Graduate
Degree Programs > M.S. in Computer Science
The College of Computer and Information Science offers students the opportunity to pursue studies in the broad field of computer science. The program is designed for men and women who are seeking to prepare themselves for organizations that design, develop, market, or utilize computing systems. A fundamental goal of the College is to help students develop the ability to recognize and solve problems arising in the use of modern digital computers in business and engineering as well as in educational and research environments. In developing the skills necessary to achieve this goal, the student has the opportunity to assimilate ideas and concepts from theoretical studies and from in-depth, hands-on design and programming of both large time-sharing systems and single-user microcomputers.
- Admissions Requirements
- Academic Requirements
- Academic Probation
- Time and Time Limitation
- Transfer Credit
- Approved Courses
- Specimen Academic Schedule
- Reading and Project Courses
- Master's Thesis
Admissions Requirements
Applicants must submit an official application,
official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, a
personal statement, official scores of the GRE General Test, and
three letters of recommendation. International students must also
submit official scores of the TOEFL examination. Acceptance to the
College of Computer and Information Science is granted upon recommendation
of the college Graduate Committee after a review of the completed
application.
Candidates must have completed the undergraduate material listed
below.
• Experience in some high level procedural
language, e.g. C, C++, Java, Scheme, or Pascal
• Data Structures
• Computer Organization
• One year of college calculus
• Discrete Mathematics
Industrial experience in these areas may be an acceptable substitute for formal coursework. Students may be accepted provisionally while completing these deficiencies, and may take graduate courses concurrently as their preparation allows.
Academic Requirements
Thirty-two semester hours are required for the Master of Science in Computer Science. These must include:
• Eight semester hours of core courses, CSG111 Principles of Programming Languages and CSG113 Algorithms.
• Four semester hours of core system courses: CSG110 Managing Software Development or CSG112 Computer Systems.
• Twenty semester hours of electives, eight of which must come from the same concentration area. These electives may include readings, project, or a thesis.
A student must obtain a minimum grade point average of 3.00 among the core courses and a minimum overall average of 3.00.
Academic Probation
A student whose GPA (grade point average) falls below 3.00 will
be automatically placed on academic probation and will be notified
by the College. Once on probation, a student has the following
two academic semesters (summer excluded) to achieve a 3.00 GPA.
If at the end of those two semesters, the student's GPA is still
unsatisfactory, the student will be dismissed from the graduate
program.
Time and Time Limitation
The Graduate School of the College of Computer and Information Science offers courses during the fall and spring semesters. A few summer courses may be offered. With careful planning, full-time students may be able to complete the M.S. program in three semesters. Full-time students with assistantships normally complete the program in two years. Part-time students usually elect one or two courses per academic semester and can complete the M.S. degree in two or three years.
Course credits earned in the program of graduate study or accepted by transfer are valid for a maximum of seven years unless an extension is granted by the Graduate Committee of the College of Computer and Information Science. Students should petition, in writing, to the Director of the Graduate School for such extensions.
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 9 semester hours of credit obtained at another institution may be accepted towards the degree, provided the credits consist of work taken at the graduate level for graduate credit, carry grades of 3.000 or better, have been earned at an accredited institution, and have not been used toward any other degree. Transfer credit will be offered only for courses, which match a course offered at Northeastern University and approved by the Graduate Committee. However, no transfer credit will be given for courses listed below as Interdisciplinary Courses.
Approved Courses
M.S. Core
CS G111 Principles
of Programming Languages
CS G113 Algorithms
System Core
CS G110 Managing Software
Development
CS G112 Computer Systems
Ph.D. Core
CS G711 Intensive
Principles of Programming Languages
CS G712 Intensive
Computer Systems
CS G713 Advanced Algorithms
CS G714 Theory of
Computation
CONCENTRATIONS
Artificial Intelligence
CS G120 Foundations
of Artificial Intelligence
CS G220 Machine Learning
CS G222 Knowledge-based
Systems
CS G224 Natural Language
Processing
CS G329 Special Topics
in Artificial Intelligence
CS G720 Seminar in
Artificial Intelligence
Database Management
CS G130 Introduction
to Database Systems
CS G131 Implementation
of Database Management Systems
CS G230 Data Mining
Techniques
CS G339 Special Topics
in Database Management
CS G730 Seminar in
Database Systems
Graphics
CS G140 Computer Graphics
CS G142 Digital Image
Processing
CS G144 Pattern Recognition
and Computer Vision
CS G349 Special Topics
in Graphics/Image Processing
CS G740 Seminar in
Graphics/Image Processing
Information Security
CS G252 Cryptography
and Communication Security
CS G254 Network Security
CS G256 Privacy,
Security and Usability
CS G274 Foundations
of Formal Methods and Software Analysis
CS G379 Special Topics
in Software Engineering – Software Security
One course from:
IA G120 Security Risk Management and Assessment
IA G124 Information System Forensics
IA G128 Ethics, Privacy and Digital Rights
Networks
CS G152 Fundamentals
of Computer Networks
CS G250 Wireless Networks
CS G252 Cryptography
and Communication Security
CS G254 Network Security
CS G359 Special Topics
in Networks
CS G750 Seminar in
Computer Networks
CS G752 Seminar in
Computer Security
Programming Languages
CS G260 Advanced Software
Development
CS G262 Compilers
CS G264 Semantics
of Programming Languages
CS G369 Special Topics
in Programming Languages
CS G760 Seminar in
Programming Languages
CS G762 Seminar in
Software Development
Software Engineering
CS G170 Computer/Human
Interaction
CS G270 Methods of
Software Development
CS G272 Analysis of
Software Artifacts
CS G274 Foundations
of Formal Methods and Software Analysis
CS G260 Advanced Software
Development
CS G379 Special Topics
in Software Engineering
CS G770 Seminar in
Software Engineering
Systems
CS G180 Computer Architecture
CS G280 Parallel Computing
CS G254 Network Security
CS G389 Special Topics
in Computer Systems
CS G780 Seminar in
Computer Systems
Theory
CS G290 Distributed
Algorithms
CS G714 Theory of
Computation
CS G252 Cryptography
and Computer Security
CS G280 Parallel Computing
CS G399 Special Topics
in Theoretical Computer Science
CS G790 Seminar in
Theoretical Computer Science
Reading and Project Courses
CS G664 MS Readings
and Research in Computer Science
CS G674 Master’s
Project in Computer Science
COP G650 Coop
CS G684 Master’s
Thesis in Computer Science
CS G685 Master’s
Thesis in Computer Science II
CS G699 Master’s
Thesis Continuation (0SH)
CS G864 PhD Readings
and Research in Computer Science
CS G894 Ph.D. Dissertation
in Computer Science
CS G899 Ph.D. Dissertation
Continuation
Interdisciplinary Courses
CS G100 Data Structures
(not open to students in CCIS for credit)
CS G102 Database Management
(not open to students in CCS for credit)
CS G104 Computer Networks
(not open to students in CCIS for credit)
ELECTIVES
Any course that appears in a concentration above may count as an elective. Other courses offered at the graduate level at Northeastern University may be taken as electives provided written permission is given by the student's faculty advisor and approval is obtained from the Graduate Committee. Elective authorization petitions are available in the College Administrative Office at 202 WVH.
