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Special Master's in Computer Science

Grad Students in a Computer Lab

A Master's degree in Computer Science (CS) is available to students enrolled in a PhD or MS/PhD program in the following fields:

• Mathematics
• Applied Mathematics
• Information Science
• Statistics

(A Master's degree in Mathematics is also available to students enrolled in the PhD program in Computer Science; consult the Field of Mathematics for information.)

Requirements

1. 4 residence units
2. A Computer Science field member on the special committee
3. Passing an A-exam in the student's major field of study
4. Knowledge of CS 2110, CS 3110 and CS 4410/4411
5. Two of the following courses: CS 5410 or CS 6410 (not both), CS 6110, CS 6120, CS 6320, CS 6820
6. In addition to 4 and 5, any two CS courses numbered 4000 and above (lecture/practicum pairs such as CS 4120/4121, CS 4320/4321, CS 4620/4621, and CS 4700/4701 count as one course).

All courses taken in fulfillment of these requirements must be taken for grade credit, and grades of B– or better in all coursework are required.

Minor amendments to these requirements for a particular student, such as the substitution of one course for another, may be made on a case-by-case basis with the unanimous approval of the special committee and the DGS of CS.

Administration

A PhD candidate wishing to receive a master's degree from CS must apply formally. The student must obtain approval from all members of the special committee. There is an application form available for this purpose (link below). The application must be submitted at the time of admission to candidacy (that is, at the time of the A-exam), and should be submitted to the CS Graduate Office in Upson Hall, where it will be kept on file and communicated to the Graduate School.

Formal registration in CS is not required.

The member of the student's special committee representing CS is primarily responsible for supervising the content of the program of study as it pertains to the master's degree. That member must be present at the A-exam. It is expected that substantial progress toward fulfilling the requirements for the master's degree will have been made by the time of the A-exam, and a suitable demonstration of understanding at the A-exam will be expected. It is not necessary for all requirements to have been met at the time of the A-exam, but the degree will not be awarded until all requirements are satisfied.

When all requirements have been satisfied, a copy of the application form should be signed by all members of the special committee and DGS of CS and submitted to the CS Graduate Office in Upson Hall for communication to the Graduate School.

Special Circumstances

If the student should leave the PhD program or transfer to a different major field that is not one of the approved major fields, the student may still receive the master's degree in CS if all other requirements have been met.

Financial Support

Financial support will still be the responsibility of the major field.

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