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Master of Science in Computer Science

The Master of Science program in Computer Science is overseen by the Computer Science Graduate Committee (CSGC). The basic guidelines for approval of a students program are recommendations appearing in the Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the professional society in Computer Science.

Prerequisites

Completion of the following courses, or their equivalents, is prerequisite to entry into the program: CSC120, CSC220, CSC314, CSC517, CSC527, MTH111, MTH224, and MTH309. Students may be admitted with deficiencies; these must be completed in addition to the degree requirements.

Requirements

Students must complete the Graduate School requirements, and the Departmental requirements described here.

Students must complete either the thesis option or the coursework option.

  1. Thesis option:
    • CSC710 - Master's Thesis (6 credits)
    and coursework, one of:
    • 9 credits from CSC6XX courses and 15 credits from other approved courses.
    • 6-8 credits from CSC6XX courses and 19-21 credits from other approved courses.
    • 3-5 credits from CSC6XX courses and 25-27 credits from other approved courses.

  2. Coursework option:
    36 credits of approved courses, including at least 18 credits from CSC6XX courses.

At least 18 credits, exclusive of the thesis credits, must be earned in courses offered by the Department of Computer Science.

Each program must include both theoretical and experimental topics. Recommended subjects include Operating Systems, Programming Languages, Analysis of Algorithms, Theory of Computation, and Computer Architecture or Software Development. The approval is by the Computer Science Graduate Committee and the Department Chairman or designate. Programs may thus be individually tailored to meet varied backgrounds and objectives. It is recognized that there are still individuals with undergraduate degrees in other fields wishing to pursue graduate work in Computer Science, and other individuals with work experience in the field wishing to advance their formal training in Computer Science.

Approved Graduate Computer Science Courses

The basic guidelines for approval of a student's program are recommendations appearing in the Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the professional society in Computer Science. All Computer Science 500 level and 600 (graduate) level courses can be included in an M.S. program. In addition, certain non-Computer Science graduate courses may be considered for approval in completing the requirements for a degree.


Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science

The Doctor of Philosophy program in Computer Science is overseen by the Computer Science Graduate Committee (CSGC). The basic guidelines for approval of a students program are recommendations appearing in the Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the professional society in Computer Science.

Prerequisites

In order to be admitted to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science, an applicant must have obtained a minimum of 15 credits in courses at sophomore level and above. These courses in the Department of Computer Science are numbered 200 and above. Applicants may be admitted with deficiencies; these must be completed in addition to the degree requirements.

Requirements

Students must complete the Graduate School requirements, and the Departmental requirements described here.

Written Qualifying Exam:
The student must pass a three-hour written exam of general knowledge of Computer Science at the end of the first year. Upon failure, the student may petition the CSGC to allow a second attempt at the end of the second year. The exam will be administered once a year in the early weeks of the summer session. It will cover expected knowledge of all first-year graduate students. Included in this material are a fundamental understanding of algorithm analysis and design, advanced skills in programming, basic knowledge of computer architecture, and a general understanding of computer systems.

Classroom Courses:
In the first two years, the student must take eight CSGC-approved classroom courses, for a total of 24 credits. At least four of these courses (12 credits) must be open only to graduate students. These courses are numbered 600 and above. The eight courses must include two courses from each of the areas of Analysis, Applications, and Systems. The student should work with the Director of Graduate Studies to select a cohesive set of courses as approved by the CSGC. The CSGC will have sole authority in designating the areas to which each course belongs. In the case that a course is designated in more than one area, a student may apply the course to only one area. The designation of current CSGC-approved courses appears in the Graduate Bulletin.

