Erik Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science

Graduate Program in Computer Science

Objectives

The Graduate Program in Computer Science provides intensive preparation in the design, programming, theory, and applications of computers. The Department of Computer Science offers courses of study leading to the MS in Computer Science, the MS in Software Engineering, the PhD degree in Computer Science, and the PhD degree in Software Engineering. Training is provided for both academically oriented students and students with professional goals in the many business, industrial, or governmental occupations requiring advanced knowledge of computer theory and technology. Courses and research are offered in a variety of subfields of computer science, including operating systems, computer architecture, computer graphics, pattern recognition, automata theory, combinatorics, artificial intelligence, data and network security, natural language processing, database design, computer networks, programming languages, software systems, analysis of algorithms, computational complexity, software engineering, software testing, software reliability, scheduling, visualization, fault-tolerant computing, parallel processing, telecommunications networks, telecommunications software, performance of systems, VLSI, computational geometry, and design automation.

A comprehensive program of evening courses is offered which enables part-time students to earn the master's degree or to select individual courses of interest.

Facilities

The Department of Computer Science systems are comprised of a private virtualization cloud, several individual computer servers, computer workstations, and desktop computers. Research laboratories are available for parallel processing, distributed systems, software engineering, high-performance computing, graphics, programming languages and systems, telecommunications, CAD and graph visualization, image understanding and processing, artificial intelligence, big data, natural language processing, speech processing, and web technologies. The Department of Computer Science network connects through Internet 2 with other research universities, gigabit ethernet intranet, and pervasive wireless connectivity.

Master of Science in Computer Science

33 semester credit hours minimum

Program Faculty

Admission Requirements

The University's general admission requirements are discussed on the Graduate Admission page (catalog.utdallas.edu/2015/graduate/admission).

The student entering the Computer Science MS program should have an undergraduate preparation equivalent to a baccalaureate in a quantitative science, including calculus and linear algebra. However, special arrangements (requiring more than the minimal number of semester credit hours) can be made for students with good undergraduate preparation in other fields. Minimum requirements are:

  • Bachelor's degree which includes 2 semesters of calculus and 1 semester of linear algebra.
  • A GPA (grade point average) of at least 3.0 (last 60 semester credit hours). GPA in quantitative courses of at least 3.3.
  • GRE revised scores of 308, 153, 155, and 4 for the combined, verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing components, respectively, are advisable based on our experience with student success in the program.

Applicants are admitted on a competitive basis.

Students lacking undergraduate preparation in computer science must complete the courses listed below. At the discretion of the graduate advisor, a diagnostic exam may be required. The required prerequisite courses common to all master's students are:

Required Prerequisite Courses

CS 5303 Computer Science I

CS 5330 Computer Science II

CS 5333 Discrete Structures

CS 5343 Algorithm Analysis and Data Structures

CS 5348 Operating Systems Concepts

Substitution of CS 5303 and/or CS 5330 by professional experience will be considered.

Additional prerequisite courses required for the various degree plans are:

For the Data Sciences Track:

CS 3341 (SE 3341) Probability and Statistics in Computer Science and Software Engineering

For the Information Assurance Track:

CS 5390 Computer Networks

For the MS in Software Engineering:

CS 3354 (SE 3354) Software Engineering or CS 5354 (SE 5354) Software Engineering

For the Networks and Telecommunications Track:

CS 3341 (SE 3341) Probability and Statistics in Computer Science and Software Engineering

CS 5390 Computer Networks

For the Traditional Computer Science:

CS 5349 Automata Theory

CS 5390 Computer Networks

Degree Requirements

The University's general degree requirements are discussed on the Graduate Policies and Procedures page (catalog.utdallas.edu/2015/graduate/policies/policy).

The student may choose a thesis plan or a non-thesis plan. The thesis plan requires a minimum of 27 semester credit hours of courses, plus completion of an approved thesis (six thesis semester credit hours). This thesis is directed by a supervising professor and must be approved by the head of the Department of Computer Science. The non-thesis plan also requires a minimum of 33 semester credit hours of courses.

By a judicious planning of courses chosen from the computer science curriculum, supervised and approved by the graduate advisor, students may pursue the MS degree in Computer Science while emphasizing specific areas of the discipline. Students may also choose to receive the MS degree in Software Engineering. Because of the rapidly changing nature of the computer science discipline, the specific courses required may change by the time of the student's admission. A listing of the required courses will be specified by the student's advisor. Specific degree requirements follow.

