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The goals and objectives of the Master of Science in Computer Science program are to provide students with the following:
Entrance Requirements
For entrance into the Master of Science
degree programs, students are required to
have an undergraduate degree in computer
science, mathematics, science or engineering,
with a superior undergraduate record
from an accredited institution. Applicants
having degrees in other fields will be considered
for admission on an individual
basis. Generally, entering students are
expected to have knowledge of mathematics
through calculus.
Additional Entrance Requirements
1. At least one year of university-level
science
2. A working knowledge of a high-level
general-purpose programming language
(preferably C++)
3. A basic understanding of computer fundamentals
such as computer organization
and operation, data structures and computer
architecture.
It is anticipated that students entering with a bachelor’s in computer science or with a bachelor’s in a technical area and a strong minor in computer science will satisfy the entrance requirements for the master’s degree program.
Students having superior academic credentials but lacking sufficient background are admitted with conditional status pending satisfactory completion of several individually specified preparatory courses. In some cases, such students will be invited to an interview to determine the necessary preparatory courses they need to complete. Successful completion of the preparatory courses with a B or better average grade is a necessary condition for transfer to regular status.
The demonstrated ability to communicate in written and spoken English is an essential ingredient for success in pursuing graduate studies in computer science and information systems engineering and is required for regular status. Foreign students and others for whom English is a second language may be required to undertake preparatory work to improve their language skills before admission into the graduate program.
Admission with advanced standing is accepted in accordance with Polytechnic regulations published in the catalog. A maximum of 9 units may be applied to the MS degree from previous graduate work at an acceptable institution.
Master’s Degree Requirements
To satisfy the requirements for the master’s
degree, the student must complete a total
of 36 units as described below, with an
overall average of B. In addition, a B average
is required in the core course group, as
indicated below. An average of B is required
for all graduate courses taken. Students
with an exceptionally strong undergraduate
computer science background may be
allowed to replace required courses with
more advanced electives. Permission of the
graduate director is required.
Requirements:
1. Core Requirements (B average required)
CS 603 Design and Analysis of Algorithms I
CS 613 Computer Architecture I
CS 623 Operating Systems I
CS 637 Programming Languages
CS 641 Compiler Design and Construction I
In certain rare circumstances, and with the approval of the graduate director, other CS or EE courses may be used to fulfill the core requirement.
2. Analytical Requirement
One of the following courses:
CS 600 Foundations of Computer Science
CS 675 Theory of Computation
Students who can demonstrate a strong background in discrete mathematics will be encouraged to take CS 675 instead of CS 600. Under special circumstances, with permission of the graduate director, students who can demonstrate a strong background in discrete mathematics may be permitted to substitute a graduate math course for CS 675.
3. Two one-year course sequences from
the following list:
CS 603/604 Design and Analysis of Algorithms I/II
CS 606 Software Engineering I
and either
CS 607 Software Engineering II
or
CS 608 Principles of Database Systems
CS 613/614 Computer Architecture I/II
CS 623/624 Operating Systems I/II
CS 641/642 Compiler Design and Construction I/II
CS 661 Artificial Intelligence I
and either
CS 662 Artificial Intelligence II
or
CS 664 Vision and Scene Analysis
or
CS 665 Expert Systems and Knowledge Engineering
or
CS 667 Neural Network Computing
EL 536 Principles of Communication Networks
and
EL 537 Protocols for LAN
In certain circumstances, and with the approval of the graduate director, other course sequences may be used to fulfill this requirement.
4. Approved elective courses, of which a maximum of 6 units may be a thesis.
Thesis: Exceptional students may elect to write a master’s thesis, for which no more than 6 units may be earned toward the degree. Such students should find an appropriate adviser who has agreed to monitor the thesis research. Such research need not be original, but should adequately demonstrate the student’s proficiency in the subject material. An oral defense of the master’s thesis with at least three professors in attendance is required.