The Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science is directed toward students with a computer science background who are looking for a program and courses that are more focused on software. This can be either a pure course option program, or it can incorporate either a project or a thesis. If a student chooses a degree option that incorporates a research experience, this MS degree may provide a solid stepping stone to future doctoral studies. All students in the MS in Computer Science program must have previously completed (as documented by their undergraduate transcript), successfully test to place out of, or complete at the start of their program the following courses: CSE 1301 Introduction to Computer Science and CSE 2407 Data Structures and Algorithms (or equivalent courses offered at other institutions).

Course Option

This option requires 30 units of graduate credit. Students must also follow the general degree requirements listed below and complete the breadth requirements.

Thesis/Project Option

Beginning in Fall 2025, students seeking to take the project or thesis option in our degree programs will register for CSE 7998 Master’s Capstone. CSE 7998 does not count toward the student's 30 required units of coursework to complete the degree until the student has successfully defended the project or thesis.

Students have the following options: 

• Upon successful defense of a 3-unit master’s project, 3 units of CSE 7998 will count toward the student's degree as a 5000-level CSE departmental course. These units may be used to satisfy a 5000-level breadth requirement if the work is deemed to match that requirement.
• Upon successful defense of a 6-unit master's project, 6 units of CSE 7998 will count toward the student's degree. 3 of these units may be used to satisfy a 5000-level breadth requirement if the work is deemed to match that requirement. The remaining units will satisfy a 5000-level CSE departmental course.
• Upon successful defense of a master's thesis, 6 units of CSE 7998 will count toward the student's coursework at the CSE 5000 level. In addition, breadth requirements will be waived for the student. The student must still complete 12 units of 5000-level departmental coursework alongside 6 units of CSE 7998 for a total of 18 units of departmental coursework at the 5000 level.

A student who successfully defends one of the three options listed above will have a notation added to their transcript to clearly indicate exactly which option (3-unit master’s project, 6-unit master’s project, or master’s thesis) was completed. Each semester, CSE 7998 will be graded with a letter grade. A grade of a C- or above is required in the first semester of a 6-unit project or thesis to continue the work in the final semester. As a master's project or thesis is considered to have unique content each semester, CSE 7998 is not a retakeable course, and a grade from a previous semester cannot be replaced. Students must also follow the general degree requirements listed below. Thesis students are exempt from the breadth requirements following the successful defense of their thesis. Students should refer to the department's Master's Program Handbook for additional details and guidance regarding projects and theses.

The Progress Report (two-semester theses and projects only)

Near the end of the first semester of a two-semester thesis or project, the student will submit a written progress report to the committee. The progress report will be used by the committee to evaluate student progress and to provide an opportunity to give feedback to the student. 

Preparing and Submitting the Progress Report

The progress report should include the following:

• A copy of the original scope and duration of the work to be performed (this can be obtained from the original proposal form). Students can contact the Graduate Coordinator to receive a copy of their original proposal form.
• A discussion of any major modifications/changes to the scope of the work to be performed
• An overview of the work that has been completed during the first semester of the thesis or project
• A discussion of the work yet to be completed and a timeline for completion

The progress report should be submitted via email to all members of the committee at least one week prior to the last official day of classes for the given semester.

Outcomes

Once submitted, the committee will confer privately to discuss the student's progress made during the first semester of the thesis or project. The committee will decide on one of three possible outcomes:

1. Thesis or project should continue without concern, indicating the student is making consistent progress and is on track to successfully complete the thesis or project on time.
2. Thesis or project should continue with concern, indicating the student is making some progress but is falling behind. Without change, the student is not likely to successfully complete the thesis or project.
3. Thesis or project should not continue, indicating the student is not making sufficient progress and the project or thesis should be terminated.  

The outcome determined by the committee will be communicated to the student by the department’s Graduate Coordinator prior to the official end of the semester. If the outcome is that the thesis or project should not continue, the student will not be enrolled in the second semester's units. 

Process for Termination of a Project or Thesis

Please note, starting in Fall 2024 and onward, master's project/thesis students will not be allowed to have an N grade submitted for a terminated project. Please contact the Graduate Coordinator as soon as possible regarding any questions for terminating a project/thesis. With that in mind, please review the following scenarios:

• For a one-semester project:
  • If it is terminated before the add/drop deadline, it will have no effect on the student's record.
  • If it is terminated after the add/drop deadline but before the Withdrawal deadline, it would leave a W on the student's transcript.
  • If it is terminated after the Withdrawal deadline, it could result in a failing letter grade on the student's transcript.
• For a two-semester project or thesis:
  • If the project/thesis is terminated during the first semester, it would follow the same timeline as the scenarios above for a one-semester project.
  • If the second semester of the project/thesis is terminated before the add/drop deadline, the second-semester credits of CSE 7998 would be dropped. 
  • If the second semester of the project/thesis is terminated after the add/drop deadline but before the Withdrawal deadline, the second-semester credits of CSE 7998 would leave a W on the student's transcript.
  • If the second semester of the project/thesis is terminated after the Withdrawal deadline, it could result in a failing letter grade on the student's transcript. 
  • For each of the three second-semester scenarios listed above: The student, pending advisor approval, would have the option to defend their first semester's work as a 3-credit project. (Any CSE 7998 units completed without a successful defense will not count toward the student's degree requirements.)

General Degree Requirements

• Breadth requirements include one departmental course from each of the following categories: Theory (T), Software Systems (S), and either Machines (M) or Applications (A). These courses must be at the 5000 level or above. Students may find a full list of S, M, T, and A courses on the CSE department's Resources for Current Master's Students page.
• 18 of the 30 required units must be CSE departmental courses at the 5000 level or above.
• Students may count up to 6 units of coursework taken outside of the CSE department toward their degree. In order for out-of-department courses to count toward a student’s degree, the student must request that the course be reviewed and approved by the department by contacting the Graduate Coordinator. The department will review the courses to ensure that they offer suitably technical graduate-level content. No more than 6 out-of-department units may be counted except in extraordinary circumstances, and no more than 12 units may be counted in any case. Once approved by the department, the out-of-department courses can only count toward the Electives section of the degree.
• Up to 12 units of 4000-level courses can count for graduate credit in the Electives section of the degree. 
• None of the 30 units may be taken as independent study (i.e., CSE 4000 or CSE 5999).
• Courses with an N designation do not count toward the master's degree.
• All 30 units required for the degree must be taken for a grade (i.e., not Pass/No Pass), and the grade received in each course must be C- or better.
• Per School of Engineering guidelines, students must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.70.

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