CSE MS Program
Prof. Gagan Agrawal
Grad Studies Chair
CSE MS Programs
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Components of Requirements
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Total Credit Requirements
Graded Credit Requirements
(Foundational) Core Requirements
Applied Core Requirements
Limit on Primarily Undergrad Classes
Outside CSE classes
MS Examination
Project Option
Credit Requirements
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MS thesis
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MS Non-Thesis, W/O Project
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30 total, 20 graded
33 total, 30 graded
MS Non-thesis, with Project
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33 total, 24 graded, 6 project credits
Types of Classes (MS students)
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Foundational Core Classes - 6xxx (see list)
Applied Core Classes – 5xxx or 6xxx (see list)
Primarily Undergrad Courses
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Other 5000 and 6000 level letter graded courses
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5xxx, 2 credits
Meets with a 3 credit 3xxx or 2xxx course
Mostly for making up deficiencies in background
5xx9 replaces 788s, research-oriented but letter graded
Research Credits
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888s replaced by 6xx9
Independent Study (793) is now 8193
999s for MS students - 6998 and 6999
Foundational Core
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Each Core Class Extended to be 3 Semester Credits
– CSE 6321 - Theory
– CSE 6331 - Algorithms
– CSE 6341 - PL
– CSE 6421 - Architecture
– CSE 6431 – OS
All MS Students Need to Take
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CSE 6331 (Algorithms)
CSE 6321 (Theory) OR CSE 6341 (PL)
CSE 6421 (Architecture) OR CSE 6431 (OS)
Masters Comprehensive: 2 hour exam in each area (6 hours total,
over 1 ½ days)
Timing for Comprehensive Exmas
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August (2012 onwards)
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March (2013 onwards)
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Just before Fall Classes start
During spring break (middle of spring semester)
2 days, 3 2-hour exams (August 2013
onwards)
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Day 1 morning, Day 1 afternoon, Day 2 morning
Applied Core
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6 classes from the following areas
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AI, High Performance, Graphics, Networking, DB,
Compilers
All 3 credits each
See MS Program Document for Course numbers
Thesis students need 1, non-thesis need 2
Primarily Undergrad Courses
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11 classes in semester system
– See program document for numbers
– 2 credit classes (a 2 credit 5xxx class meets with a 3 credit
3xxx or 2xxx class)
– At most 6 credits or 3 classes
Non-CSE Classes
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Limit of 6 credits in semesters
Must be on topics closely related to CSE
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Check with advisor first!
Maths, Statistics, ECE courses are usually OK
English, Sociology etc. are not OK
Masters Examination
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Thesis Option
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Comprehensive Exams for Non-Thesis
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Thesis defense
See earlier slides
Masters Examination for Project
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See later slides
Project Option
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Semester
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6 S/U credits over 2 terms
An implementation Project working with CSE
faculty
A 6-8 page project report
Might be able to take MS Examination in a
different format (See Next Slide)
Project Option MS Exam (New)
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Only if you have a B average in core classes
You take MS Examination Based on Project
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Skip written comprehensive exam
A longer project report
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Form a committee with at least 2 CSE Faculty
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10 single spaced pages
Including your project supervisor
Have a 1 hour oral examination
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Presentation and Q/A
Transfer Credits
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Only for graduate classes taken as a
graduate student
At most 9 credits towards MS degree
Please contact Dr. Babic
Clarification/Questions
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Documents
Your academic advisor
Your academic advisor 
Please do not e-mail me or ask to meet me
– 350 graduate students to be managed in 10% of my time !!
– Already dealing with 3000 grad program related e-mails
annually
– I can answer clarification questions if approached by
your advisor!