Master of Science (MS) Degree in the field of Computer Science

Program Learning Outcomes for the MS Degree in the field of Computer Science

Upon completing the MS degree in the field of Computer Science, students will be able to:

  1. Acquire a solid foundation in Computer Science at the graduate level.
  2. Conduct an independent research program.
  3. Demonstrate professional skills in both oral and written communication.

Requirements for the MS Degree in the field of Computer Science

The MS degree is a thesis master's degree. For general university requirements, please see Thesis Master's Degrees. For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students. Students pursuing the MS degree in the field of Computer Science must complete:

  • A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (graduate semester credit hours, coursework at the 500-level or above) to satisfy degree requirements.

The requirements listed in the General Announcements (GA) satisfy the minimum requirements for this degree program. In certain instances, courses (or requirements) not officially listed here may be substituted upon approval of the program's academic advisor, or where applicable, the department or program's Director of Graduate Studies. Course substitutions or any exceptions to the stated official curricular requirements must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Summary 

Total Credit Hours Required for the MS Degree in the field of Computer Science30

The MS degree is a research degree requiring a thesis in addition to coursework. Students enrolled in the PhD program must meet additional requirements before they receive the MS degree. See the PhD program section for further information.  

Policies for the MS Degree in the field of Computer Science

Department of Computer Science Graduate Program Handbook

The General Announcements (GA) is the official Rice curriculum. As an additional resource for students, the department of Computer Science publishes a graduate program handbook, which can be found here: https://gradhandbooks.rice.edu/2023_24/Computer_Science_Graduate_Handbook.pdf

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.

Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the MS degree in the field of Computer Science should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guidelines:

  • Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director on an individual case-by-case basis. 

Additional Information

For additional information, please see the Graduate Programs website at https://www.cs.rice.edu/academics/graduate-programs or contact the department at gradapp@rice.edu.

Opportunities for the MS Degree in the field of Computer Science

Additional Information

For additional information, please see the Graduate Programs website at https://www.cs.rice.edu/academics/graduate-programs or contact the department at gradapp@rice.edu.