Master of Computer Science
The Master of Computer Science is a 15-month professionally-oriented program that prepares students for immediate entry into the technology workforce and enhances opportunities for career mobility and growth. The program emphasizes computer science concepts that apply to a wide variety of applications and industries, including technology, business, finance, healthcare, environmental, and more. Students learn and reinforce their knowledge through classroom and project-based learning and through individual and collaborative assignments. Midway through the program, students work on a culminating project over the span of twenty weeks, immersing in ideation, design, development, and finally, execution. The final projects are showcased to the community, including industry partners and hiring managers, with a strong emphasis on supporting network and relationship-building, and procuring employment.
Students in the program typically have a computing-related or highly related undergraduate degree or background; however, students from other technical and non-technical backgrounds with sufficient preparation and experience in programming, as well as professional experience, are welcome and encouraged to apply. All applicants are evaluated on their application materials: academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and resume.
For specific information regarding the admissions requirements and application process, please refer to the Graduate Division website. To contact the MCS program directly, please email mcs@ics.uci.edu or call 949-824-5158.
| A. Complete any three of the following core courses: | |
| Principles of Data Management | |
| Computer and Communication Networks | |
| Operating Systems | |
| Computer Systems Architecture | |
| Algorithms with Applications | |
| Data Structures with Applications | |
| Machine Learning and Data Mining | |
| B. Complete the following three project courses: | |
| COMPSCI 295P | Keystone Project for Computer Science |
| COMPSCI 296P | Capstone Professional Writing and Communication for Computer Science Careers |
| COMPSCI 297P | Capstone Design Project for Computer Science |
| C. Complete at least six of the following elective courses that are not being counted as core courses from Section A: | |
| Computer Security | |
| Network Security | |
| Databases and Data Management | |
| Principles of Data Management | |
| Transaction Processing and Distributed Data Management | |
| Big Data Management | |
| Parallel and Distributed Computing for Professionals | |
| Computer and Communication Networks | |
| Operating Systems | |
| Internet of Things | |
| Computer Systems Architecture | |
| Advanced Programming and Problem Solving | |
| Algorithms with Applications | |
| Data Structures with Applications | |
| Text Processing and Information Retrieval | |
| Artificial Intelligence | |
| Machine Learning and Data Mining | |
| Neural Networks and Deep Learning | |
| Graphical Models and Statistical Learning | |
| D. Select one of the following: | |
| Computer Science Practicum | |
| Individual Study | |
All Master of Computer Science students are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 throughout the program, with no individual grade lower than a B. The normative time to degree is four academic quarters plus summer, or sixteen months.