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Nov 21, 2024
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2024-2025 Graduate Catalog
Master of Science in Computer Science
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 Return to: College of Arts and Sciences
Students should consult the General Regulations section of the Graduate Catalog for additional information regarding Graduate School admission requirements, transfer credit, and other critical policies and procedures.
The Master of Science degree in Computer Science prepares students for a professional career in the computer science industry, IT industry, or computer science research. Typical graduates of the program may be employed as software developers, network engineers, database administrators, or further pursue a Ph.D. degree. Objectives of the program are as follows:
- To provide students with opportunities to refine their skills and core competencies in computer science through the advancement and development of concepts, techniques, and methodologies appropriate in the field.
- To facilitate the development of advanced skills in an environment that will ensure both a realistic and varied exposure to contemporary information processing problems.
- To promote the integration and application of cutting edge concepts and approaches in the computer science field.
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Prerequisite Requirements
Candidates for admission must have a baccalaureate degree in Computer Science or a related field from a regionally accredited four-year college or university.
Unconditional Admission
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (CS) or a related field from a regionally accredited four-year college or university with a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or a 3.0 grade point average for the last 60 semester hours. All hours attempted in the term in which the 60 semester hours were reached will be used to calculate the grade point average. Official transcripts are required.
- An acceptable score on the appropriate entrance exam [GRE 294 (920 on the old exam) (verbal plus quantitative).
Conditional Admission
For those students who cannot satisfy all unconditional admission requirements, conditional admission may be granted under certain circumstances. Individuals admitted on a conditional basis may satisfy the requirements for unconditional admission as follows:
- Students failing to achieve the minimum entrance exam score exam [GRE 294 (920 on the old exam) (verbal plus quantitative), may satisfy the test requirement by successfully completing nine semester hours of graduate CS courses with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
- Students not having a 2.5 undergraduate grade point average may satisfy the requirement by the successful completion of nine semester hours of graduate CS courses with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
- A student with a bachelor’s degree outside the field of CS may satisfy the bachelor’s degree requirement by completing ALL of the following courses or their equivalent:
- MTH 2215 - Applied Discrete Mathematics
- CS 2250 - Computer Science I and
- CS 2255- Computer Science II
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- CS 3360 - Concepts of Object Oriented Programming I
- CS 3310 - Foundations of Computer Science
- CS 3323 - Data Structures
- CS 4445 - Data Communication and Networking
Additional courses may be required by the CS Graduate Advisor depending on the student’s background. A student must complete all courses with a grade point average of 3.0. Note: To remain eligible for Federal Financial Aid, all undergraduate courses MUST be completed before students enroll in any graduate courses. Students receiving Federal Financial Aid may NOT enroll in undergraduate courses after they have begun
Transfer of Credit
A maximum of four courses (12 semester credit hours) taken at another regionally accredited institution, each with a “B” or better grade, can be applied toward the degree. These courses must be comparable in catalog description to Troy University courses in the department’s graduate program and must be recommended for transfer credit by the Chair of the Department of Computer Science and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. Non-thesis students who transfer a “core” course are still required to take a written comprehensive exam based on the material presented at Troy University.
Degree Options
There are two degree options: thesis and non-thesis. In the thesis option, the student must successfully complete and defend a thesis as well as complete other requirements stated below. See Thesis Guidelines for additional information. In the non-thesis option, the student must pass a written comprehensive exam and must successfully complete a research paper.
Degree Requirements
The successful completion of 33 semester hours, including 6 hours of thesis research for the thesis option and 33 semester hours, including 3 hours of research project for the non-thesis option, with an overall grade point average of 3.0, and successful completion of a thesis or a paper. If the student makes a “D” or “F” in a core course, the course must be retaken. In both cases, a student must complete the Core Courses and choose one of the several specialization concentrations.
Thesis
- Complete 33 SH of graduate-level courses to include 6 SH of course CS 6699 and 3 SH of CS 6625 ;
- Maintain a minimum overall 3.0 GPA;
- Successfully complete and defend a thesis; AND
- 6 hours of thesis research adn complete an approved research paper.
Non-Thesis
- Complete 33 SH of graduate-level courses to include 3 SH of CS 6625 ;
- Maintain a minimum overall 3.0 GPA;
- Pass the written comprehensive examination; AND
- Complete an approved research paper.
Curriculum
All courses offer three semester hours of credit.
Artificial Intelligence Concentration
Core Courses (9 sh)
Non-Thesis Option: (24 sh)
Elective Courses (15 sh)
Select 15 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Required Courses: (15 sh)
Elective Courses (9sh)
Select 9 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Bioinformatics Concentration
(Optionally, at least two graduate level courses taken in biology department can be counted towards the degree requirements.)
Core Courses (9 sh)
Non-Thesis Option: (24 sh)
Required Courses: (12 sh)
Elective Courses (12 sh)
Select 12 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Required Courses: (18 sh)
Elective Courses (6 sh)
Select 6 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Cloud and Big Data Concentration
Core Courses (9 sh)
Non-Thesis Option: (24 sh)
Elective Courses (15 sh)
Select 15 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Required Courses: (15 sh)
Elective Courses (9 sh)
Select 9 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses
Computer Network and Security Concentration
Core Courses (9 sh)
Non-Thesis Option: (24 sh)
Elective Courses (15 sh)
Select 15 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Required Courses: (15 sh)
Elective Courses (9 sh)
Select 9 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Cyber Security Concentration
Core Courses (9 sh)
Non-Thesis Option: (24 sh)
Required Courses: (12 sh)
Elective Courses (12 sh)
Select 12 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Elective Courses (6 sh)
Select 6 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Data Science Concentration
Core Courses (9 sh)
Non-Thesis Option: (24 sh)
Elective Courses (12 sh)
Select 12 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Required Courses: (18 sh)
Elective Courses (6 sh)
Select 6 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Software Development Concentration
Core Courses (9 sh)
Non-Thesis Option: (24 sh)
Elective Courses (15 sh)
Select 15 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Required Courses: (15 sh)
Elective Courses (9 sh)
Select 9 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Video Game Design Concentration
Core Courses (9 sh)
Non-Thesis Option: (24 sh)
Required Courses: (12 sh)
Elective Courses (12 sh)
Select 12 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Required Courses: (18 sh)
Elective Courses (6 sh)
Select 6 hours of advisor-approved Computer Science graduate courses.
Comprehensive Exam
A candidate that chooses the non-thesis option must pass the comprehensive exam before the degree can be awarded. The comprehensive exam should be taken during the students’ last semester of course work. The exam format is a written exam covering the basic core courses only. Students must pass all of the 3 sections of the exam.
Thesis/Project Proposal
Students who choose the thesis option must prepare a thesis proposal no later than the second graduate academic semester and must be approved by the thesis proposal committee.
Elective Courses: (12/15 sh)
Other Electives (approved by adviser-semester hours vary)
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