Computer Science, M.C.S.

Return to: School of Graduate Engineering and Applied Science: Degree Programs   

---

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE DEGREES

---

MASTER’S DEGREE - MCS

The Master of Computer Science (M.C.S.) degree offers two options:

• M.C.S. (coursework) focuses on all coursework: the student performs no independent research.
• M.C.S. (project) involves a project: student conducts independent research overseen by a professor. The level of research effort is commensurate with one (1) typical academic course.

An M.C.S. student is assigned an academic advisor upon entering the program. If the student selects an M.C.S. (project) degree, their research advisor then becomes the academic advisor.

M.C.S. General Degree Requirements:

• An M.C.S. degree requires a minimum of 31 graded, graduate-level credits. Only courses 6000 and above fulfill the department’s MCS requirement. 6 credits of non-CS 5000 level courses may be used to count towards the M.C.S. degree. Courses must be approved by the advisor and the Master’s Program Graduate Director (MGPD).
• A graded credit means that the course resulted in a letter grade (A, B, C…) as opposed to an audited course (AU) or a pass/fail or credit/no credit course (CR/NC).
• No grade lower than a “B” will be accepted towards satisfying the M.C.S.’s degree requirements. While a course with a passing grade lower than B will count in the GPA, it will not count toward degree requirements.

M.C.S. Degree Coursework (31 credits):

• 1 credit of CS 6190 (Computer Science Perspectives).
• 12 credits of graded, graduate-level CS breadth electives, comprised of a minimum of 3 credits in any four of the six focal areas (tracks) listed below (graduate–level 6000 and above).
• 18 credits of graded, graduate-level CS electives or other graduate courses approved by the advisor and the Master’s Graduate Program Director (graduate-level 6000 and above).
• At most 3 credits of CS 6993/7993 (Independent Study) may count toward the degree.
• CS 8897/9897 (Graduate Teaching Instruction) can be used to satisfy the full-time requirement.
• Program Assessment Forms: Engineering Graduate Plan of Study Assessment, Engineering Design Assessment, Engineering Analysis (The Graduate Coordinator prepares these forms for the students).

M.C.S. Degree Project (31 credits):

• 1 credit of CS 6190 (Computer Science Perspectives).
• 12 credits of graded, graduate-level CS breadth electives, comprised of a minimum of 3 credits in any four of the six focal areas (tracks) listed below (graduate–level 6000 and above).
• 15 credits of graded, graduate-level CS electives (or other graduate courses approved by the advisor and the Master’s Graduate Program Director (graduate-level 6000 and above).
• 3 credits of CS 7995 (Supervised Project Research) must be taken with the research advisor. These 3 credits reflect the execution, summary report, and presentation of the MCS project. CS 8999 (Thesis) cannot be used.
• Program Assessment Forms: Engineering Design Assessment Form, Engineering Analysis Form, Engineering Oral (The Graduate Coordinator prepares these forms for the students).
• The assessment for the MCS (project) requires a written project description and an oral presentation before a minimum of two CS faculty.

  ---

   

TRANSFER CREDITS

---

Students should consult “Transfer Credits” in the School of Engineering and Applied Science—Academic Rules section of the Record for information about transferring courses toward their graduate degree.  

Whether any individual transfer course counts toward CS master’s degree requirements is determined by the Master’s Graduate Program Director (MGPD).

---

 

BREADTH AREAS and COURSES (6000 level and above)

---