Computer Science, M.S.C.S.

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Priority Admission Application Deadlines: http://www.grad.usf.edu/majors

Also offered as a Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathway

Contact Information

College: Engineering
Department: Computer Science and Engineering

Contact Information: http://www.grad.usf.edu/majors

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers a thesis and non-thesis option for the degree of Master of Science in Computer Science (M.S.C.S.) The thesis option requires students to pursue a more concentrated range of topics. The non-thesis option offers students some experience in many areas of computer science. There is considerable freedom in the choice of the courses.

The breadth of subjects which are part of computer science together with the immense diversity of its applications, make it imperative that students in the Master’s major maintain close contact with the Graduate Director, or, if choosing the thesis option, with their major professor in order to achieve a coherent plan of study directed towards a specific goal. In particular, election of courses should only be made with prior consultation and approval of the Major Professor or the Graduate Director.

Major Research Areas:
An excellent selection of courses and laboratories support graduate studies in algorithms, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data mining, computer architecture, graphics, networks, computer vision, distributed systems, embedded systems, expert systems, formal verification, image processing, pattern recognition, robotics, databases, software engineering, computer security, compilers, programming languages, and VLSI design and CAD.

Admission Information

Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.

The GRE is required for all Ph.D. and M.S. applicants. The median GRE scores of recently admitted students include 770 on the Quantitative portion and a Verbal Total of 450.For GRE tests taken after August 1, we require a minimum of 161 on the Quantitative portion (81st percentile) and a minimum of 150 (44th percentile) on the Verbal. If a candidate is admitted to the M.S. major and later decides to join the Ph.D. major, the GRE requirement must be met by the candidate as part of the application process. The GRE will be waived for M.S. degree applicants with an undergraduate degree from an ABET-accredited United States university.
Three letters of recommendation.
Statement of purpose.
The applicant must also have mathematical preparation equivalent to that obtained from courses in Calculus through Differential Equations; knowledge of computer science and computer engineering, including logic design, computer architecture, data structure, operating systems and algorithms. The majority of students accepted to the Major possess an undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Mathematics. However, students who hold an undergraduate degree in a related field are encouraged to apply.

Curriculum Requirements

Total Minimum hours: 30 hours

Core Requirements - 9 Credit Hours
Electives - 12 Credit Hours
Non-thesis/Thesis - 9 Credit Hours Minimum

Core Requirements (9 Credit Hours)

Successful completion with a letter grade “B” or better of the three core graduate-level courses is required.

COP 6611 Operating Systems Credit Hours: 3
EEL 6764 Principles of Computer Architecture Credit Hours: 3
COT 6405 Introduction to the Theory of Algorithms Credit Hours: 3

Electives (12 Credit Hours Minimum)

With prior permission from the Graduate Director, students can take a maximum of 3 hours of Independent Study or Internship, a maximum of three (3) hours of one-hour seminar courses, and up to one graduate level course (3 credit hours) outside of the department.

Students must select at least 12 hours from the list of available graduate elective courses in consultation with the Graduate Director or individual advisor.

Non-thesis students need to take a minimum of 6 credits from the list of electives that are software related in the following topic areas: advanced algorithms, compilers, databases, parallel computing and distributed systems, computer security, data mining, machine learning, programming languages, or software engineering, as determined by the Graduate Director and documented in the Plan of Work.

Examples of Courses:
CAP 5400 Digital Image Processing Credit Hours: 3
CDA 5416 Computer System Verification Credit Hours: 3
CAP 5625 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Credit Hours: 3
CAP 5771 Data Mining Credit Hours: 3
EEL 5771 Introduction to Computer Graphics I Credit Hours: 3
CNT 6215 Computer Networks Credit Hours: 3
CAP 6415 Computer Vision Credit Hours: 3
CAP 6455 Advanced Robotic Systems Credit Hours: 3
CAP 6615 Neural Networks Credit Hours: 3
COP 6621 Programming Languages and Translation Credit Hours: 3
EEL 6706 Testing and Fault Tolerance in Digital Systems Credit Hours: 3
CAP 6736 Geometric Modeling Credit Hours: 3
CIS 6930 Special Topics Credit Hours: 1-5
CIS 6940 Graduate Instruction Methods Credit Hours: 1-4
CIS 6946 Internships/Practicums/Clinical Practice Credit Hours: 0-3
Or other graduate course approved by the Graduate Director

Thesis Option (9 Credit Hours Minimum)

The thesis option requires nine (9) credit hours of thesis in computer science related problems, as determined by the Major Professor and documented in the Plan of Work.

CIS 6971 Thesis: Master’s Credit Hours: 2-19 (9 Credit Hours Minimum)

Non-Thesis Option (9 Credit Hours Minimum)

The non-thesis option requires an additdional nine (9) credit hours of graduate level electives selected in consultation with the Graduate Director.

Comprehensive Exam

For students taking the thesis option, the requirement for a comprehensive exam is satisfied by the successful completion and defense of the thesis. Non-thesis option students must pass the comprehensive exam in the semester prior to the semester of graduation.

Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathway

Also available as a Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathway

University of South Florida

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