Core Requirements (15 semester credit hours)

Students are required to complete one course from the following:

Data Sciences Track

CS 6313 Statistical Methods for Data Science

CS 6350 Big Data Management and Analytics

CS 6363 Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms

CS 6375 Machine Learning

Choose one course from the following five courses:

CS 6301 Special Topics in Computer Science [when topic is Social Network Analytics]

CS 6320 Natural Language Processing

CS 6327 Video Analytics

CS 6347 Statistical Methods in AI and Machine Learning

CS 6360 Database Design

Information Assurance Track

CS 6324 Information Security

CS 6363 Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms

CS 6378 Advanced Operating Systems

Choose two courses from the following four courses:

CS 6332 System Security and Malicious Code Analysis

CS 6348 Data and Application Security

CS 6349 Network Security

CS 6377 Introduction to Cryptography

Intelligent Systems Track

CS 6320 Natural Language Processing

CS 6363 Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms

CS 6364 Artificial Intelligence

CS 6375 Machine Learning

Choose one course from the following two courses:

CS 6360 Database Design

CS 6378 Advanced Operating Systems

Interactive Computing Track

CS 6326 Human Computer Interactions

CS 6363 Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms

Choose three of the following five courses:

CS 6323 Computer Animation and Gaming

CS 6328 Modeling and Simulation

CS 6331 Multimedia Systems

CS 6334 Virtual Reality

CS 6366 Computer Graphics

Networks and Telecommunications Track

CS 6352 Performance of Computer Systems and Networks

CS 6363 Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms

CS 6378 Advanced Operating Systems

CS 6385 Algorithmic Aspects of Telecommunication Networks

CS 6390 Advanced Computer Networks

Systems Track

CS 6304 Computer Architecture

CS 6363 Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms

CS 6378 Advanced Operating Systems

CS 6396 Real-Time Systems

Choose one course from the following four courses:

CS 6349 Network Security

CS 6380 Distributed Computing

CS 6397 Synthesis and Optimization of High-Performance Systems

CS 6399 Parallel Architectures and Systems

Traditional Computer Science Track

CS 6363 Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms

CS 6378 Advanced Operating Systems

CS 6390 Advanced Computer Networks

Choose two courses of the following three courses:

CS 6353 Compiler Construction

CS 6360 Database Design

CS 6371 Advanced Programming Languages

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science

75 semester credit hours minimum beyond the baccalaureate degree

Program Faculty

Objectives

The Department of Computer Science offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science.

The doctoral program is tailored to the student. The student must arrange a course program with the guidance and approval of a faculty member chosen as his/her graduate advisor. Adjustments can be made as the student's interests develop and a specific dissertation topic is chosen.

Admission Requirements

The University's general admission requirements are discussed on the Graduate Admission page (catalog.utdallas.edu/2015/graduate/admission).

A student may be admitted under one of two possible options. The student must have:

Admission Option One

  • A master's degree in computer science or its equivalent, and
  • A GPA (grade point average) of at least 3.5, and
  • GRE revised scores of at least 308, 153, 155, and 4 for the combined, verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing components, respectively, are advisable based on our experience with student success in the program.

Admission Option Two

  • A BS in related area that includes two semesters of calculus and linear algebra with
  • GPA of at least 3.5 in the last 60 semester credit hours, and
  • GRE revised scores of at least 308, 153, 155, and 4 for the combined, verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing components, respectively, are advisable based on our experience with student success in the program.

Degree Requirements

The University's general degree requirements are discussed on the Graduate Policies and Procedures page (catalog.utdallas.edu/2015/graduate/policies/policy).

Core requirements:

The core requirements for the PhD degree in Computer Science are the same as the ones listed on the Master of Science in Computer Science page or on the Master of Science in Software Engineering page.

Also required are:

  • Pass a qualifying examination.
  • Pass CS 6382 Theory of Computation with a grade of B or better
  • Two CS or SE 7000 and above level courses

Sufficient CS electives for a total of at least 75 semester credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. At least 9 semester credit hours of organized advanced Computer Science electives must be taken at UT Dallas. The student is encouraged to consult with an advisor in choosing electives.

Dissertation

A dissertation is required and must be approved by the graduate program. A student must arrange for a dissertation advisor willing to guide this dissertation. The student must have a dissertation supervising committee that consists of no less than four members of whom at least three must be from the Computer Science faculty. Students must enroll in a minimum 3 dissertation semester credit hours in the degree plan. The dissertation may be in computer science exclusively or it may involve considerable work in an area of application.

Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance: 15 semester credit hours

The Department of Computer Science offers a graduate certificate in information assurance.

Program Faculty

Admission Requirements

Students must gain admission to the MS CS program or be eligible to take graduate courses in CS as a non-degree seeking student

Certificate Requirements

Students must complete the following five courses with a GPA of 3.2 or better.

CS 6324 Information Security

CS 6348 Data and Applications Security

CS 6349 Network Security

CS 6363 Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms

CS 6378 Advanced Operating Systems

Updated: 2019-08-09 13:11:42 v29.0428c3