The Master of Science (M.S.) degree has a strong emphasis on research with a resulting thesis and defense. There is coursework involved, but you should be prepared to focus your efforts in a specific area of Computer Science.

M.S. Plan A – Thesis

The MS Plan-A requires 37 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, and the preparation and defense of a thesis. It is a traditional research masters in computer science, which includes course work, research and a thesis. Students will be expected to find an advisor and form a committee per the graduate school rules. This degree prepares the student for a career in the Computer Science industry and education, or for further research as a doctoral student. This degree can be completed online with advisor approval, in-person and hybrid.

Degree requirements: Minimum of 36 credit hours total

• 2 credits of CS 501
• 4 credits from Group 1
• 4 credits from Group 2
• 4 credits from Group 3
• 12 credits of regular CS graduate level coursework
  • Up to 8 credits may be at the 400 level
• 4 credits of CS 793
• 6 credits of CS 699 or similar

Students are required to organize and present a thesis defense with their advisor and committee.

M.S. Plan B – Research Project

The Master of Science degree in Computer Science Plan B (Project) is a research-based option that includes advanced course work and a research project instead of a formal thesis. Advanced courses and research cover diverse areas such as the study of algorithm design, artificial intelligence/machine learning, bioinformatics, computer security, cyber-physical systems, databases, distributed systems, high performance computing, human computer interaction, networking, quantum computing and software engineering.  This degree prepares the student for a career in the Computer Science industry and education, or for further research as a doctoral student. This degree can be completed online with advisor approval, in-person and hybrid.

Degree requirements: Minimum of 36 credit hours total

• 2 credits of CS 501
• 4 credits from Group 1
• 4 credits from Group 2
• 4 credits from Group 3
• 16 credits of regular CS graduate level coursework
  • Up to 8 credits may be at the 400 level
• 6 credits of CS 695 or similar

Students are required to present their research in the form of a poster with their advisor and committee present.

Accelerated master’s programs (AMP) partner an undergraduate and a master’s degree graduate program within or between departments, in a streamlined path that reduces the time to earn a master’s degree. Undergraduate students are admitted internally by the participating programs and are guaranteed conditional admission to the partnering graduate program during their undergraduate career. Final admission to the graduate program and Graduate School is granted when students meet the minimum graduate program and Graduate School admissions criteria upon completion of the bachelor’s degrees.

What are the benefits of AMP?

Students accepted to this program are allowed to apply up to 13 credits of 500-level regular CS coursework to both the undergraduate and graduate degrees, provided they earn at least a B grade in those courses. At the graduate level, students must satisfy all the requirements of the M.S. degree as outlined in the department Graduate Student Manual (GSM).

Applicants must plan early, meet with undergraduate and graduate advisors, and submit an application to be reviewed by the Graduate Recruitment Committee (GRC). Applicants have the GRE requirement waived. Undergraduate and graduate units that partner to build an AMP will create a graduate admission policy for the undergraduate students that guarantees them contingent admission to the partnering graduate program at any point during the student’s undergraduate career. Final admission is conferred when the students meet the minimum AMP and Graduate School admissions criteria upon completion of their bachelor’s degrees. Students must complete the Graduate Admissions Application for the semester they plan to enter the Master’s Program.

Who can apply?

A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.000 is required for entrance into an AMP. Students apply by the end of the semester during which they complete core 300-level courses (for example CS 320, CS370 and CS 314). Late applications are accepted but may delay the student’s progression through the program.

To be eligible for the AMP applicants must be enrolled in the computer science B.S. program and:

• Show promise and/or evidence of high accomplishment through research or scholarly activity
• Have their application supported by (3) letters of recommendation
• Have a high GPA (3.0 minimum), especially in CS courses
• Either have, or currently taking, 3 or more of the following:
  • CS 314
  • CS 320
  • CS 345
  • CS 356
  • CS 370
  • Regular 400 level courses (excluding 480-499)

The CS Graduate Recruiting Committee (GRC) evaluates each individual application and responds before the start of the next semester.

What courses can I expect to take as a CS AMP student?

AMP students may take any 500-level regular CS courses (most CS courses are 4 credits each) for which they have the background to support success (any required prerequisites, etc.) and which may also contribute to a graduate plan program of study. Specific courses are determined in consultation with a faculty advisor. These courses also fulfill the senior electives requirements for the undergraduate degree.

AMP students will be required to take CS 501 during the duration of concurrent enrollment.

What else do I need to consider before applying?

