• The Master of Science program gives students the opportunity to further their knowledge in foundational and applied topics, preparing them for advanced industrial or research positions.
  • Students are expected to complete six graduate level courses, two electives, and two semesters of project work.
  • Full-time students generally take two years to complete the program.
  • The program is available to students with a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related discipline. In order to ensure small class sizes and individual supervision of projects, the size of the program is limited and applications are competitive.
  • You need to complete coursework of 33 units.

    • Culminating Experience

    Students choose a Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (Written Project) option as their program culminating experience.

    Plan A (Thesis)

    • After being admitted to candidacy, the student choosing the thesis option must obtain a thesis director from among the tenured or tenure-track faculty of the Computer Science Department who then becomes his or her advisor.
    • Before work can begin, the thesis topic must be approved by a three-member committee consisting of the thesis director, another professor from the CS Department, and a third member who is an expert in the field, selected by the thesis director and approved by the Department Chairperson.
    • Upon completion of the thesis, the candidate must pass a comprehensive oral examination in the area of his or her thesis, conducted by the thesis committee. 

    Plan B (Written Project)

    • After being admitted to candidacy, the student must obtain a project director from the Computer Science Department who then becomes his or her advisor.
    • Before work can begin, the project topic must be approved by a three-member committee consisting of the project director, another professor from the CS Department, and a third member who is an expert in the field, selected by the thesis director and approved by the Department Chairperson. 
    • Upon completion of the project, the candidate must pass an oral examination in the area of his or her project conducted by the project committee.