Computer Science (M.S.)
Background courses
Students with insufficient background for graduate-level computer science courses may need to take background coursework. Credits do not apply toward the M.S. program. Students entering the program without an undergraduate degree in computer science may need to take one or more of the following, depending on their background:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CISC 5002 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| CISC 5004 | Computer Programming C++ | 3 |
| CISC 5006 | Data Structures | 3 |
| CISC 5008 | Computer Organization | 3 |
Degree Requirements
The master's degree requires 30 credits of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree, which includes 24 credits of coursework and six credits of a culminating project. It can be completed by a full-time student in three or four semesters.
A "B" average (3.000) must be maintained in courses taken for the master's degree.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | ||
| CISC 5825 | Computer Algorithms 1 | 3 |
| or CISC 6890 | Advanced Computer Algorithms | |
| CISC 5200 | Computer Language Theory 2 | 3 |
| One Software thematic cluster course 3 | 3 | |
| One Software or Networks and Systems thematic cluster course 3 | 3 | |
| CISC 5325 | Database (or one Networks and Systems thematic cluster course) 3, 4 | 3 |
| CISC 5595 | Operating Systems (or one Networks and Systems thematic cluster course) 3, 5 | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Two courses from any of the five thematic clusters: 3 | 6 | |
Software | ||
Networks and Systems | ||
Artificial Intelligence | ||
Data Analytics | ||
Cybersecurity | ||
| Capstone or Thesis (one of the below options) | 6 | |
Thesis Paper & Research | ||
| M.S. Computer Science Thesis I | ||
| M.S. Computer Science Thesis II | ||
Elective Course and Capstone | ||
One additional elective course from any of the five thematic clusters 3 | ||
| Capstone Project in Computer Science | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Students who have not taken an undergraduate or graduate-level algorithms course should take CISC 5825 Computer Algorithms. Other students can take CISC 6890 Advanced Computer Algorithms, or (with permission of the program director) substitute another Software Thematic Cluster course.
- 2
Students who have taken an undergraduate course similar to CISC 5200 Computer Language Theory may substitute any Software Thematic Cluster course, with the permission of the program director.
- 3
A list of courses for each thematic cluster can be found on the Thematic Clusters page.
- 4
Students who have not taken an equivalent undergraduate or graduate course should take CISC 5325 Database.
- 5
Students who have not taken an equivalent undergraduate or graduate course should take CISC 5595 Operating Systems.
CIP Code
11.0101 - Computer and Information Sciences, General.
You can use the CIP code to learn more about career paths associated with this field of study and, for international students, possible post-graduation visa extensions. Learn more about CIP codes and other information resources.
Software thematic cluster courses
Courses in this group have the CSSO attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CISC 5030 | Internet and Web Programming | 3 |
| CISC 5040 | JavaScript | 3 |
| CISC 5310 | Video Game Design and Development | 3 |
| CISC 5410 | Mobile Device Programming | 3 |
| CISC 5520 | Programming Languages | 3 |
| CISC 5850 | The Social Network | 3 |
| CISC 6100 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| CISC 6352 | Advanced Computational Finance | 3 |
| CISC 6375 | Object Software Design | 3 |
| CISC 6400 | Robotics and Animation | 3 |
| CISC 6795 | Java Programming | 3 |
| CISC 6890 | Advanced Computer Algorithms | 3 |
Networks and Systems thematic cluster courses
Courses in this group have the CSNS attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CISC 5030 | Internet and Web Programming | 3 |
| CISC 5410 | Mobile Device Programming | 3 |
| CISC 5550 | Cloud Computing | 3 |
| CISC 5597 | Distributed Systems | 3 |
| CISC 5640 | Nosql Database Systems | 3 |
| CISC 5728 | Security of e-Systems and Networks | 3 |
| CISC 6110 | Computer Networks: Architecture, Design, and Modeling | 3 |
| CISC 6630 | Wireless Security | 3 |
| CISC 6680 | Intrusion Detection and Network Forensics | 3 |
| CISC 6725 | Computer Networks | 3 |
| CISC 6735 | Wireless Networks | 3 |
| CISC 6750 | IOT Forensics and Security | 3 |
| CISC 6880 | Blockchain Technology | 3 |
| CISC 6935 | Advanced Distributed Systems | 3 |
Artificial Intelligence thematic cluster courses
Courses in this group have the CSAI attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CISC 5109 | Big Data Analytics | 3 |
| CISC 5700 | Cognitive Computing | 3 |
| CISC 5800 | Machine Learning | 3 |
| CISC 5900 | Information Fusion | 3 |
| CISC 6000 | Deep Learning | 3 |
| CISC 6210 | Natural Language Processing | 3 |
| CISC 6400 | Robotics and Animation | 3 |
| CISC 6525 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| CISC 6550 | Systems Neuroscience | 3 |
Data Analytics thematic cluster courses
Courses in this group have the CSDA attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CISC 5109 | Big Data Analytics | 3 |
| CISC 5352 | Machine Learning in Finance | 3 |
| CISC 5450 | Mathematics for Data Science | 3 |
| CISC 5640 | Nosql Database Systems | 3 |
| CISC 5700 | Cognitive Computing | 3 |
| CISC 5790 | Data Mining | 3 |
| CISC 5800 | Machine Learning | 3 |
| CISC 5850 | The Social Network | 3 |
| CISC 5900 | Information Fusion | 3 |
| CISC 5950 | Big Data Computing | 3 |
| CISC 6000 | Deep Learning | 3 |
| CISC 6500 | Bioinformatics | 3 |
| CISC 6550 | Systems Neuroscience | 3 |
| CISC 6625 | Educational Data Mining and Learning Analytics | 3 |
| CISC 6700 | Medical Informatics | 3 |
| CISC 6745 | Data Visualization | 3 |
Cybersecurity thematic cluster courses
Courses in this group have the CSCY attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CISC 5009 | Network Essentials | 3 |
| CISC 5650 | Cybersecurity Essentials | 3 |
| CISC 5660 | Data Science for Cybersecurity | 3 |
| CISC 5728 | Security of e-Systems and Networks | 3 |
| CISC 5750 | Information Security and Ethics | 3 |
| CISC 5770 | Intelligence in Cybersecurity | 3 |
| CISC 6070 | Red Teaming | 3 |
| CISC 6600 | Cloud Computing Security | 3 |
| CISC 6630 | Wireless Security | 3 |
| CISC 6640 | Privacy and Security in Big Data | 3 |
| CISC 6650 | Forensic Computing | 3 |
| CISC 6660 | Applied Cryptography | 3 |
| CISC 6670 | Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity | 3 |
| CISC 6680 | Intrusion Detection and Network Forensics | 3 |
| CISC 6690 | Cybersecurity in Business | 3 |
| CISC 6750 | IOT Forensics and Security | 3 |
| CISC 6800 | Malware Analytics and Software Security | 3 |
| CISC 6920 | Incident Response and Risk Management | 3 |
| CISC 7050 | Penetration Testing | 3 |