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, 9 of concentration courses, and 12 credits of electives. Within these 30 credits, 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 admissions coordinator. Students are expected to complete the core courses soon after joining the program; until all core courses have been either waived or completed, a student is not allowed to enroll in more than three non-core courses. Required non-core courses cannot be waived, but transfer credit and substitutions may apply. The curriculum is being updated constantly. The most up-to-date version of the program can be obtained from either of the graduate coordinators.

Placement Policy

Students are placed in the programming sequence by the graduate coordinators. Those with sufficient experience in C programming might start in CS 610 or CS 620 . A beginning programmer starts with CS 604 , which is a prerequisite to the core and can be counted as the student’s single free elective. Students who feel they have the programming skills to skip CS 604 must take a placement exam. New students should take CS 630 and CS 640 at the start of the program; these are core courses 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).

Normally, a grade of B- or better may be used for prerequisite courses to 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)

Concentration Courses and Project Requirement (9 credits)

There are two ways to satisfy the project requirement: (1) by extending and completing a significant project begun within a concentration course, or (2) by completing CS 690 - Master's Project . In either case, the project content must be in the student’s concentration area.

If a student completes a project within a course, no additional tuition payment is due for that project, and no additional credit is given for it. The instructor for the project course must agree, at the beginning of the trimester, to accept the project in fulfillment of degree requirements. Suggested courses for this purpose include CS 617 , CS 623 , CS 626 , CS 627 , CS 628 , CS 640B , CS 642 , CS 644B , CS 647 , CS 650 , CS 655 , CS 657 , CS 660 , and CS 665 .

In order to take CS 690 - Master's Project , the student’s QPR must be 3.1 or higher. Taking CS 690 - Master's Project will count as a concentration course in addition to satisfying the project requirement. Students who plan to take CS 690 - Master's Project must ask a full-time faculty member to be the project advisor. They must also prepare a project proposal and obtain written approval of the project prior to registration.

There are five possible concentration areas. Each student must complete three courses in a concentration. Some courses belong to the lists of both distribution and concentration courses, but a single course cannot be used to satisfy both requirements.

Advanced Applications Concentration

Computer Systems Concentration

Database and Information Systems Concentration

Network Systems Concentration

Software Engineering and Development Concentration

Electives (12 credits)

At least three elective courses must be chosen from the list of restricted electives. The fourth elective course may be either a restricted or a free elective.

Restricted Electives

The restricted electives include both distribution courses and concentration courses. Some CS 670 - Selected Topics courses may also be designated as restricted electives on a case-by-case basis.

Note: The core courses are not restricted electives. In addition, CS 604 is not a restricted elective, but may be counted as a student’s free elective.

Free Elective

A free elective may be any CS graduate 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 other than those indicated here must obtain written approval from the graduate advisor.

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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