Computer Science MS

Overview

The School of Computing Sciences and Computer Engineering offers the M.S. degree in Computer Science for students who already hold a B.S. degree in Computer Science or a closely related field. This master’s program is designed to provide a fundamental understanding of theoretical and applied computer science that will allow the student to begin exploring special topics and state-of-the-art subjects. It will prepare a student for advanced applications, development, and research positions in industry or for doctoral-level studies.

Campus: Hattiesburg, Gulf Coast

Admission Requirements

A student applying for admission to this program will need the following to complete their application:

• Resumè
• Statement of Purpose
• Three Letters of Recommendation

In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School Admission Requirements and Procedures , applicants are encouraged to submit additional information that documents their potential for doing graduate work in computer science. This would include industrial work experience and training, and graduate work already completed. Successful applicants are expected to have completed the following courses (or equivalent) with GPA >= 3.0: CSC 306, 307, 413*, 415* (see the Southern Miss Undergraduate Bulletin for course descriptions), as well as mathematics through integral calculus (MAT 168) and discrete math (MAT 340). Students with acceptable or reasonable deficiencies in undergraduate course work may be granted conditional admission; these students will be advised what undergraduate courses they should complete before taking upper-level graduate courses.

* May be taken as graduate courses (CSC 513, 515) during graduate career, but the student may only be offered conditional admission rather than regular admission, until they complete these courses.

Program Requirements and Academic Policies

A student must complete a minimum of 33 hours of coursework, including a thesis (CSC 698) or a capstone project (CSC 699). The thesis must be approved by a 3-member committee. The chair of this committee must be from the School (one member may be from outside the School). No committee is required for the students with the CSC 699 project option. 

See General Degree Requirements  and General Academic Information  for additional requirements and policies.

Course Requirements (33 hours)

• CSC 616-695 (at least 21 hrs)
  • CSC 691  can be taken for up to 6 hrs
  • CSC 695  can be taken for up to 6 hrs
• CSC 510-591 (at most 9 hrs)
• CSC 513 - Algorithms  (3 hrs; only if the student hasn’t completed CSC 413 before)
• Thesis (6 hrs) or Project (3 hrs)