The
Master of Science in Computer Science is 33-credit degree program for persons seeking to enhance their professional qualifications and stature through graduate study in
computer science. Individuals who graduate from the program will acquire knowledge and develop problem-solving skills that prepare them to hold a variety of scientific and technical positions in the area of computing applications. Graduates will also be prepared for further work at the doctoral level.
Entrance requirements
The program is designed for students having a strong undergraduate foundation in computer science. Students whose undergraduate degree is not in computer science may be admitted to the program and demonstrate the necessary background by completing or exempting five prerequisite courses.
A student entering the program must meet all admission requirements of the Hood College Graduate School. In addition, the student must have completed undergraduate courses, or their equivalent, in differential and integral calculus.
Prerequisite courses The prerequisite courses represent background knowledge and skills necessary for successful completion of degree requirements. A student holding a baccalaureate degree in computer science will normally exempt all prerequisite courses. Other students may, depending on their academic background and upon review by the department, exempt some or all of the prerequisite courses. Upon acceptance into the program, the student should consult with the program director to determine which prerequisite courses, if any, must be completed. This determination will normally be made through analysis of the student's undergraduate academic transcript. The credits received for prerequisite courses completed at Hood are in addition to the 33 credits needed for the degree.
Prerequisite Courses:
- MATH 505 Discrete Mathematics
- CS 503 Programming and Algorithms I)
- CS 504 Programming and Algorithms II
- CS 508 Computer Organization and Design
- CS 519 Advanced Data Structures
Degree requirements
A student must complete 33 credits, including 18 credits of Core Requirements. The Core courses represent the general body of knowledge and skills that all students in the program are expected to master.
The following core courses are required for students entering
after Summer, 2008:
- CS 520 Algorithm Analysis
- CS 524 Principles of Software Engineering
- CS 564 Operating Systems
- CS 528 Artificial Intelligence
- One of following two courses:
- CS 561 Computer Architecture
- CS 571 Programming Languages
Students who entered prior to Summer, 2008, should consult with their academic advisor to discuss their core requirements.
The program offers several options for completing the remaining 15 credits (18 credits for those entering after Summer, 2008). A student may take all the credits as elective work, or may take 9 credits within a Specialty Track and the remaining credits as elective work. The choice of which option and which elective work best suit the student's goals should be made in consultation with a faculty advisor. The department currently offers a Specialty Track in Artificial Intelligence and a Specialty Track in Networks and Distributed Computing.
