Computer Science, M.S.

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Students with an adequate background in computer science will complete 30 credits of course work consisting of 9 credits of distribution courses, and 21 credits of elective courses. In addition, within these 30 credits of course work, students must satisfy a project requirement and a programming language requirement.

Students with a background other than computer science may need to complete up to 18 additional credits of core courses. Any of the six required core courses may be waived on the basis of appropriate undergraduate or graduate courses, subject to the approval of the Computer Science graduate coordinator. Students who seek a waiver must submit, after arrival at the university, supporting documentation to the coordinator before or during the student's first trimester. Only courses with grades of B- or better may be used for waiver purposes. Students are expected to complete the core courses as soon as possible after joining the program.

Required non-core courses cannot be waived, but transfer credit and substitutions may apply. However, this is subject to the university's 30-credit residency requirement; students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at the University of New Haven.

Placement Policy

Students are placed in the programming sequence by the graduate coordinators. Those with sufficient experience may waive CSCI 6604 , CSCI 6610 and/or CSCI 6620 on the basis of placement exams. A beginning programmer must start with CSCI 6604 . Additionally, students should take CS 6640 at the start of the program since this is a core course with no prerequisites.

Before enrolling in any course, students must make sure that they meet the prerequisites for that course (as specified in the course description) either by courses taken as part of the program or by work done outside the program. Normally, a grade of B or better in a prerequisite course will meet our expectations for mastery of the subject. Credit may be denied for a course taken without first satisfying its prerequisites unless prior written approval was obtained from the graduate advisor.

Core Courses (18 credits, waivable)

Distribution Courses (9 credits not waivable)

Select one course from each of the following three categories:

Software Design Methodology (choose one)

Theory and Analysis (choose one)

Computer Systems (choose one)

Electives (21 credits)

Each student will select 4 Computer Science Elective courses, 2 Restricted Elective courses, and 1 Free Elective course.

Computer Science Elective Courses (12 credits)

Each student will select four Computer Science Elective courses. These include all Computer Science graduate courses other than the six Core Courses and the internship courses CSCI 6692 , CSCI 6693 , and CSCI 6694 . CSCI 6692 , CSCI 6693 , and CSCI 6694 may not be counted as Computer Science Electives, but may be counted towards the Restricted Elective category. The CSCI 6690 project course counts as a Computer Science Elective course.

Restricted Electives (6 credits)

Each student will select two Restricted Elective courses. Some CS 6670 Selected Topics courses may also be designated as restricted electives on a case-by-case basis.

The following are Restricted Electives courses:

Any Computer Science Elective course

Free Elective (3 credits)

Each student will select one Free Elective course. A free elective may be any CS graduate course (other than a core course) or any relevant course listed by Criminal Justice/Forensic Science, Mathematics, Molecular Biology, or a department in the Tagliatela College of Engineering or in the College of Business. A student who wants to take a free elective course other than those indicated here must obtain written approval from the graduate coordinator.

Programming Language Requirement

Each student must demonstrate mastery of a programming language other than C. This may be accomplished in one of two ways: (1) by completing at least one programming languages course listed below, or (2) submitting prior work (subject to the approval of the graduate advisor), which demonstrates knowledge of a programming language other than C.

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