grad-computersciences

The Department of Computer Sciences offers the Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Sciences. Research specialty areas include artificial intelligence, computational biology, computer architecture, computer graphics, computer networks, computer security, database systems, human–computer interaction, numerical analysis, optimization, performance analysis, programming languages and compilers, systems research, and theoretical computer sciences. See the department website for faculty interests, research activities, courses, facilities, and degree requirements.

The Department of Computer Sciences offers two paths to the master's degree: the Computer Sciences Master's Program and the Professional Master's Program.

Students apply to the Master of Science in Computer Sciences through one of the named options:

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Funding is offered to about half of the students to whom admission is offered. Funding is usually in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, or research assistantships.  Because computer science skills are in demand, students who are admitted without funding are often able to find graduate assistantships  on campus.  The department website provides information on funding  options and offers suggestions for those who are admitted without department funding.

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Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Major Requirements

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Credit Requirement 30 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 16 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement Half of degree coursework (15 credits out of 30 total credits) must be completed graduate-level coursework; courses with the Graduate Level Coursework attribute are identified and searchable in the university's Course Guide.
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement 3.00 GPA required.
Other Grade Requirements No other grade requirements.
Assessments and Examinations None.
Language Requirements No language requirements.

Required Courses

Select a Named Option for courses required.

Named Options

A named option is a formally documented sub-major within an academic major program. Named options appear on the transcript with degree conferral. Students pursuing the Master of Science in Computer Sciences must select one of the following named options:

Students should refer to one of the named options for policy information:

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

Program Resources

The Department of Computer Sciences hosts many professional development opportunities including: job fairs, workshops, seminars, talks, employer information sessions, mentoring and student socials. The Department of Computer Sciences student organizations, Student-ACM (SACM) and  Women's ACM (WACM),  are active partners in providing professional development opportunities for computer sciences graduate students.

  1. Articulates, critiques, or elaborates the theories, research methods, and approaches to inquiry or schools of practice in the field of study.
  2. Identifies sources and assembles evidence pertaining to questions or challenges in the field of study.
  3. Applies design and development principles in the construction of software systems of varying complexity.
  4. Applies foundational principles in practical applications.
  5. Independently acquires, synthesizes and applies required information pertaining to challenges in computer science.
  6. Communicates clearly in ways appropriate to the field of study.

Faculty: Professors Remzi Arpaci-Dusseau (chair), Akella, A. Arpaci-Dusseau, R. Arpaci-Dusseau, Bach, Banerjee, Barford, Cai, Chawla, Doan, Ferris, Gleicher, Jha, Livny, van Melkebeek, Miller, Patel, Reps, Ron, Sankaralingam, Sohi, Swift, Wright, Zhu; Associate Professors  Mutlu, Sifakis; Assistant Professors Albarghouti, Chatterjee, D'Antoni, I. Diakonikolas, J. Diakonikolas, Gupta, Hsu, Koutris, Liang, Rekatsinas, Sinclair, Tzamos, Venkataraman, Yu. See also Faculty on the department website.