Specimen Academic Schedule
Most graduate courses in computer science are offered in the late afternoon and early evening, which enables many students to pursue their graduate degrees while continuing with their daytime employment. Courses may be offered in different semesters from year to year. However, the following schedule may serve as a general guide.
Currently, all courses in the College of Computer
and Information Science are offered on the Boston campus only.
Graduate Course Offering Plan 2005- 2006
Fall 2005
CS G112 Computer Systems
CS G113 Algorithms
CS G711 Intensive
Principles of Programming Languages
CS G713 Advanced Algorithms
CS G130 Introduction
to Database Systems
CS G242 Computational Imaging
CS G152 Fundamentals
of Networking and Internetworking
CS G252 Cryptography
& Communication Security
CS G170 Human/Computer Interaction
CS G270 Methods of Software Development
CS G280 Parallel Processing
CS G399 Special Topics in Theoretical Science
Spring 2006
CS G110 Managing Software
Development
CS G111 Principles
of Programming Languages
CS G712 Intensive
Computer Systems
CS G714 Theory of
Computation
CS G120 Foundations
of Artificial Intelligence
CS G131 Implementation
of Database Management Systems
CS G140 Computer Graphics
CS G254 Network Security
CS G262 Compilers
CS G270 Methods of Software Development
CS G224 Natural Language Computer Processing
Interdisciplinary Courses
Fall 2005
CS G100 Data Structures
*
IA G100 Fundamentals of IA
*
IA G128 Ethics, Privacy & Digital Rights
Spring 2006
CS G102 Database Management
*
IA G110 Computer Systems & Networks
*
IA G120 Security Risk Management & Assessment
* Not open to students in CCIS for degree credit
Please note that
(1) MS students interested in pursuing future PhD studies are encouraged
to take the intensive core courses, in place of the regular core
courses. Approval must be obtained from the instructor.
(2) Students without undergraduate OS background should take CSG112
before taking CSG712.
(3) At most 8 semester credit hours of IAG courses can be counted toward MS in CS.
(4) Course offerings are subject to change.
Reading and Project Courses
Every reading and/or project course requires a petition, approved by the Graduate Committee. Petitions are available in the College Administrative Office at 202 WVH.
Master's Thesis
The Master's thesis option consists of 8 semester hours of research, culminating into an M.S. thesis. This can be accomplished through one of the following two options:
• Option 1: Two 4 credit M.S. Thesis courses: CSG684 and CSG685 taken consecutively.
• Option 2: Either a Readings Course CSG664 or a Project Course CSG674, followed by M.S. Thesis CSG685.
Both of these options may only be undertaken with the agreement of a thesis advisor and one other official reader.
Thesis Proposal
A student wishing to select the Master's thesis option must submit
a short proposal to the Graduate Committee, signed by the advisor,
which describes the project and lists the official reader.
The reader may be chosen from the faculty of the college, from another
NU department, or from another institution or the industrial community
when appropriate. The proposal should be submitted at least
one month before the thesis project is to begin. The Graduate
Committee may accept or reject the proposal, ask for revisions,
or ask that additional readers be added to the proposal. Both
the merits of the proposal and the academic performance of the student
will be considered in deciding whether to accept a proposal for
the M.S. Thesis.
Thesis
The thesis advisor guides the research topic. The result of
the research is to be an original contribution to the field of Computer
Science. The thesis should be developed in terms of the current
literature and will include a thorough literature search and review.
Emphasis is to be placed upon clear writing, logical development,
and significance of the issues. Acceptance of the thesis requires
the agreement of the thesis advisor and the reader(s).
Thesis defense
The student will defend the thesis at a public presentation.
The defense will be directed by the thesis advisor and the reader(s)
will be in attendance. The thesis defense is open to anyone
who wishes to attend. The candidate will give a lecture on
the subject of the thesis and this will be followed by questions
from those in attendance concerning the results of the thesis as
well as related matters.
Publication
Upon acceptance, the M.S. thesis will be issued as a College of
Computer and Information Science technical report and a copy will
be archived at the university library.