Master of Science in Computer Science

The Master of Science in Computer Science is a 30 credit hour program with two concentration areas, Computer Systems Applications and Software Engineering. It is designed to:

• Produce graduates that are ready to work in industry, government, health, and education. The graduates will have both practical and theoretical educational experience in Computer Science/Software Engineering with some hardware skills
• Provide computing educational experience that is rich in state-of-the-art laboratories, industry-related projects, and practical design skills, which highlight teamwork, computer-based problem solving, communication skills, and ethical values needed for computing professions and software engineers
• Prepare students to pursue a Doctorate degree in computer science, and software engineering through a motivating, extensive, and state-of-the-art educational experience

Admissions requirements

In order to be admitted to the program, the applicant:

1. Must hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a minimum GPA 3.0.
2. Must have knowledge of a modern programming language, such as C++ or Java, Data Structures and Algorithms, Machine Organization, and Discrete Mathematics. The level of knowledge required in these areas is equivalent to that taught in undergraduate courses CSC-345 Software Construction or CSC-413 Java, CSC-443 Data Structures, CSC-271 Assembly Language or EE-480 Computer Architecture, MTH-142 Calculus II, and MTH-276 Discrete Mathematics.
3. Will make up for deficiencies in undergraduate preparation by taking appropriate courses or their equivalent without graduate credit. The department may add/change courses as necessary.
4. Applicants with academic or work experience equivalent to any of these courses may have that course waived after passing a department test with a grade of at least “B.”

Computing Systems Applications Concentration

The Computing Systems Applications Concentration provides specialized knowledge and experience in the theory, algorithm design, and implementation of various software systems and applications. It allows the study of the principles and tools adopted by computer software professionals.

Concentration Requirements

1. Students must take the following six courses:

• CSC-528 Database Systems
• CSC-531 Data Mining
• CSC-544 Web Technology
• CSC-549 Seminar for Graduate Students/CSC-599 Computer Science Thesis
• CSC-551 Parallel Systems
• CSC-567 Distributed Processing

2. The Graduate Seminar (CSC-549, 3 cr.) or Thesis (CSC-599, 6 cr.) must be taken during the last semester(s) of study. These courses require students to carry out a project in a field of Computer Science or submit a thesis in selective areas of Computer Science.

3. The remaining courses (maximum four) should be appropriate graduate level courses CSC, or taken from the Department Recommended List of Courses.

Software Engineering Concentration

The Software Engineering Concentration provides specialized knowledge and experience in applying a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to software development, operation, and maintenance. Software Engineering is an engineering discipline, which is concerned with all aspects of software production including analysis, design, development, testing and support of software systems

Concentration Requirements

1. Students must take the following six courses:

• CSC-515 Software Engineering
• CSC-550 Software Quality Engineering/CSC-525 Software Design
• CSC-555 Software Requirements Engineering
• CSC-557 Software Systems Project Management
• CSC-569 Secure Software Engineering
• CSC-573 Software Engineering Project /CSC-585 Software Engineering Thesis

2. The Graduate Seminar in Software Engineering (CSC-573, 3 cr.) or Software Engineering Thesis (CSC-595, 6 cr.) must be taken during the last semester(s) of study. These courses require students to carry out a project in a field of Software Engineering or submit a thesis in selective areas of Software Engineering.

3. The remaining courses (maximum four) should be appropriate graduate level CSC courses, or taken from the Department Recommended List of Courses.

Contact us

For more information, send e-mail to daimikj@udmercy.edu.