Computer Science, MS (53-976) (30 hours) [Also available as an accelerated program]

Student Learning Outcomes - The graduate with a Master of Science degree in Computer Science will use the knowledge and skills obtained in the program to:

Apply algorithmic principles and computing theories to solve advanced problems in Computer Science.
Apply design and development principles in construction of computer-based systems of varying complexity.
Be able to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice.
Communicate effectively with a range of audiences, work effectively in a team environment, and demonstrate an understanding of ethical concerns related to computing.
Recognize the need for and engage in continuing professional development.

This program is designed to produce senior computer professionals in the computer industry, and its focus is on the application of technology to solve a variety of practical problems.

Admission Requirements - Admission is granted on the basis of applicants aptitude and potential which will be evaluated through academic records, test scores and/or work experience. To be admitted to the program, a student must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.8. Candidates must complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with a minimum combined score of 291 in Verbal and Quantitative reasoning Applicants must submit official GRE test scores by Educational Testing Services (ETS) directly to the University of Central Missouri. The ETS institution code for sending GRE scores to UCM is 6090, program code is 0402. Applicants with exceptional undergraduate performance may be considered with a lower GRE score. The GRE test requirement can be waived if any one of the following conditions is satisfied.

The student is a graduate of a regionally accredited college or university with a degree in Computer Science/Information Technology/Information Systems and a GPA of 3.50 or higher.
The student has earned an M.S. or more advanced degree in a closely related discipline.

International students whose native language is not English and do not have a US degree are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper based) or 79 (Internet based) is required. IELTS scores are also accepted at UCM. Regular graduate students should have a band score of 6.0 in IELTS. The English requirement is waived for applicants who have completed a minimum of 60 semester credit hours or have earned a bachelor or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in the USA. Submission of a statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation is OPTIONAL for admission. They may however be required if the student applies for graduate assistantship or student worker positions. Applicants who have degrees in some non-computing fields will also be considered for admission. Students may make up their deficiencies in computer science by completing the required undergraduate background courses.

Full time students without deficiencies can expect to complete this program in two academic years.

Required Undergraduate Background Course: 0-3 Semester Hours

The following undergraduate course (or equivalent) is required for student whose undergraduate major is not in Computer Science, Information Technology or Information Systems.

CS 4150 - Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures (3)

Required Graduate Courses: 12 Semester Hours

Elect one of the three areas: 18 Semester Hours

Area 1: Software Development

Electives from the Following: 9-12 Semester Hours

Electives from the following: 6-9 Semester Hours

Area 2: Data Science

Required Area courses: 9 Semester Hours

Electives from the following: 9 Semester Hours

Area 3: General Computer Science

Electives from the following: 18 Semester Hours

Minimum Graduate Hour Total: 30* Semester Hours

+Students whose undergraduate degree is not in Computer Science, Information Technology or
Information Systems must select CS 5200  as an elective.
^Only up to 3 credit hours of CS 5020  can be applied to a student’s degree program. Students are expected to take CS 5020  (3 credits - Internship in Computer Science to meet the elective requirements. If the student is unable to secure an internship, any other graduate level CS course approved by the advisor, may be taken.
#Student cannot take both CS 5040  and CS 6010 .
*At least 15 credit hours must be at 5000 level or higher.

CS 6010 may only be used as a program elective for students completing a Thesis. Students who complete this course and do not complete a Thesis will be required to complete the additional required credit hours to meet the minimum hours requirements.

Accelerated Program Notes:

The Accelerated model for this program designed for the BS Computer Science - Computer Networking Option, Computer Science Option, Data Science Option, Game Development Option or Software Development Option.

Undergraduate UCM students having completed at least 9 hours of computer science courses above the 1000 level with a major GPA of at least 3.00 may consult with their faculty advisor and complete a school application to declare the accelerated BS/MS major in computer science. Prior to beginning the graduate portion of the program, students in the accelerated program will need to apply to the UCM Graduate School for formal admission to the Accelerated BS/MS program.

Courses that an accelerated student may be eligible to include as overlap between the undergraduate and graduate programs:

CS 5200 - Database Theory and Applications (3)

CS 5220 - Advanced Applications Programming in Java (3)

CS 5610 - Introduction to Cloud Computing (3)

CS 5630 - Data Mining (3)

CS 5700 - Artificial Intelligence (3)

CS 5710 - Machine Learning (3)

CS 5810 - Computer Graphics (3)

CYBR 5240 - Web Application Security (3)

CYBR 5610 - Cloud Security (3)

CYBR 5820 - Introduction to Information Assurance (3)

CYBR 5840 - Ethical Hacking (3)