An MS in Comp Sci is a graduate program that typically takes two years to complete, with a strong focus on computer science theory and practical applications.
The program usually requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field, but some programs may accept students with a degree in a different field if they have relevant experience.
Students in an MS in Comp Sci program can expect to take a variety of courses, including algorithms, computer systems, and software engineering.
These courses provide a solid foundation in computer science and prepare students for advanced topics and specialization in areas like data science, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
Benefits and Career
The benefits of pursuing a Master's in Computer Science (MS in CS) are numerous and exciting. You'll have the opportunity to work with world-class faculty who are experts in their fields.
One of the unique aspects of the program is the multidisciplinary approach, allowing you to consult and work with faculty across various disciplines. This will give you a broad understanding of the field and its applications.
The curriculum is comprehensive, covering new ideas, technologies, and competencies that will prepare you for a competitive job market. You'll also have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including project design studios and makerspaces.
With both daytime and evening classes, the program offers flexible coursework options for students from all walks of life. Plus, the location in the greater Dallas region provides easy access to employers and internship opportunities.
Here are some of the popular career paths for MS in CS graduates:
- Software engineering
- Software development
- Cybersecurity engineer
- Data science
- Program analysis
- Computer systems analysis
- Database administration
- Network systems and data communication analysis
Graduates of the program have gone on to work at top companies, including Intel, Microsoft, and Oracle. They've also pursued PhD programs at top universities, such as UT Austin and Texas A&M.
Curriculum and Courses
The UT Austin online CS master's curriculum is designed to give you a strong foundation in computer science, with cutting-edge coursework that applies directly to your career. This includes advanced operating systems, programming languages, online learning, optimization, and machine learning.
You'll take three required courses, each worth 3 credit hours, taught by top-notch faculty, including Professor Peter Stone. Course outlines will be posted soon.
To earn your MS degree, you'll need to complete 30 credits of formal coursework, including one course from each of the four foundation areas: Theory and Algorithms, Computer Systems, Operating Systems and Networks, and Artificial Intelligence and Database Systems.
Here are the foundation area courses:
You'll also need to complete additional coursework, either through a thesis or project, and maintain a minimum GPA of B or better in all courses.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the UT Austin online CS master's program is designed to provide a strong foundation in computer science, with a focus on cutting-edge topics in high demand within the tech industry.
The program incorporates foundational coursework in computer science, including theory and algorithms, computer architecture, and operating systems and networks.
You'll have the opportunity to personalize your education with a variety of elective courses, taught by tenured UT Computer Science faculty who are leaders in the CS research community.
Worth a look: Ut Austin Comp Sci
To satisfy the 30-credit requirement, you'll need to take courses in the following foundation areas:
In addition to the foundation courses, you'll need to complete additional coursework based on one of two options: the thesis option or the project option.
Advanced Linear Algebra
Advanced Linear Algebra is a fundamental tool for computational and data scientists, and it's built on three main pillars: linear algebra, practical algorithms for matrix computations, and analyzing the effects of floating-point arithmetic on correctness.
You'll learn to decipher a matrix using the Singular Value Decomposition, which is a powerful technique for understanding the structure of a matrix.
Deciphering a matrix is just the beginning - you'll also learn to quantify and qualify numerical error, which is crucial for ensuring the accuracy of your computations.
To do this, you'll study norms, which are measures of the size of a vector or matrix. You'll spend a week studying norms, and it's a great opportunity to practice applying mathematical concepts to real-world problems.
The Singular Value Decomposition is another key concept in Advanced Linear Algebra. You'll spend a week studying this technique, and it's a great way to understand how to decompose a matrix into its constituent parts.
Another important topic in Advanced Linear Algebra is the QR Decomposition. This technique is used to decompose a matrix into an orthogonal matrix and a triangular matrix, and it's a crucial tool for solving linear systems.
Here's a breakdown of the topics you'll cover in Advanced Linear Algebra:
- Norms (1 week)
- The Singular Value Decomposition (1 week)
- The QR Decomposition (1 week)
- Linear Last Squares (1 week)
- LU Factorization (1 week)
- Numerical Stability (1 week)
- Solving Sparse Linear Systems Part 1 (1 week)
- Solving Sparse Linear Systems Part 2 (1 week)
- Eigenvalues and eigenvectors (1 week)
- Practical Solutions of the Hermitian Eigenvalue Problem (1 week)
- The QR Algorithm Symmetric (1 week)
- High Performing Algorithms (1 week)
Planning, Search, and Reasoning
Planning, Search, and Reasoning is a crucial area of study in computer science that involves developing algorithms and techniques to tackle complex problems. It's a field that has numerous applications in real-world scenarios, from autonomous systems to software verification.
