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Computer Science Master's Degrees

The Computer Science and Software Engineering Department offers two Master's options. The Master of Science in Computer Science is thesis driven, while the Master of Computer Science is coursework only (non-thesis). Both programs allow for a combined Bachelor's/Master's option in which a student can simulaneously pursue two degrees, saving time and money.

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Master of Computer Science

The Master of Computer Science is a coursework-only graduate program. The mission of the Master of Computer Science program is to prepare students for computing professions with foundational and advanced coursework, opportunity to work on industrial projects, and flexible pathways to the degree. Through advanced coursework, students can gain experience in areas such as: artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, cybersecurity, computer vision, high-performance computing, Internet-of-Things, and software engineering. 

The continuous changes and demand in the computer science area require the workforce and students to be trained flexibly. For the culminating experience requirement, students in the new degree can choose from three options: 1) internship, 2) project, and 3) capstone course.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Computer Science degree will be able to:

  1. Understand state-of-the-art literature and theoretical techniques to develop and evaluate solutions.
  2. Apply appropriate computing or software engineering tools and methods to implement, test, and evaluate solutions to complex problems.
  3. Effectively present proposed solutions, implementations, and evaluation results to diverse audiences (academic or industry).

Master of Science in Computer Science

The mission of the Master of Science in Computer Science program is to prepare students for computing professions that require research, invention, and advanced or specialized knowledge. This includes possible pursuit of a Ph.D. in computer science. Students (who are expected to hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a closely related field) shall complete and document work on independent research with a faculty advisor and study advanced topics in computer science. The advanced coursework and experience in research and invention prepares students for work at the cutting edge of computer science.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Science in Computer Science degree will be able to:

  1. Implement, test, and evaluate solutions to complex problems in Computer Science;
  2. Understand and write proofs and use other theoretical techniques to develop and evaluate solutions;
  3. Perform literature searches and summarize and critique scholarly works in the field;
  4. Author technical and academic publications that document research findings and results.

Combined Bachelor's/Master's Programs

These programs provide the opportunity for high-achieving students to simultaneously complete any Miami University bachelor's degree along with a master's degree in computer science. The combined program is open to students of any major, provided they meet admission requirements (see below). Depending on their undergraduate degree requirements, students admitted to the combined degree program may count between six and nine credits of their graduate coursework towards their bachelor's degree, thus enabling them to complete their degrees in an accelerated fashion. With an undergraduate major in computer science or software engineering students can complete the combined program in five years. For more information on this program visit the Miami Bulletin.

Combined B.S./M.S.Cs Program

  • Upon earning a minimum of 64 hours and having a GPA of 3.25 or greater, students may apply to our combined program by visiting our Admission page.
  • To begin graduate study, students should have credit for the following undergraduate courses:
    • CSE 174, CSE 201, CSE 271, CSE 274, CSE 278, CSE 374, CSE 381, and CSE 383
    • MTH 151, MTH 231, and either STA 261 or STA 301

Combined Bachelor/ Master of Computer Science

Undergraduate students may apply to participate in the combined Bachelor/ Master of Computer Science program. This program allows the student to pursue a coursework-only master’s degree in an accelerated manner while simultaneously completing a bachelor’s degree. Students admitted to the combined degree program may count six to nine credit hours of their graduate coursework towards their bachelor's degree. This enables them to complete their degrees in an accelerated fashion. With an undergraduate major in computer science or software engineering, it is possible for students to complete the combined program in five years.

Admission to the combined program Bachelor/ Master of Computer Science requires a GPA of 3.00 or higher after earning a minimum of 64 credit hours. Please contact the department for more information. 

Other Combined Program Rules

  • Students in the combined program will remain undergraduates until either: (a) they complete all undergraduate degree requirements and receive their undergraduate degree, or (b) they request the Graduate School change their status from undergraduate to graduate (the student must have completed a minimum of 124 or 128 total graduate and undergraduate credit hours, depending on their catalog year, to make this request). Once the student meets one of these two criteria, they will be classified as a graduate student. Students may not receive both the undergraduate and graduate degrees on the same date (degrees are conferred four times per year (i.e., January, May, August, December), nor can they take all of their graduate credits with undergraduate status.
  • Students in the combined program are eligible to hold a graduate assistantship or graduate grant-in-aid upon being classified as a graduate student.
  • Both full-time and part-time students are eligible for this program, but full-time status is recommended.

Find the Resources You Need

CSE Graduate Handbook

This guide is designed to help graduate students in the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department (CSE) plan and successfully complete a program of study leading to a Master of Science in Computer Science degree.  Other information that is important for graduate students is found in the publication the Graduate School Handbook, available from the Graduate School.

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CSE Course Descriptions

All CSE courses are listed.  Graduate level courses are designated at the 500, 600, and 700 levels. 

Career Outlook

The vast majority of our students either receive admission to another graduate school for doctoral study or job offers from industry before they graduate.

Center for Career Exploration & Success

Financial Aid Opportunities

Different types of financial aid are available on a competitive basis; these include a research assistantship, a teaching assistantship, a full tuition waiver, and a partial tuition waiver.  If you are interested in applying for a graduate award in the form of an assistantship, indicate those for which you would like to be considered when completing the application.

One Stop Services

Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering

Benton Hall, Room 205
650 E. High Street
Oxford, OH 45056