Admission
Two semesters of calculus plus two additional semesters of college mathematics (e.g. linear algebra, differential equations, probability) and a course in formal languages, as well as in systems programming, are required for admission. Applicants are required to submit scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the past three years and to have these scores sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants whose native language is not English, including those who have earned degrees at U.S. institutions, must have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the written exam or 80 on the Internet-based Test to be considered for admission to the program. The score must be no more than two years old from the requested date of entry. Applicants who have received a degree from an accredited U.S. institution within the past two years are exempt from the TOEFL requirement. Applicants for admission to the MS program for computer science are expected to have completed a bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer engineering with an average of at least 3.0 out of 4.0, both overall and in the senior year. Applicants who hold the bachelor’s degree in other fields are also expected to have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 and a minimum senior year average of 3.0 in that field. The department will require that selected undergraduate courses be taken as determined by the applicant’s prior education and experience. The student will be admitted under non-degree status until the required undergraduate courses are successfully completed with a 3.0 average. An international student may not enroll as a non-degree student.
Requirements
Students may choose between a thesis option, a non-thesis course-only option, and a non-thesis project option. All students must file a Master’s Program Plan with the departmental graduate committee specifying which option they have selected, a semester-by-semester schedule of the courses they intend to take, and the members of the student’s master’s committee. Students may change between options one time by filing an amended Master’s Program Plan and with approval of the departmental graduate committee. A student who receives financial support under a research assistantship is enrolled in the thesis option by default. Students who have held a research assistantship will require approval from the departmental graduate committee to change to one of the non-thesis options.
Thesis Option (30 hours)
Students are required to complete COSC 530 , COSC 560 , and either COSC 580 or COSC 581 . An additional 15 hours of 400-level or above work in the department, with at least 9 hours of 500-level or 600- level work. Graduate courses taken outside the department are sometimes allowed but must be approved by the student’s master committee and the graduate committee before enrollment. A master’s thesis, COSC 500 , totaling 6 hours is required.
Non-Thesis Option (30 hours)
Students are required to complete COSC 530 , COSC 560 , and either COSC 580 or COSC 581 . An additional 21 hours of 400-level or above work in the department, with at least 15 hours of 500-level or 600-level work. Graduate courses taken outside the department are sometimes allowed but must be approved by the student’s master committee and the graduate committee before enrollment. The student must take course work in an area to prepare for the non-thesis master’s examination. The student’s advisor must verify that an acceptable set of courses has been taken before the student may schedule the examination. Information concerning the examination is available in the departmental office.
Project in Lieu of Thesis Option (30 hours)
Students are required to complete COSC 530 , COSC 560 , and either COSC 580 or COSC 581 . An additional 18 hours of 400-level or above work in the department, with at least 12 hours of 500-level or 600-level work. Graduate courses taken outside the department are sometimes allowed but must be approved by the student’s master committee and the graduate committee before enrollment. COSC 501 (Project in Lieu of Thesis) with a minimum grade of B is required. This course will be administered by the student’s master’s committee. A written project proposal describing what the student will do in the course must be submitted in advance for the student’s master’s committee approval. A written final report and oral presentation is required and one copy of the final draft must be submitted to the graduate committee.
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