Planning domains are defined by representations of world states and actions, covering both symbolic and path planning. This involves understanding how to efficiently find valid plans with or without optimality.
Planning algorithms for discrete and continuous state spaces are essential in this field. These algorithms can be used to solve planning problems in various domains, from robotics to logistics.
Adversarial planning is another critical aspect of planning, search, and reasoning. It involves developing strategies to deal with unexpected situations or opponents.
Bayesian state estimation and decision-making in probabilistic domains are also key topics in this area. These techniques help reason about sensing, actuation, and model uncertainty in real-world problems.
Here's a breakdown of the topics covered in a typical course on planning, search, and reasoning:
Specializations
In an MS in Comp Sci program, students can specialize in various areas. This specialization can lead to a career in fields like artificial intelligence, data science, or cybersecurity.
Some specializations also involve working with specific types of computer systems, such as mobile or embedded systems.
Machine
Machine learning is a core part of many fields, including engineering, computer vision, and biology. It's used for tasks like pattern recognition and classification.
Machine learning algorithms are based on mathematical models and statistical tools. These tools are used to perform tasks like regression and decision trees. The course covers techniques for supervised and unsupervised learning, as well as statistical methods for interpreting models.
Some of the key topics in machine learning include linear regression, logistic regression, and gradient descent. These algorithms are used for tasks like feature projection and dimensionality reduction. The course also covers Bayesian methods and neural networks.
Here are some of the key concepts covered in machine learning:
- Supervised learning: classification and regression
- Unsupervised learning: feature extraction
- Statistical methods: interpreting models generated by learning algorithms
Some of the specific techniques covered in machine learning include:
- Mistake Bounded Learning
- Decision Trees; PAC Learning
- Cross Validation; VC Dimension; Perceptron
- Linear Regression; Gradient Descent
- Boosting
- PCA; SVD
- Maximum likelihood estimation
- Bayesian inference
- K-means and EM
- Multivariate models and graphical models
- Neural networks; generative adversarial networks (GAN)
Natural Language Processing
Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a fascinating field that's all about making computers understand and generate human language. It's a crucial area of research with many real-world applications.
Linguistics fundamentals are the building blocks of NLP, covering syntax, lexical and distributional semantics, and compositional semantics. These concepts are essential for understanding how language works.
To tackle NLP problems, you'll learn about machine learning models, including classifiers, sequence taggers, and deep learning models. These models are used for tasks like sentiment analysis and machine translation.
Here's a rough breakdown of what you can expect to learn in an NLP course:
- ML fundamentals, linear classification, and sentiment analysis (1.5 weeks)
- Neural classification and word embeddings (1 week)
- RNNs, language modeling, and pre-training basics (1 week)
- Tagging with sequence models: Hidden Markov Models and Conditional Random Fields (1 week)
- Syntactic parsing: constituency and dependency parsing, models, and inference (1.5 weeks)
- Language modeling revisited (1 week)
- Question answering and semantics (1.5 weeks)
- Machine translation (1.5 weeks)
- BERT and modern pre-training (1 week)
- Applications: summarization, dialogue, etc. (1-1.5 weeks)
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is MS in computer science?
The MS in Computer Science typically takes 1-2 years for full-time students and 3-5 years for part-time students to complete. Finish your degree in a timeframe that suits your schedule.
Is it worth getting a master's in computer science?
Getting a master's in computer science can be beneficial for those with field-specific knowledge, but it's essential to weigh this option against other paths like double majors or minors. Consider your career goals and weigh the benefits of a master's degree in computer science against other educational options.
What GPA do you need for UC Irvine MS CS?
To be eligible for the UC Irvine MS CS program, you must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 throughout the program. A B or higher is required in every course, with no exceptions.
Is OMSCS a real degree?
Yes, OMSCS is a legitimate Master of Science degree offered by a reputable institution, Georgia Tech's College of Computing. It's a real degree that can be earned online.
Sources
- https://www.utdallas.edu/fact-sheets/ecs/ms-computer-science/
- https://cdso.utexas.edu/mscs
- https://ecs.syracuse.edu/academics/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/programs/computer-science-master-program
- https://future.utsa.edu/programs/master/computer-science/
- https://www.sci.pitt.edu/academics/masters-degrees/computer-science-ms
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