Degree Requirements for the MS in Computer Science
Whenever possible, CSC course numbers below link to full course outlines in PDF format. (Although they are the most recent formal descriptions available, they may not reflect the current textbooks being used or the faculty member currently teaching the course. Students should check with the department office if they have questions about textbooks or instructors.)
Courses without full outlines are linked to catalog descriptions.
A. Required Courses (13 Units)
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
3 |
Programming Language Principles (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering) | |
3 |
Data Models for Database Management Systems (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering) | |
3 |
Computer Systems Structure (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering) | |
3 |
Algorithms and Paradigms (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering) | |
1 |
Research Methodology (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering, a passing score on the Writing Proficiency Exam, completion of at least 12 units of 200-level courses in CSC) | |
| *Students whose undergraduate preparation has covered a significant amount of the material in CSC 204 or 205 may be given a waiver by the department from taking one or more of these courses. In this case, for each course waived with department approval, the student must take three additional units of Restricted Electives, described in Section C below. |
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B. Breadth Requirement (9 units)
Select one course from three of the following areas:
Computer Architecture/Computer Engineering
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
3 |
Microprocessor Systems Architecture (CSC 205) | |
3 |
Computer-Aided Systems Design and Verification (CSC 205) | |
3 |
Hierarchical Digital Design Methodology (CSC 205 or CPE 64 or equivalent) | |
3 |
Advanced Computer Architecture (CSC 205 and fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering) |
Database Management Systems
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
3 |
Bioinformatics: Data Integration and Algorithms (CSC 130, STAT 50, and graduate status; BIO 10 recommended) | |
3 |
Database System Design (CSC 174 or CSC 204) |
Information Assurance and Security
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
3 |
Computer Security (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering) | |
3 |
Cryptography Theory and Practice (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering) | |
3 |
Computer Forensics (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering) | |
3 |
Network Security (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering) |
Intelligent Systems
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
3 |
Knowledge-Based Systems (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering) | |
3 |
Artificial Intelligence (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering) | |
3 |
Machine Learning (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering) |
Networks and Communications
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
3 |
Computer Networks (CSC 138 or CPE 138) | |
3 |
Distributed Systems (CSC 204 and fully classified graduate status in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering) | |
3 |
Advanced Data Communication Systems (CSC 138 or CPE 138 or CSC 205) |
Software Engineering
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
3 |
Software System Engineering (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering; OR fully classified graduate status in Computer Engineering and CSC 131) | |
3 |
Software Engineering Metrics (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering) | |
3 |
Software Requirements Analysis and Design (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering) | |
3 |
Advanced Software Engineering Project Management (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering) | |
3 |
Software Verification and Validation (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering; OR fully classified graduate status in Computer Engineering and CSC 131) | |
3 |
Software Architecture (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering) | |
3 |
Formal Methods in Secure Software Engineering (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering) | |
3 |
Human-Computer Interface Design (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science or Software Engineering) |
System Software
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
3 |
Advanced Operating Systems Principles and Design (CSC 205) | |
3 |
Computer Security (fully classified graduate status in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Computer Engineering) | |
3 |
Principles of Compiler Design (CSC 151 or CSC 201) |
C. Restricted Electives (3-6 units)
Prior to taking an elective course, students must obtain approval from their advisor, and either the Graduate Coordinator or the Department Chair. Students should choose their electives according to the following guidelines:
- One of the following upper-division courses: CSC 142, CSC 148, CSC 155, CSC 159, CSC 165, CSC 176, CSC 177, as long as they have not been used toward another degree. (A maximum of six undergraduate units may be used in any graduate program.)
- Any 200-level CSC courses not already used to satisfy the breadth requirement, with the exception of CSC 295 and CSC 299. Students not required to take CSC 204 or CSC 205 must, for each course waived, take an additional three units in this category.
- Related 200-level courses from outside the Computer Science Department may only be taken with prior department approval and may not have been used in another program.
D. Culminating Requirement (2-5 units)
Units |
Course # |
Course Title and Prerequisite |
2-5 |
Select one of the following: |
|
| Master's Thesis (CSC 209; advanced to candidacy) | ||
| Master's Project (CSC 209; advanced to candidacy) | ||
Students are required to make an oral presentation of their master's project or conduct an oral defense of their master's thesis. The recommended department-level deadline in each semester for submitting an MS project or thesis signed by the committee chair and its members to the Graduate Coordinator is 10 weekdays before the University deadline.
