The Department of Computer Science offers programs leading to the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees with a major in computer science. The department's programs prepare graduate students for positions in the design and development of computer systems and applications in business and industry and for scientific positions in industrial or academic computing research. Areas of research interest within the department currently include programming languages, operating systems, distributed processing, theory, analysis of algorithms, databases, computer networks, and computer graphics. Applicants for admission should hold an undergraduate degree in computer science or a related field. A thesis is not required, but with departmental approval a student may elect to submit one, in lieu of the required comprehensive examination.
Course work in a related minor field is required.
There is no foreign language requirement. The minor department participates in the Comprehensive and Final. Doctoral candidates majoring in other disciplines may minor in computer science by completing a sequence of courses and examinations set by the department. Those intending to minor should consult the computer science minor advisor early in their graduate work.