There are three different tracks to a Master's degree:
- Thesis track
- Project track
- Courses-only track
These three options are summarized in the following table. To
understand all of the requirements for the Master's degree, however,
you will also need to read the rest of the information linked in the Master's Degree Menu.
| Thesis Track | Project Track | Courses-Only Track |
|
Total Credits on Program of Study
|
30 |
30 |
30 |
| Total Course Credits on Program of Study |
20 |
26 |
30 |
| 500-Level Course Credits on Program of Study |
at least 11, not counting CS 590 |
at least 17, not counting CS 575 |
at least 21 |
| 400-Level Course Credits on Program of Study |
at most 9
|
at most 9
|
at most 9 |
| CS 590 Thesis Credits on Program of Study |
exactly 10 |
not allowed |
not allowed |
| CS 575 Project Credits on Program of Study |
not allowed |
exactly 4 |
not allowed |
| Who It's For |
Students who
- demonstrate exceptional aptitude for critical thinking
- are interested in learning about research, and/or
- want to explore the possibility of pursuing a PhD degree (but aren't sure yet)
|
Students who
- want to include a project overseen by a faculty member in their program of study
- have sufficient computer science coursework in their background for the MS degree
- show evidence of both good writing skills and the preparation needed to tackle an independent project
|
Students who
- desire the most coursework possible in preparation for a career
- would be better served by more coursework as a result of lack of computer science preparation in their undergraduate degree
|
| Special Notes |
Requires invitation from a faculty member who will act as thesis advisor. |
Requires acceptance from a faculty member who will act as project advisor |
NA |
Back to Master's Degree Menu
Updated: 2009-08-27
