MS in Computer Science
Overview
The M.S. in Computer Science provides foundations of Computer Science while acknowledging that Computer Science is key to algorithms in the sciences. Other programs in the Computer Science Department with different foci are M.S in Information Technologies and the M.S. in Software Engineering.
STEM Designation
With a national shortage of professionals trained in STEM-related fields, employers are actively pursuing STEM degree holders. Distinguish yourself in technology with a STEM-designated degree.
The MS in Computer Science has been granted a STEM designation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The program achieved STEM designation because of its emphasis on teaching students how to solve computer science problems with a suite of quantitative and technological tools.
Under this STEM classification, international students can extend their training in the U.S. by working in their field of study. Students can qualify for a 24-month OPT (Optional Practical Training) Extension, bringing the total OPT time granted to 36 months.
Curriculum
This program is for students entering the program in Spring 2014 or later. If you were enrolled in the program before Spring 2014 you may use the older degree requirements located here.
- Features Common to all Programs
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- See the Master Programs' Prerequisites.
- Each program requires a total of 30 credit hours, generally 10 three-credit courses.
- Students can receive up to 6 credit hours (replacing two of our courses) for graduate work taken elsewhere: See the transfer credit section of the Graduate Student Handbook for details.
- Students who have taken undergraduate Loyola classes: Many 400-level courses in the department have closely related 300-level analogs, e.g. COMP 443: Computer Networks and COMP 343: Introduction to Computer Networks. Students who enter the MS program after taking a Loyola course in this category must choose to take 400-level courses that are not closely related to any 300-level courses taken earlier unless they have GPD permission.
Note that Computer Science has more prerequisites than other programs.
Overall, to achieve depth and breadth, Computer Science students must complete the following:
- Three (3) required courses.
- Three (3) restricted electives.
- Four (4) courses or 12 credits are general electives.
Major Requirements (9 credits)
The following three courses are required by the program:
- COMP 417: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Computing
- COMP 413: Intermediate Object-Oriented Development
- COMP 460: Algorithms and Complexity (note important prereq COMP 363: Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms)
The Graduate Program Director may approve the replacement of COMP 413: Intermediate Object-Oriented Development by an additional course on the Restricted Electives list in cases where the student’s primary program focus is not on software development.
Restricted Electives (9 credits)
MS-CS students must also take three courses from the following list:
- COMP 410: Operating Systems
- COMP 433: Web Services Programming
- COMP 436: Markup Languages
- COMP 439: Distributed Systems
- COMP 442: Server-Side Software Development
- COMP 443: Computer Networks
- COMP 453: Database Programming
- COMP 464: High-Performance Computing
- COMP 471: Programming Languages
- COMP 473: Object-Oriented Programming
- COMP 474: Software Engineering
Note that several of these courses require COMP 413: Intermediate Object-Oriented Development as a prerequisite.
General Electives (12 Credits)
The elective course options are common for all programs, differing only in the total number of credits required.
Electives can be any COMP 400 level class.
Students may take up to a maximum of 6 credit hours of COMP 490: Independent Project and/or COMP 499: Internship.
There are numerous options for independent study, including a programming project, research, or a service-oriented project.
Career Paths:
Here are some possible career paths:
