Computer Science (Scientists and Engineers) (MS)

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Designed for students with engineering or science bachelor’s degree but limited background in computer science, this comprehensive, two-year, 37-unit program combines an introductory sequence of undergraduate preparatory and foundational course work with all the graduate breadth requirements necessary to satisfy the traditional master’s degree. Note: The preparatory programming requirement and foundational requirements must be completed at USC and cannot be transferred in or waived. Applicants to this program must meet the admissions standards of the Viterbi School of Engineering.

Preparatory Programming Requirement

CSCI 455x Introduction to Programming Systems Design Units: 4 ^*

Foundational Requirements

CSCI 402 Operating Systems Units: 4
EE 457 Computer Systems Organization Units: 3 or
EE 450 Introduction to Computer Networks Units: 3

Breadth Requirements

You must take the following courses (16 units):

CSCI 561 Foundations of Artificial Intelligence Units: 4
CSCI 570 Analysis of Algorithms Units: 4
CSCI 571 Web Technologies Units: 4
CSCI 585 Database Systems Units: 4

Electives

Select two courses, 7-8 units, from approved 500- to 600-level course work from Computer Science. Units: 7-8

Recommended Elective Courses

CSCI 576 Multimedia Systems Design Units: 4
CSCI 577a Software Engineering Units: 4
CSCI 577b Software Engineering Units: 4
CSCI 580 3-D Graphics and Rendering Units: 4
CSCI 588 Specification and Design of User Interface Software Units: 3

Remaining 2-3 units can be completed with the following:

CSCI 590 Directed Research Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
CSCI 591 Computer Science Research Colloquium Units: 1
CSCI 598 Professional Writing and Communication for Computer Scientists Units: 1 and
ENGR 596 Internship in Engineering Units: 1

Total program units: 37

Total degree units: 33

^*Note: CSCI 455 is a preparatory requirement for this program, but the units for this course do not count toward the 33 units required for the degree.