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Programs

Department of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science graduate program was established in 1974 and has a history of more than 50 years of world-class research, especially in artificial intelligence/human-computer interaction, software systems, and the theory of computation. We provide a collegial, interactive environment in which faculty directly mentor students. All faculty and PhD students, regardless of their area, are familiar with each other’s work. This is possible only in a relatively small, close-knit department.

Our philosophy is that computer science research is a community endeavor, crucially dependent on the vitality of the local community in which it takes place. We believe that graduate students are the heart of our research productivity, and we make them first-class department citizens. Graduate students serve on all department committees and are crucial members of faculty and graduate student recruitment efforts.

Information about faculty and research can be found on the Department of Computer Science website.

AdmissionsLink to section

Applying to Master's ProgramsLink to section

Master of Science in Computer Science Required Materials
  • $70 Application Fee
  • Personal statement (Statement of Purpose)
  • Transcripts
  • English language proficiency scores
  • Three letters of recommendation

There is no specific minimum threshold on GRE or English language proficiency scores. The admission decision is based on the overall application package.

All the application materials (including transcripts and letters of recommendation) must arrive before the deadline. Students should initiate their application several weeks ahead of these deadlines to ensure that all materials are received on time.

Applying to Doctoral ProgramsLink to section

PhD in Computer Science Required Materials
  • $70 Application fee
  • Personal statement (Statement of Purpose)
  • Transcripts
  • English language proficiency scores
  • Three letters of recommendation

There is no specific minimum threshold on GRE or English language proficiency scores. The admission decision is based on the overall application package.

All the application materials (including transcripts and letters of recommendation) must arrive before the deadline. Students should initiate their application several weeks ahead of these deadlines to ensure that all materials are received on time.

AcademicsLink to section

Master's Degrees and RequirementsLink to section

Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits. Of these credits:

  • All courses must be 400/500-level. Up to 10 credits can be courses of 1-2 credit hours.
  • Up to six hours can be from research credits, supervised by a faculty member.

MS students must pass a comprehensive examination (or essay), typically in the last semester before graduation.

Some students may need to take one or more 100- or 200-level prerequisite courses. These courses are not counted toward the 30-credit requirement and are typically taken by students who do not have an undergraduate degree in computer science.

Courses offered by departments other than computer science but that are relevant to the degree may be included in the 30 hours, subject to approval of the graduate education committee. In any case, at least 18 hours of the 30 must be courses offered by the Department of Computer Science.

Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 by the end of their second semester and throughout the rest of their time in the program, and must obtain a least a 2.0 in each course that counts toward the 30 credit hours.

Doctoral Degrees and RequirementsLink to section

For detailed information about program requirements, please see the PhD Student Handbook.

Students in the PhD in Computer Science program are required to complete:

  • Six breadth courses
  • CSC 400: Problem Seminar
  • All of the area requirements for one of the following areas:
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human-Computer Interaction
    • Systems
    • Theory
  • PhD thesis proposal and proposal defense
  • PhD dissertation and defense
  • TA Assignments

Graduate Course TitlesLink to section

  • CSC 400: Problem Seminar
  • CSC 404: Multiprocessor Architecture
  • CSC 412: Human Computer Interaction
  • CSC 413: Introduction to Augmented and Virtual Reality
  • CSC 416: AR/VR Interaction Design
  • CSC 427: Introduction to Dip Using Python
  • CSC 440: Data Mining
  • CSC 442: Artificial Intelligence
  • CSC 443: Computational Neuroscience
  • CSC 444: Machine Reasoning
  • CSC 445: Deep Learning
  • CSC 446: Machine Learning
  • CSC 447: Natural Language Processing
  • CSC 448: Statistical Speech and Language Processing
  • CSC 449: Machine Vision
  • CSC 450: Data Science for Linguistics
  • CSC 451: Advanced Computer Architecture
  • CSC 452: Computer Organization
  • CSC 453: Collaborative Programming and Software Design
  • CSC 454: Programming Language Design and Implementation
  • CSC 455: Software Analysis and Improvement
  • CSC 456: Operating Systems
  • CSC 457: Computer Networks
  • CSC 458: Parallel and Distributed Systems
  • CSC 460: Technology and Climate Change
  • CSC 461: Database Systems
  • CSC 462: Computational Introduction to Statistics
  • CSC 463: Data Management Systems
  • CSC 464: Computer Audition
  • CSC 465: Intermediate Statistical Methods
  • CSC 466: Frontiers in Deep Learning
  • CSC 478: Comp: Systems Security
  • CSC 480: Computer Models and Limitations
  • CSC 481: Introduction to Cryptography
  • CSC 482: Design and Analysis of Efficient Algorithms
  • CSC 483: Topics in Cryptography
  • CSC 484: Advanced Algorithms
  • CSC 486: Computational Complexity
  • CSC 487: Sampling Algorithms
  • CSC 488: Analytic Methods in Computer Science
  • CSC 489: Algorithmic Game Theory
  • CSC 490: Supervised Teaching
  • CSC 491: Independent Study
  • CSC 494: Master’s Internship
  • CSC 495: Advanced Research CSC
  • CSC 495A: Master’s Research in Absentia
  • CSC 512: Computer Methods/Cognitive Science
  • CSC 513: Practicum in Augmented and Virtual Reality
  • CSC 57(X): Graduate Seminar
  • CSC 577: Advanced Topics in Computer Vision
  • CSC 579: Machine-Checked Proofs Using Coq
  • CSC 591: Independent Study
  • CSC 594: Internship
  • CSC 595: PhD Research in CSC
  • CSC 595A: PhD Research in Absentia
  • CSC 595B: PhD Research in Absentia Abroad
  • CSC 597: Computer Science Colloquium
  • CSC 895: Continuation of Master’s Enrollment
  • CSC 897: Master’s Dissertation
  • CSC 897A: Master’s Dissertation in Absentia
  • CSC 985: Leave of Absence
  • CSC 986V: Full Time Visiting Student
  • CSC 995: Continuation of Doctoral Enrollment
  • CSC 997: Doctoral Dissertation
  • CSC 997A: Doctoral Dissertation in Absentia
  • CSC 997B: PhD in Absentia Abroad
  • CSC 999: Doctoral Dissertation
  • CSC 999A: Doctoral Dissertation in Absentia
  • CSC 999B: PhD in Absentia Abroad