There may be implications for federal student aid. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid for details. Undergraduate students enrolled in graduate level coursework should contact the Office of Financial Aid for information about the availability of financial aid for such coursework.

Students must complete the Graduate School application and pay the application fee during their final year as undergraduates. Graduate applications will not be accepted earlier than one year prior to starting the graduate program.

What is the difference between AMP and RAMp UP?

Students admitted into the AMP will pay undergraduate tuition on the graduate level courses and are allowed to double count 1 more course (4 more credits) than RAMp UP.

RAMp UP does not have an application process. It allows undergraduate students to try out graduate level coursework in a low commitment environment. Students are able to double count up to 9 credits of CS 500 level regular courses towards both their bachelors and masters degrees and students are permitted to double count those courses up to ten years after the completion of their bachelor’s degree. Students planning to utilize RAMp UP will still need to apply and be admitted to the graduate program in order to count the credits. Follow this link to learn more about RAMp UP.

The Master of Computer Science (Plan C) is a professional program that includes advanced coursework to acquire knowledge in diverse areas such as but not limited to the study of algorithm design, artificial intelligence/machine learning, bioinformatics, computer security, cyber-physical systems, databases, distributed systems, graphics, human computer interaction, networking, programming languages, and software engineering. This degree prepares the student for a career in the Computer Science industry and education. Can be completed online, in-person, or hybrid format.

Degree Requirements: Minimum 36 credits total

• 4 credits from Group 1
• 4 credits from Group 2
• 4 credits from Group 3
• 24 credits of additional CS graduate level coursework
  • Up to 8 credits may be at the 400 level

The Master of Computer Science (Plan C) is a professional program that includes advanced coursework to acquire knowledge in diverse areas such as but not limited to the study of algorithm design, artificial intelligence/machine learning, bioinformatics, computer security, cyber-physical systems, databases, distributed systems, graphics, human computer interaction, networking, programming languages, and software engineering. This degree prepares the student for a career in the Computer Science industry and education. Can be completed online, in-person, or hybrid format. Visit CSU Online to learn more about our MCS online program.

Degree Requirements: Minimum 36 credits total

• 4 credits from Group 1
• 4 credits from Group 2
• 4 credits from Group 3
• 24 credits of additional CS graduate level coursework
  • Up to 8 credits may be at the 400 level

The Ph.D. program in Computer Science allows students to further their knowledge of computer science through advanced coursework and to conduct cutting-edge research in diverse areas such as algorithm design, artificial intelligence/machine learning, bioinformatics, computer security, cyber-physical systems, databases, distributed systems, high performance computing, human computer interaction, networking, quantum computing and software engineering. Students find their personal research passion and learn to become researchers who can independently and collaboratively initiate and lead cutting-edge research careers in academia, government, or industry.

Degree requirements: Minimum of 72 credit hours total

• 2 credits of CS 501
• 4 credits from Group 1
• 4 credits from Group 2
• 4 credits from Group 3
• 12 credits of regular CS graduate level coursework
  • Up to 8 credits may be at the 400 level
• 8 credits of CS 793
• 3 credits of outside CS 500 level coursework
• 35 credits of CS 799 or similar

PhD students are expected to make timely progress towards degree milestones. These include the departmental research exam, the preliminary (proposal) exam, and the dissertation defense.

Group 1 (AI and Theory), Minimum 4 credits

CS 510 Image Computation

CS 520 Analysis of Algorithms

CS 522 Foundations of Cyber-Physical Systems

CS 523 Foundations of Computation

CS 525 Bioinformatics Algorithms

CS 540 Artificial Intelligence

CS 542 Natural Language Processing

CS 545 Machine Learning

Group 2 (Systems), Minimum 4 credits

CS 530 Fault-Tolerant Computing

CS 535 Big Data

CS 553 Algorithmic Language Compilers

CS 555 Distributed Systems

CS 557 Advanced Networking

CS 560/ECE 560 Foundations of Fine-Grain Parallelism

CS 570 Advanced Computer Architecture

CS 575 Parallel Processing

Group 3 (Software Engineering & Information Assurance), Minimum 4 credits

CS 514 Software Product and Process Evaluation

CS 515 Software Maintenance & Evolution Not currently offered

CS 517 Software Specification and Design Not currently offered

CS 518 Distributed Software System Development Not currently offered

CS 533 Database Management Systems

CS 556 Computer Security

CS 559 Quantitative Security

CS 567 3D User Interfaces