Project Courses:
By the end of the second year the student must complete two graduate level project courses for a minimum total of 6 credits. Each project shall be under the supervision of a different faculty member in the Department. All Ph.D. students must find faculty willing to supervise their project in the semester preceding the project. The deadline for finding a supervisor shall be the first full week in April or November for the Fall and Spring terms, respectively. This deadline does not require identifying a specific project but only finding a faculty member willing to supervise a project. Upon completion of a project, the student must write a detailed project report. This report shall become a public document and shall be kept on file by the Department. The student must present the finished project to a quorum of the CSGC at a time to be approved by the chairman of the Department. The supervisor and CSGC must approve each project as applicable toward candidacy for a Ph.D. A primary factor in determining approval shall be the stated willingness of the supervisor to become an initial Ph.D. advisor for the student.

Dissertation:
Upon completion of the two projects, the CSGC will appoint a Dissertation Committee for the student as required by the Graduate School. The student must present a thesis proposal by the end of the fourth year. Both proposal and defense will include a public oral presentation followed by questioning from the Dissertation Committee.

Annual Presentations:
After passing the written qualifying exam, the student must make a public oral presentation to the Department at least once per year. These presentations include the two project presentations, the thesis proposal, and the thesis defense. The goals are to develop the student's oral and presentation skills, to provide a means for the Department to check the research and progress of the student, and to present the opportunity for feedback to improve the student's research.

Teaching Experience:
Each student must teach a lab-based course for a minimum of one semester. Lab-based courses typically require the student to present material in a relaxed lecture format, re-emphasizing material learned in the general lecture as well as introducing new material to the students.


Interdepartmental Ph.D. in Computer Science

The Interdepartmental Ph.D. program is administered by the Graduate School of the university. Requests for information, and applications for admission, must be directed to the Graduate School. Information about the program may be found in the Graduate Bulletin.


Information for Graduate Students

Research Facilities

Computer facilities at the University of Miami are housed in the Ungar Computing Center, in the Hertz Computer Laboratory, and in residential colleges. In the Department of Computer Science, all graduate students have unlimited access to instruction laboratories, containing Linux workstations, SUN workstations, and PCs, for supporting research and developing projects of the graduate students and faculty. A LAN connects the departmental computing facilities together, and links them with the outside world via the Internet.

The University library system has holdings of 2 million volumes plus 3 million microfilm items, including a comprehensive collection of books and journals in computer science.

Student Information

Financial Aid
Teaching assistantships are available, with a stipend of $17500 for nine months, and waiver of tuition fees. Graduate assistantships are also available through the Office of Academic Development.

Cost of Study
For the academic year 2007-2008, tuition is $1350 per graduate credit. For full-time students (taking 9 credits or more), the health, student activity, and guidance fees total approximately $1000 per semester.

Cost of Living
For the 2007-2008 full year (12 months), total living expenses are approximately $19700. Housing for graduate students in available both on and off campus. The available on-campus housing consists of a limited number of 3-bedroom apartments with full kitchens & living rooms (single and double bedroom occupancy) as well as residential college efficiency rooms with small kitchenettes. Off-campus housing is also available - a limited
on-line listing of available off-campus housing is maintained by the Office of Commuter Student Affairs

Student Group
The University currently enrolls approximately 12000 students, in which more than 3200 are graduate students. All 50 states and over 100 foreign countries are represented.

Applying

Graduate study may begin any semester. Most assistantships are awarded prior to the fall semester, although applications will also be considered for the spring semester. Fellowship awards are made in February; to be considered for these, students must submit completed applications, including official scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations. We accept online applications.

Admission Deadline:

  • US applicants: Fall - July 15, Spring - December 1
  • International applicants: Fall - April 15, Spring - September 15
Teaching Assistantship Deadline:
  • Fall - February 1, Spring - October 15

Correspondence and Information

You can request a hard copy of information about our program and application materials by writing to:

Dr. Dilip Sarkar, Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Computer Science
University of Miami
P.O. Box 248154
Florida 33124-4245

Telephone: 305 2842268
Fax: 305 2842864
Email:
csgrad@cs.miami.edu
Web: http://www.cs.miami.edu


Last modified: 26 June 2008