Miami University           1
For information, contact:
Director of Graduate Programs
Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering
205 Benton Hall, 513-529-0340
CECgrad@MiamiOH.edu
http://www.cse.MiamiOH.edu/csmasters
The Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering offers a master's degree program in computer science to students who hold a bachelor's degree in computer science or a closely related field. Students will complete advanced coursework in computer science, and have the option of pursuing one of three tracks:
Academic Track, Industry Track with Research Experience, or the
Industry Track. The Academic Track is recommended for students who want grounding in research and intend to pursue doctoral work.
In this track you have the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member to complete a research-based thesis. The Industry Track with Research Experience is appropriate for students that want a research experience but expect to enter the computing profession upon graduation. Students in this track have the opportunity to complete an independent research project under the direction of a faculty member. The Industry Track is designed for those students who intended to pursue a career in the computing industry. This track offers additional course work to broaden the student's background.
Depending upon the student's background and selected track the degree is expected to require one to two years of study.
Entry into the graduate program requires completion of a bachelor's degree in computer science, or a closely related field. Specifically, successful applicants to our program should have mastered the following undergraduate topics:
• Imperative and/or functional programming
• Object-oriented programming
• Basic algorithms and/or complexity
• Computer organization and architecture
• Concurrent and/or parallel programming
• Software development methods and tools
• Differential and integral calculus
• Probability and statistics
• Discrete mathematics or linear algebra
Successful applicants usually also have:
• Undergraduate GPA: Equivalent of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale
• GRE scores: Verbal, 35th percentile or better. Quantitative, 60th percentile or better. Analytical writing, 25th percentile or better.
• TOEFL (when required): 80+ internet-based, 100+ preferred.
Applicants are ranked for admission based on these criteria, recommendation letters, and statement of purpose.
Undergraduate students may apply to participate in the combined bachelors/master’s program. This program allows the student to pursue a master’s degree in an accelerated manner while simultaneously pursing a bachelor’s degree. It is a great opportunity to deepen your knowledge and research skills. Please contact the department for more information about the combined program.
(33 semester hours)
The master's degree curriculum requires the completion of 24 semester hours of major course work (that is, courses from the
“major courses” list below). In addition, each student must select a track, and complete the requirements of that track. The total semester hours required for the MCS degree is 33 hours of graduate study and any additional hours needed to satisfy any undergraduate deficiencies.
To successfully complete the program, students must satisfy both our breadth and depth course work requirements to guarantee that they graduate with the requisite computer knowledge. To complete the breadth requirement, satisfy the foundation and breadth requirements shown below. To complete the depth requirement, at least 4 breadth or elective courses must be at the 600 level.
You must take the following courses if you do not have equivalent course credit. None of these courses count toward the 24 credit hour graduate-level course work requirement. Also note that if you do not have a course equivalent to CSE 464/CSE 564, you must take CSE 564.
3 CSE 283 or CSE 381
CSE 385
Data Communication and Networks
Operating Systems
Database Systems
CSE 464/CSE 564 Algorithms
MTH 231 Elements of Discrete Mathematics
(33 credit hours)
Breadth Requirement
Select at least four courses from Theory, Systems, and
Applications, including at least one from each of the areas
1
Depth Requirement
Select four courses at the 600 level from the list of Major
Courses
2
Additional Requirement
CSE 610 Seminar in Computer Science
Program Track
Select, and complete the requirements for, a track
Total Credit Hours
12
12
3
3
3
3
6
33

2         Computer Science- Master
1
2
Within each area, particular CSE 620 offerings may be used if approved by the Graduate Program Director. The breadth requirement may also be satisfied by completing the 400-level version of a 500-level course with a grade of B or higher.
If you take a 600 level course to meet the breadth requirement, it will also meet the Depth requirement (for 600 level courses) and you will need to take an additional course from the list of Major
Courses to meet the credit hour requirement.
Courses that emphasize proofs and theoretical techniques.
CSE 564
CSE 573
CSE 664
CSE 667
Algorithms
Automata, Formal Languages, and
Computability
Advanced Algorithms
Cryptography
Courses that contain a significant amount of systems-level programming (memory management, concurrency control, assembly lanugage, or similar).
3
3
3
3
CSE 543
CSE 567
CSE 574
CSE 617
High Performance Computing &
Parallel Programming
Computer and Network Security
Compiler Design
Advanced Networks
Courses that include a significant amount of high-level programming, applying computer science techniques to solve problems or build problems.
3
3
3
3
3
3
CSE 586
CSE 618
CSE 627
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Graphics for Simulation and Virtual
Environments
Machine Learning
CSE 543 High Performance Computing &
Parallel Programming
CSE 564
CSE 565
CSE 567
CSE 570
CSE 571
CSE 573
CSE 574
CSE 585
CSE 586
CSE 587
CSE 615
CSE 618
CSE 620
Algorithms
Comparative Programming Languages
Computer and Network Security
Special Topics
Simulation
Automata, Formal Languages, and
Computability
Compiler Design
Advanced Database Systems
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
Game Design and Implementation
Mathematical Modeling
Graphics for Simulation and Virtual
Environments
Special Topics
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
CSE 621
CSE 626
CSE 627
CSE 628
CSE 631
CSE 664
CSE 667
CSE 690
Foundations of Software Engineering
Informational Retrieval Systems
Machine Learning
Advanced Simulation
Ontologies for Semantic Web
Advanced Algorithms
Cryptography
Graduate Research
At most 2 of these (6 hours) may be used as major courses
ECE 525
ECE 553
ECE 561
Digital Signal Processing
Communication Systems
Network Performance Analysis
This track is for students that wish to learn how to write for and publish in scholarly journals or conferences. This is the recommended track for students that intend to go on to a Ph.D. program in computer science. To complete this track, the student must write and defend a thesis, and take (in addition to the core requirements):
CSE 700 .
This track is for students that wish to work on a large independent research project supervised by a faculty member, but do not wish to learn scholarly writing and publishing. To complete this track, the student must create and publicly present a research project, and take
(in addition to the core requirements): CSE 700.
This track is for students that intend to pursue careers in industry, but wish to focus on more advanced coursework instead of research. Students in this track should take (in addition to all other requirements) two additional courses (6 credit hours) from the "major courses" list, and must have at least five major courses at the 600 level.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3