Master of Science in Computer Science
Program Goal
The goals of the Master of Science (M.S.) in Computer Science program are to:
1. Prepare students for mid to advance level employment opportunities.
2. Develop strong oral and written communication skills.
3. Provide clear understanding of ethical issues related to the computing profession.
Program Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
Master of Science in Computer Science students following graduation will be able to:
1. Demonstrate advanced skills of computing and algorithms.
2. Develop sophisticated knowledge of operating systems and hardware.
3. Apply advanced practices of software design and development cycle.
4. Acquire advanced skills of computer networks.
5. Analyzing data using advanced computing tools.
6. Engaging and applying secure practices in various digital environments.
7. Demonstrate communication skills to convey technical information accurately and effectively.
Degree Requirements
For a M.S. degree in Computer Science, students are required to complete 30 semester credit hours:
- 13 credit hours of leveling courses.
- 24 credit hours of core courses.
- 6 credit hours of concentration courses.
In addition, Students who do not have a background in computer science are required to take a short series of courses to provide the necessary background knowledge for graduate study in computer science. These courses are required for leveling only; they cannot be counted in satisfying the required hours for graduation. Successful completion in these courses means a grade of C or better in each leveling course. Student needs to finish leveling courses to change conditionally accepted status to fully accepted status. The leveling courses are below:
| Course Number | LEVELING COURSES (13 credit hours) | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMP 1412 | Introduction to CS II | 4 |
| COMP 2313 | Data Structures (prereq: 1412) | 3 |
| COMP 3322 | Software Engineering (prereq: 1412) | 3 |
| COMP 3324 | Computer Networks | 3 |
| Course Number | CORE COURSES (24 credit hours) | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMP 5327 | Advanced Algorithms (prereq: 2313) | 3 |
| COMP 5331 | Advanced Cloud Computing | 3 |
| COMP 5329 | Advanced Operating Systems | 3 |
| COMP 5322 | Advanced Software Engineering (prereq: 1412) | 3 |
| COMP 5356 | Advanced Software Project Management (prereq: 3322) | 3 |
| COMP 5334 | Advanced Networking & Computing (prereq: 3324) | 3 |
| COMP 5353 | Advanced Data Mining | 3 |
| COMP 5393 | Capstone Project* | 3 |
| Course Number | CONCENTRATION COURSES (6 credit hours) | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Networking Concentration | ||
| COMP 5351 | Advanced Network Administration (prereq: 3324) | 3 |
| COMP 5352 | Advanced Internetworking Technology (prereq: 3324) | 3 |
| Software Engineering Concentration | ||
| COMP 5359 | Advanced Software Analysis & Design | 3 |
| COMP 5344 | Software Testing, Verification and Validation (prereq: 3322) | 3 |
| Cyber Security Concentration | ||
| COMP 5333 | Cyber Crime Investigation | 3 |
| COMP 5336 | Computer Forensics | 3 |
| Data Analytics Concentration | ||
| COMP 5357 | Machine Learning | 3 |
| COMP 5355 | Data Analysis | 3 |
Admission Requirements
To complete your application packet, please make sure you submit the following items:
- Official Transcripts of all academic work completed at the bachelor level or beyond (an official sealed copy of the transcript(s) indicating the completion of a Bachelor’s degree, may also be received electronically from the issuing institution).
- Copy of your complete course evaluation (if undergraduate degree was earned outside the US a course by course analysis is required of the undergraduate transcript by an evaluation company). The course evaluation must be completed by an approved company such as SDR or SpanTran and sent electronically to records@na.edu. Please see attached sheet for additional information.
- Copy of your current ID (may be scanned and emailed to records@na.edu or uploaded through MyNAU under documents).
- Letter of Intent
- Curriculum Vitae
- Application fee : can be paid online at the fees and deposits page (Please note that his application fee is non-refundable.)
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- Signed Enrollment and Distance Education Agreement (sent via email once above documents have been approved).
English Proficiency must be met if undergraduate degree was received outside the U.S. from a non-English speaking country:**
- Option 1: 2 Years teaching experience in English – verification of work history to be sent directly from the Human Resources department.
- Option 2: TOEFL ( IBT 79) or equivalent nationally recognized standardized tests
- If you cannot prove you are English Proficient from these two common ways, you may still have options. Talk to your admission counselor at 832-362-0129.
Faculty
All faculty have a vast body of professional experience as campus and/or district leadership.
