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Chair: Gary S. Krenz, Ph.D.
Program Director: Thomas Kaczmarek, Ph.D.
http://www.marquette.edu/mscs/grad-computing.shtml
Degree Offered
Master of Science, students are admitted under Plan B (non-thesis option) but Plan A (thesis option) is also offered
Program Description
Computing is a broad-based family of disciplines that includes computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information systems and information technology. The computing program has been designed to allow the student to pursue studies in any combination of these disciplines.
Students may pursue the degree on a full-time or part-time basis. Many courses are offered evenings, and online classes are available.
Prerequisites for Admission
Applicants must have completed or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants should also have taken at least two terms of computer programming courses in a modern computer programming language with knowledge of data structures (or equivalent work experience).
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit, directly to the Graduate School:
- A completed online application form and fee.
- Official transcripts from all current and previous colleges/universities except Marquette.
- Essay outlining relevant work experience or education, career goals, possible areas of interest and reasons for seeking admission to this program.
- Three letters of reference from professors or professionals familiar with the applicant's abilities, academic work and/or professional background.
- (For international applicants who have not attended an English speaking university only) a minimum TOEFL score of 80 on the Internet-based version or other acceptable proof of English proficiency.
General Information
Students interested in applying to the program should consult the program website at mu.edu/mscs/graduate/comp/, for additional information about the program, including a list of the currently approved courses for the degree.
A complete list and short description of the courses offered by the Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Department (MSCS) is available on the MSCS Department page of the Bulletin.
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Computing
Students are admitted to the program under the non-thesis option (Plan B), and most students graduate under this plan. Students may apply for the thesis option (Plan A) on approval of a thesis outline by their adviser and the computing program's Graduate Committee.
The course of study is very flexible. Students complete a breadth requirement, primary and secondary concentrations and additional courses suited to their backgrounds and career goals. The program director and faculty advisers work very closely with students to ensure that they achieve their educational goals through appropriate course selection.
Computing students gain both breadth and an in-depth knowledge of their field.
Breadth Requirement (12 credits)
Computing students experience the breadth of the field by completing (or having completed before entering the program) at least three credits in four of the following five areas:
- Information Management
- Hardware and Software Architecture and Organization
- Operating Systems
- Programming Concepts and Skills
- Software Engineering.
Classes at the 5000-level and the 6000-level have been designated by the program in each area, but satisfaction of the breadth requirement does not rely on any specific course selection. An individual plan is developed by the student and approved by the computing program's Graduate Committee.
Concentrations (18 credits)
Concentrations provide in-depth knowledge areas and often reflect possible long-term career objectives. Primary and secondary concentrations are driven by students' interests working with an adviser. Each student must have one primary concentration of at least 12 credits, and a different secondary concentration of at least six credits. For students in the thesis option (Plan A), the six thesis credits are considered the secondary concentration.
Courses taken to satisfy the breadth requirement also count toward primary and secondary concentrations. No course may be counted toward satisfying both a primary and a secondary concentration. The breadth and concentration requirements may be satisfied with any combination of approved 5000- and 6000-level classes, subject to the overall Plan A or Plan B requirements for 6000-level credits.
Primary or secondary concentrations include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Foundations of Computation
- Distributed Computing
- Software Engineering, Programming Concepts and Skills
- Intelligent Systems and Information Management
- Hardware and Software Architecture and Organization.
Specific courses in each concentration are designated by the computing program. The final course selections are determined on an individual basis with approval by an adviser. Consult the program website at marquette.edu/mscs/grad-computing.shtml for a list of the currently approved courses.
Additional Course Work
Courses beyond the breadth and concentration requirements are taken from a list of computer science, information technology and computer engineering courses approved by the computing program. Six out-of-program elective credits may be selected from other Marquette graduate courses germane to computing or its applications.
Plan B Option (36 credits)
Students must complete 36 credit hours of course work, of which at least 18 hours must be earned in graduate-level courses (6000-level and above).
Plan A Option (30 credits)
Students must complete 24 credit hours of course work, of which at least 12 hours must be earned in graduate-level courses (6000-level and above). Students must also complete a master's thesis for 6 credit hours and pass the oral examination concentrated on the thesis. The six thesis credits are considered the secondary concentration.
On this page
- Degree Offered
- Program Description
- Prerequisites for Admission
- Application Requirements
- General Information
- Computing
