Computer Science, M.S.C.S.

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College of Engineering
Department: Computer Science and Engineering

Major Contacts, Deadlines, and Delivery Information

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

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 – minimum of 164 (81st percentile)Q; 150 (44th percentile)V . 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.
Resume.
PDF of unofficial GRE Scores.
PDF of unofficial transcripts.
PDF of English proficiency, if needed.
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.

*For applicants who have successfully completed USF’s Pathway to Computing Graduate Certificate, only Pathway transcripts are required.

Curriculum Requirements

Total Minimum hours: 30 hours

Core Requirements - 9 Credit Hours
Electives - 12 Credit Hours
Non-thesis Option - additional 9 Credit hours of electives
Thesis Option - 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)

Students in the non-thesis option complete a minimum of 21 Credit hours.
Students in the thesis option complete a minimum of 12 credit hours.

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:
CAI 5846 Digital Image Processing Credit Hours: 3
CAI 5005 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Credit Hours: 3
CAI 5135 Data Mining Credit Hours: 3
EEL 5771 Introduction to Computer Graphics I Credit Hours: 3
CAP 6736 Geometric Modeling Credit Hours: 3
CAI 5815 Autonomous Mobile Robots Credit Hours: 3
CAP 6109 Brain-Computer Interfaces Credit Hours: 3
COP 6625 Compilers Credit Hours: 3
CDA 6328 Cryptographic Hardware and Embedded Systems Credit Hours: 3
CIS 6373 Foundations of Software Security Credit Hours: 3
CAP 5745 Interactive Data Visualization Credit Hours: 3
CAP 6101 Mobile Biometrics Credit Hours: 3
CIS 6214 Privacy-Preserving and Trustworthy Cyber-Infrastructures Credit Hours: 3
CIS 6900 Independent Study Credit Hours: 1-19
CIS 6930 Special Topics Credit Hours: 1-5
taken as:
- Advanced Robotics Credit Hours: 3
- Computational Methods for Imaging Credit Hours: 3
- Deep Learning Credit Hours: 3
- Emerging Topics in Net Security Credit hours: 3
- CMOS-VLIS Design Credit Hours: 3
- Practical Hardware Security Credit Hours: 3
- Natural Language Processing Credit Hours: 3
- Seminar in AI Credit Hours: 1
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 additional nine (9) credit hours of graduate level electives for a total of 21 credit hours of 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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