Graduate Program
The Department of Computer
Science offers graduate programs leading to the degree of Master of Science, the
professional degree of Computer Systems Engineer and the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Both the Aptitude Test and Advanced Tests of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are
required for admission to the department’s graduate programs. (Applicants for September
admission should take the GREs by October of the preceding year. Applicants for January
admission should take these exams by April of the preceding year.)
The course requirements in all
programs are flexible, and each student is urged to design his or her own program under
the guidance of a faculty adviser. The student’s program should focus on a particular
field of computer science. Among the fields of graduate study in computer science are
analysis of algorithms, artificial intelligence, expert systems, natural language
understanding, computer vision, multicomputer design, VLSI applications, combinatorial
modeling, combinatorial optimization, computational complexity, computer architecture
and design, computer communications networks, computer graphics, database machines and
systems, microprocessors, parallel computation, programming environments, programming
languages, robotics, user interfaces, software design, and computational biology.
Graduate students are encouraged
actively to pursue research. Faculty members of the Department of Computer Science are
engaged in experimental and theoretical research in most of the fields in which courses
are offered. The degree of doctor of philosophy requires a dissertation based on the
candidate’s original research, which is supervised by a faculty member.
The professional degree program
also provides the student with the opportunity to specialize beyond the level of the
Master of Science program. The program leading to the degree of Computer Systems
Engineer is particularly suited to those who wish to advance their professional
development after a period of industrial employment.