Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus
The MS program in Computer Science offers students the opportunity to prepare for careers in several areas of emphasis including software engineering, computer architecture, programming languages, theory of computing, operating systems, database systems, distributed computing, computer networks, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, and human computer interaction. The program is designed for maximum flexibility to allow students to concentrate in one or more areas of study.
Requirements for Admission
Students apply via Cal State Apply and must submit a transcript, resume, personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. No GRE scores required.
Eligibility for admission to the program requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and good standing at the last college attended. At minimum, the applicant must hold a Computer Science minor obtained as part of their undergraduate study, or they must have successfully completed introductory and upper-division Computer Science coursework in the amount equivalent to the Computer Science minor (an equivalent of about 18-22 semester units). Specifically, applicants are expected to have completed the equivalent of 18 semester units of coursework (4-6 courses) from the list below, prior to starting their MS in Computer Science study.
- Professional Responsibilities or Ethics
- Software Engineering
- Algorithms
- Programming Languages
- Operating Systems
Each course must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. These courses do not count toward the graduate degree.
Domestic students can be admitted conditionally classified and complete no more than 8 units of the prerequisite coursework at Cal Poly after admission before the condition is met. Domestic and International students can be admitted classified once all the prerequisite coursework has been completed prior to enrolling at Cal Poly. Please see MS Computer Science website for more information.
Minimum GPA: Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or computer engineering are required to have a minimum 3.0 grade point average, including a minimum 3.0 grade point average in major courses; applicants with a bachelor’s degree in a different field must have completed the required preliminary upper-division coursework listed above and have a minimum grade point average of 3.25 for all undergraduate coursework.
Application due date: Applications are accepted for Fall and Spring enrollment. Please see Graduate Student Dates and Deadlines for application deadlines.
Advancement to Candidacy
Conditionally classified students can advance to candidacy once all classification conditions have been met and at least 3 units have been completed with a 3.0 GPA. Classified students can advance to candidacy once at least 3 units have been completed with a 3.0 GPA.
Culminating Experience
The MS CS program is thesis only. For more information, please look at the MS Computer Science website.
The MS program in Computer Science offers students the opportunity to prepare for careers in several areas of emphasis including software engineering, computer architecture, programming languages, theory of computing, operating systems, database systems, distributed computing, computer networks, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, and human computer interaction. The program is designed for maximum flexibility to allow students to concentrate in one or more areas of study.
A blended program provides a potentially accelerated route to a graduate degree, with simultaneous conferring of both Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Students in the blended program are provided with a seamless process whereby they can progress from undergraduate to graduate status. Students are required to complete all requirements for both degrees.
Blended Options
BS Computer Science + MS Computer Science
BS Computer Engineering + MS Computer Science
BS Software Engineering + MS Computer Science
Units Double Counted
The number of units available to double-count depends on your undergraduate major and minor(s). Please see MS Computer Science website for more information.
Requirements for Admission for the Blended Program
Students apply directly to the program and not through Cal State Apply. Please see MS Computer Science website for application instructions.
- Prerequisites: must be a current BS student in an approved blended pairing program. Students must have completed all lower division classes and the GWR prior to transitioning to graduate status.
- Minimum GPA: 3.0
- Timeline for admission: See MS Computer Science website for admissions deadlines.
- Application materials: Resume, statement of purpose, and three letters of recommendation.
Program Learning Objectives
- Prepared for successful careers in a computing-related field, including careers that involve positions of technical leadership and advanced responsibility.
- Exposed to a broad range of computer science subjects in coursework that emphasizes technical subject matter.
- Able to perform, analyze, evaluate and synthesize computer science research, in particular, know how to present research findings in oral and written form.
- Prepared for life-long learning in the discipline of computer science, including continued formal graduate education.
- Aware of the impacts of computing technology on society and understand ethics and responsible professional conduct.
The MS degree requires at least 30 units beyond the undergraduate degree. Courses must be chosen according to the following requirements:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIRED COURSES | ||
| CSC 5590 | Thesis Preparation | 3 |
| CSC 5591 | Research in Computer Science 1 | 2 |
| CSC 5599 | Thesis | 4 |
| Research Methodologies | ||
| Select from the following: 1 | 6-10 | |
| Computer Security and Privacy | ||
| Software Security | ||
| Advanced Network Security and Privacy | ||
| System Security | ||
| Research in Operating Systems | ||
| Computer Graphics | ||
| Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Advanced Deep Learning | ||
| Computer Microarchitecture | ||
| Advanced High-Performance Embedded Systems | ||
| Research Topics in Computer Networks | ||
| Computer Systems | ||
| Graduate Electives | ||
| Select from the following: 2 | 4-6 | |
| Computer Microarchitecture | ||
| Digital Systems Design | ||
| Advanced High-Performance Embedded Systems | ||
| Research Topics in Computer Networks | ||
| Computer Systems | ||
| Distributed Computing | ||
| Modern Software Engineering | ||
| Computing Education Research and Practice | ||
| Special Advanced Topics in Software Engineering | ||
| Computer Security and Privacy | ||
| Software Security | ||
| Advanced Network Security and Privacy | ||
| Special Advanced Topics in Computer Security | ||
| System Security | ||
| Special Advanced Topics in Programming Languages | ||
| Advanced Theory of Decidability and Reducibility | ||
| Advanced Algorithmic Graph Theory | ||
| Advanced Algorithm Design and Analysis | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Research in Operating Systems | ||
| Special Advanced Topics | ||
| Special Advanced Laboratory | ||
| Special Advanced Activity | ||
| Cooperative Education Experience | ||
| Advanced Database Management Systems | ||
| Advanced Machine Learning | ||
| Distributed Computing | ||
| Special Advanced Topics in Computer Systems | ||
| Computer Graphics | ||
| Advanced Compute Shaders in Computer Graphics | ||
| Special Advanced Topics in Computer Graphics | ||
| Computational Linguistics | ||
| Special Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Advanced Deep Learning | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select any 4000-5000 level CSC or CPE courses 2, 3, 4 | 9 | |
| Total Units | 30 | |
- 1
Students with credit in CSC 4461 may substitute an additional 2 units of a course from Research Methodologies in place of CSC 5591.
- 2
A combined maximum of 6 units may be taken from CPE 4400, CPE 4491, CPE 4492, CPE 4493, CPE 4495, CSC 4091, CSC 4092, CSC 4093, CSC 4191, CSC 4192, CSC 4193, CSC 4291, CSC 4292, CSC 4293, CSC 4400, CSC 4495, CSC 4691, CSC 4692, CSC 4693, CSC 4791, CSC 4792, CSC 4793, CSC 4891, CSC 4892, CSC 4893, CSC 4991, CSC 4992, CSC 4993, CSC 5500 and CSC 5595; of which up to a combined 4 units may be taken from CPE 4400, CPE 4491, CPE 4495, CSC 4091, CSC 4191, CSC 4291, CSC 4400, CSC 4495, CSC 4691, CSC 4791, CSC 4891, CSC 4991, CSC 5500, and CSC 5595.
- 3
The following courses may not be used to satisfy this requirement: CSC 4460, CSC 4461, CSC 4260, CSC 4261, CPE 4260, and CPE 4261.
- 4
Non-CSC and non-CPE courses can be substituted with approval of the Graduate Committee.