Program Requirements (45 - 52 units)
Students will be advanced to Classified Standing based on the recommendation from the department's graduate advisor and approval of the college graduate dean once the following requirements are met:
- Completion of pre-requisites.
- Maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or better at Cal State L.A
On attaining Classified Graduate Standing, students must complete all the requirements for the MS degree in Computer Science.
MSCS degree requires completion of 45 - 52 units as described in (i) through (iv) below. At least 36 of the 45 units must begin after the student has been admitted to the master's degree program.
- Core (12 units)
- CS 512 Analysis and Design of Algorithms (4 units)
- CS 537 Advanced Software Engineering (4 units)
- CS 520 Web Programming (4 units)
- Three 500-level courses from one of the following three concentrations. Prior consent of the graduate advisor is required (12 units).
- Application Software:
- CS 522 Advanced Database Systems (4)
- CS 540 Advanced Topics in Operating Systems (4)
- CS 550 Advanced Computer Graphics (4)
- CS 560 Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence (4)
- CS 570 Networks and Distributed Processing (4)
- CS 575 Human Issues in Computing (4)
- CS 581 Computer and Network Security (4)
- System Software:
- CS 540 Advanced Topics in Operating Systems (4)
- CS 565 Reliable Computing (4)
- CS 570 Networks and Distributed Processing (4)
- CS 580 Computer Systems Security (4)
- CS 588 Languages and Translators (4)
- Computer Theory:
- CS 522 Advanced Database Systems (4)
- CS 560 Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence (4)
- CS 565 Reliable Computing (4)
- CS 586 Theory of Computing (4)
- CS 588 Languages and Translators (4)
- Application Software:
- Four Elective courses (16 units): Choose four other CS 400/500 level courses with the prior approval of the advisor. No more than 8 units from 400 level courses could be used as electives.
- Culminating Experience (5 or 12 units):
- Thesis/Project Option: CS599AB (5 units)
- Comprehensive Exam Option: (12 units)
- Choose 12 additional units of 400/500 level courses (at least 8 units must be from 500 level courses)
- CS 596 Comprehensive Exam (0 units)
Thesis/Project
Students who chose a Thesis/Project option should choose an advisor/sponsor at some point soon after attaining classified standing. Students register for the 599AB sequence in order to complete this requirement. It is advisable to choose and discuss with the advisor to get started on doing preliminary research as soon as possible. Interaction with the thesis/project advisor is a key to complete this requirement in a timely manner. A few formalities are described below:
- Students must write a project report/thesis using the guidelines specified at http://www.calstatela.edu/library/guides/thesbk.htm
- Students do a formal presentation at the end of CS599A and CS599B to the advisor which is open to all other students and faculty. Presentations in CS599B should be done using a Poster Board (See sample: http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/ecst/cs/pdf/posterboard.pdf)
- It is quite common for students to extend the time line to more than the two quarters necessary for CS599AB. Students would then sign up for CS598 (as a Credit/No Credit option in subsequent quarters to complete the thesis/project.
- Computer Science Department encourages all students to submit the results of their project/research to a conference or a journal. (Note the conferences listed at CS_Wiki.)
- Once the Thesis advisor is satisfied (the students must be getting feedback during CS599AB) of the work accomplished, the Thesis advisor will approve the thesis by signing the Approval Page. This form has to be signed by the student as well as any other committee members.
- Students need to complete the "ethesis" form. Contact thesis/project coordinator in the library Yvonne Hasegawa (yhasega@calstatela.edu or 323-343-4985). Workshops are usually conducted at the beginning of every quarter regarding project/thesis write up and submissions. Students must submit two printed copies. Ms. Hasegawa will approve the thesis after checking if the guidelines have been followed.
- Students will finally upload the project to the library web site.
- Students need to complete the above approval process while being registered in CS599B or any other CS course. i.e., this process must be completed while still being a graduate student. If students are taking 599B as their last course, they should go through this process before the end of the quarter or register for a continuation course (CS598 Independent Study or any other CS course) every quarter until the thesis is finally approved at all levels.
