Computer Science, M.S.

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(30 UNITS)

The Master of Science in Computer Science program emphasizes the study of advanced computational theory and practice to prepare students for successful careers in computer science. Graduates will understand the principles and practices in both classical and emerging domains of computer science, such as AI, data science, software engineering, cyber security, commercial application development, scientific computing and more. They will be well-positioned to seek rewarding careers in all areas of business, government, education and industry, and for pursuing Ph.D. studies.

Admission to Graduate Standing - Conditionally Classified

Students must meet the CSU requirements for admission to a master’s degree program. Please consult the Graduate Admissions section in this catalog for complete information. In addition, to qualify for admission with conditionally classified standing, applicants must meet the following departmental requirements:

Minimum GPA of 2.5 for applicants graduated from domestic (U.S.) institutions with undergraduate degrees in engineering or computer science
Minimum GPA of 2.5 for applicants graduated from ABET-accredited international institutions with undergraduate degrees in engineering or computer science
Minimum GPA of 3.0 for applicants graduated from domestic (U.S.) institutions with undergraduate degrees other than engineering or computer science
Minimum GPA of 3.0 for applicants with undergraduate degrees from non-ABET-accredited international institutions

Students without an undergraduate degree in computer science must have completed at least one course in computer programming with a grade of at least “B-” within the past 2 years.

Classified Graduate Standing

Prior to admission to classified graduate standing in Computer Science, each student, with the aid of the Graduate Adviser, shall prepare and submit for approval a formal study plan consisting of 400-level and graduate coursework. Achieving this status requires all of the following before completing more than 13 units of study plan courses:

For students without a bachelor’s degree in computer science, satisfactory completion of the following courses or their equivalents. These courses may also have prerequisites, and students without preparation in a closely related degree may have additional work to complete: CPSC 121 , CPSC 131 ,CPSC 240 , CPSC 323 , CPSC 335 , CPSC 351 , CPSC 362 , MATH 170A , MATH 170B , MATH 338 .
For all students, approval of a formal study plan (see description below) by the Computer Science Graduate Adviser and the Associate Vice President, Academic Programs (or designee).

Degree Requirements

At least 15 of the total units shall represent courses offered by the Department of Computer Science. Courses offered by other disciplines, not listed here, and related to the student’s objectives in Computer Science may be approved by petition to the Department of Computer Science.

Required Courses (6 units)

Note:

* A “C” (2.0) or better will satisfy the graduate writing requirement.

Required Electives (9 units)

Select one course (3 units) from three of the four categories below. Taking two or more courses in the same category will result in only the first course counting toward the required electives.

Computer Applications (3 units)

Computer Systems (3 units)

Software Engineering (3 units)

Theoretical Computer Science (3 units)

CPSC 535 - Advanced Algorithms (3)

Electives (15 units)

Select from 400- and 500-level courses; a maximum 9 units at the 400-level.

Graduate Student Advising

The graduate program adviser provides overall supervision of the graduate program. The individual student chooses an adviser for the thesis or project from the Computer Science Department’s full-time faculty on the basis of the student’s particular interests and objectives.