Computer Science, MS

Program Coordinator/Graduate Program Director: Nic Herndon (C-108 Science and Technology Building; 252-328-9696; herndonn19@ecu.edu)

The Computer Science, MS is designed to provide students with practical skills balanced with theoretical knowledge, and professional practices needed to excel in a rapidly changing computing industry. The program also prepares students to pursue further graduate work leading to a PhD degree.

I. Admission Requirements

Applicants to this program are required to follow the admissions requirements and process as stated in the admission and readmission section of the graduate catalog and the graduate admissions website. A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3. 0 is required for regular admission. Those who do not meet the requirement may be admitted by exception. Decisions will be made on a case by case basis. Nonnative speakers must submit an acceptable score on one of the language tests approved by the Graduate School or have evidence of at least 1 year of college/university study in the United States.

Students whose bachelor’s degrees are in engineering, mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, or similar analytic and quantitative disciplines may be required to complete additional courses before being admitted to the degree, such as discrete mathematics and data structures, as recommended by the graduate program director.

II. Degree Requirements

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be submitted for all graduate courses. No more than 6 s.h. of course work evaluated as C may be counted toward the degree.

The degree requires a minimum of 30 s.h. as follows:

A. Core - 9 s.h.

At least three courses must be taken from the following list of core courses, one taken from each category:

1. Foundation

2. Systems

3. Software

B. Options - 21 s.h.

Select one of the following options:

1. Thesis (6 s.h. of CSCI 7000 ) and electives (15 s.h.)

A thesis is required for this option. Students summarize their research in the form of a formal written document and deliver an oral presentation. Thesis research is typically conducted over two semesters. Six (6 s.h.) count toward the degree requirements.

Fifteen (15) s.h. of 6000-level computer science (CSCI) courses and 6000-level software engineering (SENG) elective courses are required for this option. The semester hours from SENG courses must not exceed three (3).

To select electives, go to the list of CSCI and SENG electives in part III.

CSCI 7000 - Thesis

2. Project (3 s.h. of CSCI 6995) and electives (18 s.h.)

A research project with a written report is required for this option. Students select topics for their projects in consultation with research advisors prior to the beginning of the last semester of study. The project involves collecting research literature on a topic of interest, critically examining it, and summarizing the research in the form of a formal technical report. This option may also involve developing software systems or proof of concept systems. Students must deliver an oral presentation of their findings. The research project is typically completed during the last semester of study.

Eighteen (18) s.h. of 6000-level computer science (CSCI) courses and 6000-level software engineering (SENG) elective courses are required for this option. The semester hours from SENG courses must not exceed six (6).

To select electives, go to the list of CSCI and SENG electives in part III.

CSCI 6995 - Research Project

3. Coursework (21 s.h. of electives only)

Twenty-one (21) s.h. of 6000-level computer science (CSCI) courses and 6000-level software engineering (SENG) elective courses are required for this option. The semester hours from SENG courses must not exceed six (6).

To select electives, go to the list of CSCI and SENG electives in part III.

The coursework option requires an e-Portfolio comprehensive assessment. Please contact the graduate program director for more information.

III. Electives List

Electives should be carefully selected after consultation with the graduate program director. If one of the following courses has been taken to fulfill the degree’s core requirement, it cannot also count as an elective.

IV. Comprehensive Assessment Requirement

All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment requirement. This program requires the following:

Thesis option (thesis with oral presentation)
Project option (research project with written report)
Coursework option (e-Portfolio)

V. Plan of Study Form Requirement

Students are required to complete a Plan of Study Form in consultation with the graduate program director before they begin their graduate study. This is usually done during the week before the first day of classes of the first semester.