develop a Plan of Graduate Work. You should file the Committee Appointment and Plan of Graduate Work for approval by the Director of Graduate Programs before the end of this same semester.
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Curriculum
Thesis Option |
Credit Hours |
|---|---|
6 |
|
Orientation Course (CSC 600) |
1 |
Computer Science graduate electives |
8 |
Thesis research ( CSC 695 ) |
6 |
Minor courses, Computer Science graduate electives, or other electives |
9 |
Total |
30 |
Non-Thesis Option (MS/PhD Track) |
Credit Hours |
|---|---|
Core courses (four) |
12 |
Computer Science 700-level courses (one) |
3 |
Orientation Course (CSC 600) |
1 |
Computer Science graduate electives |
2 |
Minor courses, Computer Science graduate electives, or other electives |
12 |
Master's exam ( CSC 690 ) |
6 |
Total |
36 |
No more than six credits of Thesis Research (CSC 695) can be applied to the Thesis Option; no more than three credits of CSC 630 or 693 and no more than six credits of CSC 690 can be applied to the Non-Thesis Option. CSC 695 is not generally allowed to count toward this option.
All Computer Science credits must be at or above the 500 level. At most 3 credits outside Computer Science may be at the 400 level.
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Colloquium Attendance
Several times each semester, researchers from inside and outside the University make hour-long public presentations on their work. Each MS student must attend eight such presentations and complete and return a Colloquium Attendance Form for each. The list of colloquia approved for this purpose is found here.
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Thesis
The thesis should be prepared to conform to the Guide for Preparation of Theses and Dissertations. It must be approved by each member of the advisory committee and then be submitted to the Graduate School's Thesis Editor. (Phone 515-2871 for appointment.) We also strongly recommend attending an ETD workshop conducted by the Thesis Editor before you begin writing your thesis. You can find workshop schedules here.
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Non-Thesis
The MS degree with no thesis is available only to students in the PhD program or who intend to move from the MS to the PhD program. These students must pass the PhD Written Qualifier Exam (CSC 690 or CSC 890) as well as complete additional course requirements. This exam is sometimes referred to as PhD Written Preliminary Examination. The course requirements are 36 hours that includes four core courses, one 700 level CSC course, nine letter graded graduate courses, and six credits of CSC690/890. See the above for a complete description.
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Thesis Defense and Master's Examinations
Both thesis and non-thesis students should request permission to take final exams at the beginning of the final semester if possible, but no later than three weeks in advance of the presentation. It is not necessary to know the precise date when requesting permission. Thesis students defend their thesis in an oral exam conducted by their Advisory Committee. Non-thesis students do an oral presentation as part of CSC 690. If you plan to graduate at the end of the semester in which you present your thesis or CSC 690 paper you must pass your examination (do your presentation) unconditionally by one month before the end of classes. Be sure to check the exact date as published by the Graduate School.
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Patent Agreement
You must sign and file a Univerisity Patent Agreement when you are admitted to the program. Other important paperwork cannot be processed until this is on file. If your company forbids you from signing the Patent Agreement, the University will exempt you from signing but exclude you from conducting research with University equipment. IBM employees should contact their IBM manager and their IBM Division's Legal office for counsel prior to signing a patent agreement of any type; others who must or wish to be exempted should contact Technology Administration and Development at 515-7199.
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Minor
No minor is required. If you choose to pursue one, the minor department must be represented on your Advisory Committee. Split minors are permitted, and the Advisory Committee may also approve courses outside Computer Science in the absence of an official minor.
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Pursuing PhD Studies
Thesis students who intend to pursue the PhD in Computer Science may petition their Advisory Committee for a recommendation to continue. Given a strong recommendation, they may transfer to the PhD program with no need to reapply to the Graduate School. If there is a break in enrollment, a new application will be necessary. Non-thesis MS students must have already declared their interest in pursuing a PhD (See the non-thesis topic above). Successful performance in CSC 690 will enable continuation of studies with a change of classification to the PhD program.
