Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science

The Master of Science in Computer Science program produces graduates with a high level of competency in understanding, applying, and enunciating the modern concepts, principles, methods, and theories necessary for the design and implementation of computing systems.

The Master of Science in Computer Science program provides students with an in-depth education geared toward meeting the needs of business and industry in Florida and throughout the United States. The program's goal is to produce graduates with a high level of competency in understanding, applying, and enunciating the modern concepts, principles, methods, and theories necessary for the design and implementation of computing systems.

Students in the program receive a broad background in the areas of programming systems and languages, computer architecture, and computer science theory while specializing in a research area. Research interests of the computer science faculty include bioinformatics and system biology, computer architecture, computer graphics, computer security and digital forensics, computer vision, database, image and video processing, machine learning and AI, networking and mobile computing, parallel computation, software engineering and systems, theory of computing, algorithms and quantum computing, virtual reality and HCI.. The program has a long and respected history, having conferred MS degrees since 1968.

Students successfully completing this program will have exhibited breadth as well as depth of capability involving both theoretical aspects of computer science and practical considerations of computing.

The Computer Science MS program offers both a thesis and nonthesis option with each option requiring a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree. At least half of these hours must be at the 6000-level. Both options require 12 credit hours of required courses. Thesis students must take 12 credit hours of electives and a minimum of 6 credit hours of thesis. Nonthesis students must take 18 credit hours of electives and complete a culminating experience as determined by the program's graduate committee.

Total Credit Hours Required: 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree

Program Prerequisites

An undergraduate degree in Computer Science is desirable but not required. Applicants without a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science must demonstrate an understanding of the material covered in the following undergraduate courses:

• CDA 3103C: Computer Logic and Organization
• COP 3502C: Computer Science I
• COP 3503C: Computer Science II

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

• Complete all of the following
  • Complete the following:
    • CDA5106 - Advanced Computer Architecture (3)
    • COT5405 - Design and Analysis of Algorithms (3)
  • Both CDA 5106 and COT 5405 must be completed with a B or better. Students earning a B- or below will have to repeat the course(s) until they earn a B or better. At least half of the credit hours used to meet program requirements must be at the 6000 level.

Research Pair

• Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Completed with B or better grade. Students are required to take a pair of courses from a single Approved Research Pair area. Research Pairs include at least one 6000-level course. See Program Details below for the Approved Research Pairs.

Elective Courses

• Earn at least 12 credits from the following types of courses: All students, both thesis and nonthesis, are required to complete 12 credit hours of electives that are selected after consultation with the student's adviser.

Thesis/Nonthesis Option

• Complete 1 of the following
  Thesis Option
  • Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: XXX 6971 Thesis (prefix determined by disciplinary area of your thesis adviser, e.g., CAP, CDA, CEN, COP or COT 6971) Six credits of thesis are required with the professor who directs the student's thesis. The thesis experience is expected to span two semesters. Thesis students who are full-time must continue to enroll in 3 credit hours of thesis course work until the thesis requirement is satisfied, even if it goes beyond the minimum of 6 credit hours of thesis. Students are required to prepare and defend a formal thesis in accordance with university requirements.
  Nonthesis Option
  • Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Additional Elective Coursework. The nonthesis option requires at least 6 additional credit hours of electives beyond the 12 credit hours of electives described above. In addition, nonthesis students are required to submit a portfolio listing their independent learning experiences. Students in the nonthesis option may not take more than 6 credit hours of independent study (6908) and/or directed research (XXX 6918).

Additional Requirements

• At least half of the credit hours of both thesis and nonthesis students must be at the 6000 level. Furthermore, exclusive of independent study and directed research and a total of 24 credit hours of formal courses must be earned exclusive of thesis. Approval may be granted for no more than 6 credit hours of electives to be taken outside of Computer Science, and such approval must occur prior to taking these outside courses.

Grand Total Credits: 30

Application Requirements

Application Deadlines

Financial Information

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.

Approved Research Pair courses:

Operating Systems area:

• COP 5611 and COP 6614
• COP 5621 and COP 6614

Computer Graphics area:

• CAP 5725 and CAP 6721
• CAP 5727 and CAP 6721

Computer Vision area:

• CAP 5415 and CAP 6411
• CAP 5415 and CAP 6412
• CAP 5415 and CAP 6419

Computer Architecture area:

• CDA 5110 and CDA 6107

Networking area:

• CNT 5008 and CNT 6707

Software Engineering area:

• CEN 5016 and CEN 6075
• COP 5021 and CEN 6075
• CEN 5016 and CEN 6081
• COP 5021 and CEN 6081

Database area:

• COP 5711 and COP 6731

Bioinformatics area:

• CAP 5510 and CAP 6517
• CAP 5510 and CAP 6515
• CAP 6515 and CAP 6517

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence area:

Mixed Reality Engineering area:

Computer Security area:

The above list is only meant to provide some examples and is not comprehensive.

Equipment Fee

Students in the Computer Science MS program pay a $34 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $17 per semester.

Independent Learning

The Independent Learning Requirement is met by the successful completion of a master's thesis or a set of research project based (could be partial) classes for nonthesis students.