The Computer Science Department offers three distinct graduate programs: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Science (MS), and Master of Applied Mathematical Sciences (MAMS). A closely affiliated program is offered by the Artificial Intelligence Center; please see their section in this bulletin. Financial aid possibilities for graduate students include departmental teaching assistantships, departmental research assistantships, and Graduate School assistantships.
The PhD degree in computer science is an advanced, intensive program designed to take students to the frontier of knowledge in both the theory and practice of Computer Science. The program prepares students for careers in research (at universities, government, or industrial research labs), teaching at colleges or universities, or advanced development at hardware or software companies. The department presently has active research groups in theory, distributed information systems, image processing, parallel processing, computational science, computational biology, artificial intelligence, computer architecture, and modeling and simulation. Admission to this program is highly selective: consideration for admission into the PhD program requires a baccalaureate degree or master's degree with a major in computer science or an allied discipline, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores (preferably, including the subject test in computer science), three letters of recommendation, and a one-page personal statement outlining the applicant's background, achievements, and future goals. Students with insufficient background in computer science can apply for one of the master's level programs (MS or MAMS).
The MS degree in computer science is a comprehensive program of study intended to give qualified and motivated students a thorough foundation in the theory, methodology, and techniques of computer science. Students who successfully complete this program of study will have a grasp of the principles and foundations of computer science. They will be prepared to pursue higher academic goals, including the PhD degree. They will obtain skills and experience in up-to-date approaches to analysis, design, implementation, validation, and documentation of computer software and hardware. With these skills they will be well qualified for technical, professional, or managerial positions in government, business, industry, and education. Admission to this program is selective: consideration for admission into the MS program requires a baccalaureate degree preferably with a major in computer science or an allied discipline, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores, three letters of recommendation, and a one-page personal statement outlining the applicant's background, achievements, and future goals. Though not required for admission, the subject test in computer science must be taken before completing the MS degree. Students with insufficient background in computer science must take undergraduate computer science courses in addition to their graduate program to remedy any deficiencies.
The MAMS is a professional master's degree program designed for students who seek a broad training in applied quantitative methods as preparation for professional employment in business, government, or industry. The student takes a core curriculum of courses from three participating departments: Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. The student may complete a degree with an interdisciplinary program of study which allows combination of expertise in computation with a chosen field of application. The degree is designed to meet the need for technical specialists who can use computation, applied mathematics, operations research, and statistics to solve complex, quantitative, real-world problems. Admission to the MAMS program is selective; applicants must have a baccalaureate degree in a quantitative discipline and have taken introductory courses in computer science, mathematics, and statistics. Applicants must submit the same information as applicants for the MS degree.
Please note that in addition to the requirements of the Department of Computer Science, applicants must satisfy all requirements of the Graduate School as noted in the web version of the bulletin. |
