Course Requirements for the Master's Degree: 30 units
Continuous enrollment is required. A maximum of 9 semester units of computer science or 6 semester units of computer science related transfer credit may be applied toward the degree. Graduate Time Limit:All requirements for the degree are to be completed within seven years of the end of the enrollment in the oldest course applied toward the degree. See Graduate Education in The University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.
Requirements for the MS Degree in Computer Science:
Completion of all requirements as established by the department graduate committee, the graduate advisory committee, and the Office of Graduate Programs, to include:
1. Completion of an approved program consisting of 30 units of 400/500/600-level courses as follows:
(a) At least 24 units in the discipline of Computer Science.
(b) completion of the following graduate core courses:
CSCI 630 Software Engineering 3.0 FA Prerequisites: CSCI 330 and classified graduate standing.
CSCI 640 Operating Systems 3.0 SP Prerequisites: CSCI 340 and classified graduate standing.
CSCI 650 Design & Analysis of Algorithms 3.0 FA Prerequisites: CSCI 311, MATH 317, and classified graduate standing.
(c) At least 18 of the units required for the degree in 600-level courses.
(d) Not more than 9 semester units of transfer and/or extension credit (correspondence courses and U.C. extention course work are not acceptable).
2. Completion and final approval of one of the following three plans as approved by the Graduate Coordinator:
(a) Examination Plan. This plan includes 30 units of in-class course work, and a passing score on the written comprehensive examination covering the core. The examination may be taken a maximum of two times. Failure on the second attempt will result in dismissal from the graduate program in Computer Science.
b) Project Plan. The project plan includes 27 units of in-class course work and 3 units of project preparation (CSCI 699P). The project must reflect a personal in-depth study of a topic in an applied area of computer science. A formal written description of the project must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Programs for approval and accession to the library.
(c) Thesis Plan. This plan includes 24 units of in-class course work and 6 units of thesis research and preparation (CSCI 699T). Research may be theoretical or applied, but must reflect a personal in-depth study into an approved topic. This plan requires a formal research thesis which must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Programs for approval and accession to the library.
The following summarizes the unit makeup for the Thesis, Project and Comprehensive Core Exam options:
3. Approval by the Graduate Coordinator and the Graduate Coordinator Committee on behalf of the faculty of the university.
Graduate Literacy Requirement:
Writing proficiency is a graduation requirement.
Computer Science students will demonstrate their writing competence through successful completion of a departmentally administered examination given at the beginning of each semester or successful completion (B-or better) of an approved technical writing course. Sign up for the Graduate Writing Exam the first week of each semester in the Computer Science Department Office (OCNL-215).
Graduate Grading Requirements:
All courses in the major (with the exceptions of Independent Study-697 and Master's Study-699) must be taken for a letter grade, except those courses specified by the department as ABC/No Credit (400/500-level courses), AB/No Credit (600-level courses), or Credit/No Credit grading only. A maximum of 10 units combined of ABC/No Credit, AB/No Credit, and Credit/No Credit grades may be used on the approved program (including 697, 699, and courses outside the major). While grading standards are determined by individual programs and instructors, it is also the policy of the university that unsatisfactory grades may be given when work fails to reflect achievement of the high standards, including high writing standards, expected of students pursuing graduate study.
Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in:
all course work on the approved master's degree program
and all coursework (both graduate and undergraduate) taken subsequent to admission in conditionally classified status.
Furthermore, students can only apply two courses with a grade of C toward their approved program.
College of Engineering, Computer
Science, & Construction Management
California State University, Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0003
530-898-5963 webmaster@ecst.csuchico.edu
