Program Overview

Computer Science Master of Science Degree Program

Program Description

The Master of Science in Computer Science program (MS-CS) prepares students for professional practice in computer science and the software industry. Graduates will become leaders in designing and building high-quality, large-scale computing solutions to real-life problems in various fields, including web applications, financial services, healthcare, government contracting, embedded systems, education, and many others. The program teaches the theoretical basis and limitations of computer science and how to apply it to various areas.

Program Requirements

• Total Credits: 31 credits
• Concentrations: Students select one of three concentrations: (1) Artificial Intelligence, (2) Systems, or (3) Theoretical Computer Science.
• Core Courses: (required of all students; 7 credits)
  • Csi 503 – Algorithms and Data Structures (3)
  • Csi 518 – Software Engineering (4)
• Concentration Core Course Requirement: (6 credits) Select one of three concentrations and take two of the three courses within the concentration:
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning:
    • Csi 531 Data Mining (3)
    • Csi 535 Artificial Intelligence I (3)
    • Csi 536 Machine Learning (3)
  • Systems:
    • Csi 500 Operating Systems (3)
    • Csi 508 Database Systems I (3)
    • Csi 516 (Ece 516) Computer Communications Networks (3)
  • Theoretical Computer Science:
    • Csi 509 Automata and Theory of Computation (3)
    • Csi 519 Advanced Programming Concepts (3)
    • Csi 529 Probability and Computing (3)
• Electives: 15 credits required; Elective courses must be Computer Science courses numbered 500 or above. At most 2 courses (6 credits) from outside the CS department may be counted with approval from the department.
  • Concentration Areas Breadth Requirement: Master's students are required to demonstrate a broad understanding of computer science by selecting elective courses from core concentration areas. Each student must complete at least one 3-credit course from each concentration area, including their chosen concentration.
• Culminating Experience Requirement: Select one of the following course options (3 credits):
  • Csi 68X Culminating master's project course (3 credits)
  • Csi 698 Internship (3)
  • Csi 699 Master's Thesis (3)

Admission Requirements

• Undergraduate Degree: Students are expected to have an undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Prerequisite Courses: Students are expected to have taken courses in object-oriented programming, data structures, algorithms, discrete math, programming languages, system fundamentals, software engineering, calculus, linear algebra, probability, and statistics.
• Discrete Mathematics Exam: A proficiency examination in Discrete Mathematics is given at the beginning of the first semester of graduate study. Students who do not pass this examination are required to pass a departmentally approved remedial program. Students can complete this requirement by taking CSI521 Discrete Mathematics with Applications (this course can count as an elective for the program).

Concentration Areas

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• Csi 501 Computational Linear Algebra, Nonlinear Algebra, and Optimization (3)
• Csi 531 Data Mining (3)
• Csi 533 Theory and Practice of Multimedia Computing (3)
• Csi 535 Artificial Intelligence I (3)
• Csi 536 Machine Learning (3)
• Csi 552 (Ece 551) Robotics (3)
• Csi 571 Introduction to Computer Vision (3)
• Csi 671 Computer Vision (3)

Systems

• Csi 500 Operating Systems (3)
• Csi 504 (Ece 532) Advanced Computer Architecture (3)
• Csi 508 Database Systems I (3)
• Csi 516 (Ece 516) Computer Communications Networks (3)
• Csi 524 Computer Security (3)
• Csi 525 Mobile Wireless Networks (3)
• Csi 561 Software Testing (3)

Theoretical Computer Science

• Csi 509 Automata and Theory of Computation (3)
• Csi 519 Advanced Programming Concepts (3)
• Csi 521 Discrete Mathematics with Applications (3)
• Csi 526 Cryptography (3)
• Csi 529 Probability and Computing (3)
• Csi 538 Computational Logic (3)
• Csi 609 Formal Languages and Theory of Computation (3)
• Csi 636 Natural Language Processing (3)