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Computer Science, M.S.

Minimum Totals for Graduation: 30 hours

Admissions Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

Admission Requirement Snapshot

GPA: 3.0 (in the last two years of study)

Entrance Exam: GRE optional

International Application Deadline: July 1 (Fall), Oct. 1 (Spring)

See Admission Requirement Details Below

  1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution that includes a two-semester sequence of algorithmic problem solving and elementary data structures in a modern programming language (CPS 180, CPS 181).
  2. Completion of the following computer science courses or their equivalent:
    • Computer Architecture;
    • Data Structures and Algorithms;
    • Principles of Programming Languages;
    • Operating Systems.
  3. Completion of an introductory course in Calculus.
  4. An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) in the last 60 semester hours of course work.
  5. Minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the programming and computer science courses.

Program Requirements

Required Courses I (6 hours)

CPS 541Modern Databases

3(3-0)

ITC 510Software and Data Modeling

3(3-0)

Required Courses II (12 hours)

Select four from the following:

CPS 542Analysis and Design of Algorithms

3(3-0)

CPS 580Supervised Machine Learning

3(3-0)

CPS 585Applied Data Engineering

3(3-0)

CPS 680Artificial Intelligence

3(3-0)

CPS 685Pattern Recognition and Data Mining

3(3-0)

ITC 520Foundations of Computer Security

3(3-0)

ITC 630Cloud Computing

3(3-0)

ITC 686Big Data Analytics

3(3-0)

Electives (6 hours)

Select courses from CPS or ITC designators at the 510 level or above, or select from the following:

BIS 582Data Visualization: Theory and Practice

3(3-0)

BIS 605Communication in Professional Contexts

3(3-0)

BIS 628Application Development

3(3-0)

STA 575Statistical Programming for Data Management and Analysis

3

STA 580Applied Statistical Methods I

3(3-0)

STA 591Data Mining Techniques I

3(3-0)

Plan Option (6 hours)

Select either Plan A or Plan B.

Plan A Requirement (6 hours)

A Master's thesis of 6 hours (CPS 798), and an oral examination on the thesis.

CPS 798Thesis

1-6(Spec)

Plan B Requirement (6 hours)

An overview of research design and professional practice (CPS 691) and a capstone project (CPS 698). The capstone project must include a significant, original programming component with a written defense of the programming component.

CPS 691Research Design and Professional Practice

3(3-0)

CPS 698Capstone Project

3(3-0)

Total: 30 semester hours

 

Accelerated Admissions to the Master of Science in Computer Science

Undergraduate students in Computer Science can pursue a Master of Science program in Computer Science while still fulfilling the requirements for their Bachelor's degree. The Accelerated Master's Degree Program (AMDP) allows students to reduce the total number of credits required to complete their undergraduate and graduate level degrees by applying up to 12 credits (500 and 600 level courses) towards graduation requirements on both degree programs.

Admission Criteria:

To be eligible for the accelerated program, a student must have completed a minimum of 90 credits (including transfer and/or AP credits)towards a Bachelor's degree, including all University Program requirements. An overall grade point average (GPA) of a least 3.25 is required, as well as a minimum of 3.00 in Computer Science course work. In addition, students must satisfy all requirements for regular admission to the Master's program in Computer Science, with the possible exception of completing CPS 450 and 470 courses, which may be completed during the senior year.

During the fourth year, students will complete 12 credits of graduate level course work (excluding independent study credits) that will be counted towards both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. In addition , students will take either CPS 450 and 470 or 6 hours of CPS electives. Other courses may be taken to complete Bachelor of Science degree requirements. Students will complete the course work required for a Master of Science degree and complete either Plan A or Plan B option by the end of the fifth year.

A sample curriculum for a student who has completed 90 credit hours of undergraduate course work is given below:

Sample Curriculum for Plan A or Plan B option:

  Year Four

    Fall (15 hours)

CPS 541 (Elective for BS, required for MS) - 3 hours
CPS Elective or CPS 450 - 3 hours
Undergraduate Courses - 9 hours

    Spring (15 hours)

CPS Elective or CPS 470 - 3 hours
Other BS Requirement - 3 hours
ITC 510 (Elective for BS, required for MS) - 3 hours
CPS/ITC courses for both BS and MS - 6 hours

  Year Five

    Fall (9 hours)

Requirements for MS* - 9 hours

    Spring (9 hours)

Requirements and Electives for MS* - 9 hours

*Note: Students may complete CPS 798 - 6 hours over the course of two semesters for the MS Plan A Option.