Our M.S. in Computer Science degree program provides advanced education in all areas of computer science. It is useful for those wishing to go into leadership roles in high tech organizations. This degree can also provide the foundation for application to our Ph.D. program.
Completion of a baccalaureate degree. Applicants with degrees in fields other than computer science, business, engineering, mathematics, or a natural science should consult with a graduate adviser before applying for admission.
The GRE General Test is required (the GRE Subject Test in Computer Science is no longer available). GRE scores should be sent to us directly from ETS (Institution code is: 4867; Department code is: 0402). The GMAT will be considered as an alternative if the GRE is not available in time for the application deadline, but you must notify us of the substitution.
Demonstrated working knowledge of a major modern and object-oriented programming language. Many courses in our curriculum assume some background in the Java programming language, so that is an excellent choice. See further comments on programming experience below.
An undergraduate “algorithms and data structures course” (our ICS 311 course or equivalent).
At least one other advanced (300-level or above) undergraduate computer science course (e.g., our ICS 312, 313, 321, 331, or 332 course).
A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 75% (3.0 on a 4.0 system). This is a graduate division requirement.
Programming Experience: Our M.S. program assumes that you have at least three sequential semesters of programming experience (i.e. the equivalent of ICS 111, ICS 211, and ICS 311) before you enter our program as a classified graduate student. If you do not have any programming experience, then you will need to have completed this three semester sequence prior to enrollment. People with some prior programming experience can often “place out” of ICS 111 and start in ICS 211; you need to contact the instructor of ICS 211 to determine if you fit in this category. You can apply to our program during the semester that you are enrolled in ICS 311, for admission in the following semester.
Finally, your application will be stronger if you have demonstrated the ability and motivation to work independently, for example by taking on a project related to computer science (whether within or outside of a school setting). Doing a project with faculty or other established professionals will make it easier to obtain meaningful letters of reference.
Please submit your application by January 1st for Fall Admission, and by September 1st for Spring admission. Applications for Fall received between January 1st and February 1st will be considered on a space-available basis.
All application materials will be forwarded to the ICS Department once the Graduate Division determines that your application is complete. It is your responsibility to communicate with Graduate Division to ensure they have all of the required materials. Until they do, we won’t see your application.
Questions about the application process can be answered by contacting Graduate Division and/or e-mailing the ICS Graduate Chair.
Six ICS “regular” graduate courses (i.e., ICS 600-692, not including ICS 690), including one course in each one of four broad areas.
These steps are not strictly sequential. For example, you do not have to completely finish making up all of your undergraduate deficiencies before enrolling in any of the six “regular” graduate courses, and you do not need to finish your six “regular” graduate courses before taking ICS 690. However, these steps to give a sense for the basic “flow” through the program and the major milestones that must be reached in order to graduate. The Graduate Chair can help you design a specific sequence of courses that fulfill both the University requirements and your own preferences.
The steps are outlines below, and students may use this convenient checklist to track their progress progress toward graduation.
At the beginning of your first semester, you should meet with the Graduate Chair in order to plan out your program. The plan includes making up undergraduate deficiencies, determining potential course selections, and reviewing project and thesis ideas. You should meet with the Graduate Chair once every semester during your degree program.
Undergraduate deficiencies are prerequisites to graduate study.
Only letter grades of A, B, and C can be used to make up undergraduate deficiencies.
Courses in directed research/reading cannot be used to make up undergraduate deficiencies.
Undergraduate deficiency makeup courses carry no credit toward an M.S. degree, but are used when computing the GPA.
You must take six “regular” graduate courses, i.e., courses with numbers between ICS 600 and ICS 692, with the exception of ICS 690. ICS 423 may also be counted for area 2.
Important: ICS 691 courses (i.e., irregular “Topics” courses), are not classified in the areas above and do not count toward an area (instead, they count as one of the two additional 600-level courses described in the section below). If, however, a 691 course becomes a regular course, and the instructor approves that this new course is sufficiently similar to what was taught in the 691 Topics course, then the 691 is reotractively classified in the same area as that of its corresponding regular course.
Important: as of 2017, ICS691 will become ICS691B, ICS691C, ICS691D, ICS691E, and ICS691G. The first four of these are each classified in each one of the four areas.
Important: Some ICS691 courses become regular courses. Students who earned credit for the ICS691 version of a course will not be allowed to register for the regular course, even though its number is not ICS691.
Two additional 600-level 3-credit courses must be taken either from the ICS department (i.e., ICS 600-692, not including ICS 690), or some related discipline (such as LIS, EE, MIS, etc.) on a topic related to Computer Science. You must obtain prior approval from the Graduate Chair as to the suitability of your choices before enrolling in them.
Note that if you do a Plan A (see below), you may opt to replace one of these two courses by 3 credits of ICS 700.
Up to two graduate courses may be replaced by regular ICS 400-level courses (not ICS 499) that are not counted towards the undergraduate degree. These courses (except for ICS 423) do not count towards the area requirement.
A 6 credit “capstone” project is also required for the degree. These credits are typically taken close to or during your final semester in the program. The specific capstone courses depend upon whether you are writing a thesis (Plan A) or developing a final project (Plan B). Under Plan A, your capstone courses consist of six credits of ICS 700. Under Plan B, your capstone courses consist six credits of ICS 699 taken under the supervision of a faculty member for the purpose of developing a single final project. In either case, 6 credits must be applied to a single project, as the intent is that you do an intensive project beyond what could be done in a single course.
Important: As a Plan A student you may opt to take an additional 3 credits of ICS 700 as a replacement for one of the “Two additional courses” described in point 4 above.
ICS graduate students have been maintaining a LaTeX template for the thesis, which should be used by students planning for write their thesis using LaTeX.
This plan requires a capstone project. A final report on your final project is required and must be approved by your supervising faculty member and the graduate chair in order to graduate. A Plan B capstone is not as impressive as a thesis, but is expedient for those who need to get their MS quickly.
700 is only for Plan A students (thesis).
A Plan A student can only enroll into 700 after passing the thesis proposal stage (Graduate Division Form II signed by committee and Graduate Chair).
Before the proposal, a Plan A student should enroll in 699. These 699 credits can be “converted” to 700 credits once the thesis proposal stage is completed.
Note that it is possible to convert 699 credits to 700 credits and vice-versa if you decide to change your plan.
You must enroll in and pass ICS 690 for one semester, typically near the end of your MS program. You must present your final (or close-to-final) thesis work or capstone project at the seminar. This course is supervised by the Graduate Chair and is CR/NC. You should meet with the Graduate Chair to determine the appropriate semester in which to register for this course.
2 ICS or “related” 600-level courses 6 credits of either additional 600-level ICS courses or of graduate-level courses in a related discipline, such as LIS, MIS or EE. Students doing a Plan A may opt to replace one of these two courses with 3 credits of ICS 700.
Capstone Six credits of ICS 700 for Plan A or ICS 699 for Plan B, applied to the development of a single capstone project in either case.
18 out of the 31 credits required for an M.S. degree must be ICS 600-692.
The final project in Plan B requires you to submit complete documentation of your work to your adviser.
At most 6 credits of ICS 699 can be counted toward an M.S. degree under Plan B, and at most 9 credits under Plan A.
A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Only letter grades of A, B, and C are counted toward an M.S. degree.
The minimum residence requirement is two semesters.
After you earn 12 credits or more toward a degree, you are admitted to candidacy and continuous registration is required thereafter. If you do not register in any course toward the degree, you must submit a petition for a leave of absence to the Graduate Division.
If you have questions, contact the ICS Graduate Chair.