Computer Science, M.S.

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The Master of Science in Computer Science program at UALR reflects current trends in the computer science discipline and provides students with a solid theoretical and practical foundation for careers in computer science and/or advanced graduate studies.

The curriculum consists of two parts: 1) core and 2) specialization course work. Core curriculum refers to required courses that provide students with fundamental knowledge and skills. Building on the core foundation, the specialization course work allows students the opportunity to select electives to acquire more in-depth knowledge and skills in the students’ specific areas of interest.

To satisfy the requirements for the master’s degree, in addition to the course work, students must complete one of the following program options: thesis, project, or comprehensive examination.

The program is accessible to day and evening students and lends itself to full- and part-time study.

Additional information is available at Computer Science website.

Admission Requirements

Baccalaureate degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a related discipline from an accredited institution
Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (4.0 scale). However, in some cases, if the GRE score is above the minimum desired score, a GPA lower than 3.0 can be considered for full/conditional admission.
Where applicable, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 80 or above or equivalent IELTS score is recommended.
On the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test, the desired scores are a quantitative reasoning score of 155 or above, a verbal reasoning score of 145 or above, and analytical writing score 3.0 or above.
Completion of deficiency course work, if conditional admission is granted.

For more information, visit the Computer Science website.

Deficiency Course Work

All students seeking admission to the program must have completed (with a grade of B or greater in each course) undergraduate course work equivalent to the following:

CPSC 2380 - Data Structures and Algorithms
CPSC 2382 - Introduction to Computer Systems and Assembly Language
CPSC 3375 - Database Concepts I
or
CPSC 4375 - Software Engineering
CPSC 3380 - Operating Systems Concepts
CPSC 3383 - Programming Languages
CPSC 3482 - Computer Organization I
MATH 1451 - Calculus I
MATH 1452 - Calculus II
MATH 2310 - Discrete Mathematics

Students who have not completed such course work must compensate for deficiencies by taking CPSC 5399 . Courses taken to compensate for deficiencies are not credited towards the degree. Exception: students with a single deficiency course remaining may register for that class and graduate classes as long as no prerequisites are violated.

Waiver of deficiency courses is at the discretion of the Computer Science Graduate Committee.

Program Requirements

Core Course Work

All students must take the following 5 courses (15 credit hours):

Specialization Course Work

Students must choose five specialization classes (three if the thesis option is selected) from the department’s graduate-level courses. Students are strongly encouraged to select courses with the guidance of their graduate advisors with the goal of in-depth exploration of a particular area of computer science. Students may take a maximum of two 5000-level courses as part of their specialization course work. Additionally, the total number of special topic/independent study classes cannot exceed two. Substitution of up to two graduate electives from other disciplines (in particular Applied Science, Systems Engineering, Information Science, and Mathematical Sciences) for specialization course work is at the discretion of the Computer Science Graduate Coordinator.

Transfer of credit hours earned elsewhere

Maximum of six (6) graduate credit hours can be transferred into the graduate degree plan.

Program Options

All students must complete one of the following options:

Graduate Project: 33 credit hours, consisting of 30 hours of course work plus three credit hours of CPSC 7398 Graduate Project .
Graduate Thesis: 30 credit hours, consisting of 24 hours of course work plus six credit hours of Thesis (CPSC 8100 -CPSC 8600 ).

Students choosing the project or thesis options must complete the core curriculum prior to enrolling in CPSC 7398 Graduate Project or CPSC 8100 -CPSC 8600 Thesis. Additionally, these students must form a Thesis/Project Committee must have at least two members, including the advisor, from the Computer Science Department and can have at most one member from other departments. Following the recommendation of the Thesis/Project Committee, the student must schedule an oral proposal presentation and a defense for the graduate project or thesis.

Performance Requirements

Students receiving a C grade will be warned that their academic performance is unacceptable and their status will be reviewed by the Computer Science Graduate Committee, which will suggest corrective action.
Courses with grades of B or greater may not be repeated.
Deviation from the degree plan requires the approval of the Computer Science Graduate Committee.
Conditionally admitted students must earn a Grade Point Average (GPA) above 3.5 in the first 9 hours and may not receive a grade of incomplete (I).

Academic Advising

Each semester, academic advising is required for every student prior to course registration. A copy of the approved courses must be filed with the Graduate School.

Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available. Contact the Computer Science graduate coordinator for information.

Graduation Requirements

Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in an approved program of study and satisfying all requirements specified in Performance Requirements.
Successful completion of one of the program options specified in Program Options.