Degree Requirements
Total Program: 30 Credit Hours
- Graduate coursework must include CS 5500 (Operating Systems), CS 5700 (Computability, Automata, and Formal Languages) and CS 5720 (Design and Analysis of Algorithms), if they have not been taken previously as upper division undergraduate courses.
- Up to 6 semester hours of graduate courses can be taken from other departments if first approved by the student’s MS Advisory Committee.
- At most four computer science courses may be taken that are cross-listed. Note that the three required courses are cross-listed; if taken, they are counted among the four. A student has a maximum of six years to complete the program.
Thesis (Plan I)
Students who intend to write an MS thesis should develop a thesis proposal in conjunction with their major advisor that outlines the topics, scope, and objectives of the proposed thesis. The thesis topic will normally be in a common interest area to both the student and the thesis advisor. The thesis proposal should be discussed with and approved by the student’s MS Advisory Committee before the student begins the research and writing of the thesis. A signed copy of the proposal must be placed in the student’s permanent file.
The thesis should represent the best writing possible by the student and is not to be written or extensively edited by the student’s major advisor. Original research work is praised though not necessary. Implementation and survey type theses are acceptable as is quality work related to the student’s professional activities. However, the work must be accomplished while the student is enrolled in the master’s program. The thesis is intended to furnish objective evidence of the student’s ability to use independently and constructively the information, skills, and powers acquired in his/her graduate work. Students should begin writing their thesis early so there will be sufficient time for evaluation by the thesis advisor and rewriting by the student.
In mechanical features, all theses must comply with the specifications of the Graduate School. These specifications are contained in the document entitled “Thesis and Dissertation Manual” which is available on the Graduate School website. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with this document so that a thesis acceptable to the Graduate School can be produced. This document specifies thesis form and standards, not technical content. Technical content is subject to the approval of the MS Advisory Committee. A copy of the thesis should be uploaded to the Computer Science Department GSC repository following the instructions given at the time of scheduling the defense.
Non-Thesis Option (Plan II)
Students who choose the non-thesis option must complete a project worth 3 credit hours.
The project option may involve a large programming or hardware development effort, which is usually done over two semesters, and includes the requirements and certification specifications and a user handbook. Alternatively, the project option may involve producing a research paper, which is to be submitted for publication with the student and advisor as co-authors.
The format and content of the project report or paper are not controlled by University regulations but should follow the format of a thesis as described above. Students choosing the project option should develop a project proposal in conjunction with their major advisor that outlines the topics, scope, and objectives of the proposed project. The project topic will normally be in a common interest area to both the student and major advisor. The project proposal should be discussed with and approved by the student’s MS Advisory Committee before the student begins the work associated with the project. A signed copy of the proposal must be placed in the student’s permanent file.
See also the Graduate School requirements .
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