Computer Science, MS, Exclusively Online

Location(s): Exclusively Online Program

The Master of Science in Computer Science degree (MS CS) is offered in the exclusively online format. The MS CS focuses on the design and application of computing systems, including the design of hardware and software components, hardware-software trade-offs, and the diverse applications of computing. This program offers two optional tracks in special topics in computer science: the Artificial Intelligence Track and the Cybersecurity Track. Students may choose to complete the MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online with or without a track.

Admission Requirements

Eligible holders of a baccalaureate degree in computer science or a related field are invited to apply for admission to the MS CS program in the exclusively online format.
Students whose undergraduate degrees are not in computer science may be required to complete some preparatory work in addition to fulfilling the program requirements listed below.
The Exclusively Online option must be chosen at the time of application to the program.
All policies and procedures regarding Exclusively Online Programs, including information on international student eligibility, may be found within the University’s Exclusively Online Programs webpage.

Program Requirements

All MS CS, Exclusively Online students must complete 31 credits of computer science graduate courses.

To complete the MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, students must maintain at least a B average in all graduate coursework.

MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, with Thesis Option

Core Courses (9 credits)

Complete the following three core courses (total of 9 credits):

CS Z571 - Programming Languages

Computer Systems Elective Course (3 credits)

Students must take at least one course from the following three computer systems electives:

CS Z520 - Computer Architecture & Organ
CS Z528 - Computer Networks
CS Z550 - Operating Systems

Additional Elective Courses (15 credits)

Complete five additional elective courses approved by your faculty advisor (making a total of nine courses). Students may choose from the three computer systems electives or from the list below.

Thesis (4 credits)

Students must write and defend a four-credit master’s thesis.

CS Z599 - Masters Thesis

MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, with Project Option

Core Courses (9 credits)

Complete the following three core courses (total of 9 credits):

CS Z551 - Systems Programming
CS Z571 - Programming Languages
CS Z575 - Design & Analysis Comp Algorit

Computer Systems Elective Course (3 credits)

Students must take at least one course from the following three computer systems electives:

CS Z520 - Computer Architecture & Organ
CS Z528 - Computer Networks
CS Z550 - Operating Systems

Additional Elective Courses (18 credits)

Complete six elective courses approved by your faculty advisor (making a total of ten courses). Students may choose from the three computer systems electives or from the list below.

Termination Project (1 credit)

Students must develop and present a one-credit project.

CS Z595 - Termination Project

Elective Course List

With approval of the faculty advisor and Graduate Director, at most, two elective courses may be taken from other departments or schools in Watson College or from other schools within the University.

CS Z501 - Programming Systems and Tools
CS Z505 - Software & Eng. Project Management
CS Z515 - Social Media Data Sci Pipeline
CS Z517 - Intr to Human Comp Interaction
CS Z524 - Intelligent Mobile Robotics
CS Z526 - Internet of Things
CS Z527 - Mobile Systems Security
CS Z532 - Database Systems
CS Z533 - Information Retrieval
CS Z535 - Introduction To Data Mining
CS Z536 - Intro to Machine Learning
CS Z537 - Introduction to Deep Learning
CS Z540 - Adv Topics - Obj Oriented Prog
CS Z541 - Game Dev For Mobile Platforms
CS Z542 - Design Patterns
CS Z544 - Programming for the Web
CS Z545 - Software Engineering
CS Z547 - High Performance Computing
CS Z552 - Intro to Cloud Computing
CS Z553 - Software Security
CS Z555 - Intro to Visual Info Processin
CS Z556 - Intro to Computer Vision
CS Z557 - Intro To Distributed Systems
CS Z558 - Intro to Computer Security
CS Z559 - Science of Cyber Security
CS Z560 - Computer Graphics
CS Z561 - Topics in Data Privacy
CS Z565 - Intro to Artificial Intelligen
CS Z572 - Compiler Design
CS Z576 - Program Models Emerg Platforms
CS Z601 - CS Research Methodology
CS Z634 - Web Data Management
CS Z636X - Adv Topics of Machine Learning
All CS Z580, CS Z581, and CS Z680 Special Topics courses

MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) Track

Students who take the AI track in the MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, must still complete the three core courses, a project or thesis and fulfill the requirement to take at least one of the computer systems electives. The MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, requires 31 total credit hours, with or without a track.

To complete the AI track in the MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, students must replace four electives in the MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, with the following:

Two required artificial intelligence courses:

CS Z536 - Intro to Machine Learning
CS Z565 - Intro to Artificial Intelligen

Two artificial intelligence electives chosen from the following list:

CS Z515 - Social Media Data Sci Pipeline
CS Z517 - Intr to Human Comp Interaction
CS Z524 - Intelligent Mobile Robotics
CS Z535 - Introduction To Data Mining
CS Z537 - Introduction to Deep Learning
CS Z555 - Intro to Visual Info Processin
CS Z556 - Intro to Computer Vision
CS Z636X - Adv Topics of Machine Learning
CS Z580, CS Z581, and CS Z680 Special Topics courses - Certain approved CS topics courses in areas such as Computational Social Science, Deep Learning, and Natural Language Processing.

MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, with Cybersecurity Track

Students who take the cybersecurity track in the MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, must still complete the three core courses, a project or thesis, and fulfill the requirement to take at least one of the computer systems electives. The MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, requires 31 total credit hours, with or without a track.

To complete the cybersecurity track in the MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, students must replace four electives in the MS in Computer Science, Exclusively Online, with the following:

Two required cybersecurity courses:

CS Z558 - Intro to Computer Security
CS Z559 - Science of Cyber Security

Two cybersecurity electives chosen from the following list:

CS Z527 - Mobile Systems Security
CS Z528 - Computer Networks
CS Z536 - Intro to Machine Learning OR CS Z537 - Introduction to Deep Learning
CS Z553 - Software Security
CS Z561 - Topics in Data Privacy
CS Z580, CS Z581, and CS Z680 Special Topics courses - Certain approved CS topics course in areas such as Hardware and Systems Security and Data Privacy.

Additional Information about the Program

For more information on the Computer Science, MS, Exclusively Online program, please refer to the Computer Science Graduate Programs website. To apply to the Computer Science, MS, Exclusively Online program, please visit the University Graduate Admissions website.