Computer Science (Distance Format), MS

Program Director

Susan Older, 4-181 Center for Science and Technology, 315-443-4679, Fax 315-443-2583; sueo@ecs.syr.edu

Faculty

Thomas Barnard, Howard A. Blair, Tomislav Bujanovic, Stephen J. Chapin, Biao Chen, C.Y. Roger Chen, Shiu-Kai Chin, Jun Hwan (Brandon) Choi, Wenliang (Kevin) Du, Sara Eftekharnejad, Ehat Ercanli, Makan Fardad, James W. Fawcett, Prasanta Ghosh, Jennifer Graham, Mustafa Cenk Gursoy, Robert Irwin, Can Isik, Andrew Chung-Yeung Lee, Jay Kyoon Lee, Yingbin Liang, Duane L. Marcy, Kishan G. Mehrotra, Chilukuri K. Mohan, Jae C. Oh, Susan Older, Vir Phoha, Qinru Qiu, James S. Royer, Jeffrey Saltz, Tapan K. Sarkar, Fred Schlereth, Q. Wang Song, Sucheta Soundarajan, Jian Tang, Yuzhe (Richard) Tang, William C. Tetley, Pramod K. Varshney, Senem Velipasalar, Li Wang, Hong Wang, Yanzhi Wang, Heng Yin, Edmund Yu, Reza Zafarani

Description:

The Computer Science program at Syracuse University has two special characteristics: flexibility in its program structure and emphasis on mathematical content.

Accreditation:

Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Admission:

Students have a minimum of a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and 1-2 years of related experience acquired either through a job, post-graduate internship or undergraduate research project. A smaller number of students have undergraduate degrees in math or business.

GRE Verbal score of 150 or better (using New GRE Score System); GRE Quantitative score of 155 or better (using New GRE Score System); GRE Analytical (multiple choice) score of 650 or better, or a score of 3.5 or better in the new Analytical Writing; for international students: TOEFL computer-based score of 223 (Internet-based score 85; paper-based score 563) or better; grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 or better.

Financial Support:

Syracuse University has a variety of financial aid programs to support graduate study, including scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships. These programs are administered within each of the University’s academic departments, so the fastest and easiest way to determine what aid you may be eligible for is to connect with specific school or college staff. Federal Unsubsidized Loans for masters, professional and doctoral students are available for up to $20,500, (see eligibility requirements).

Federal financial aid, including loans, requires that you file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can start the federal application process by completing all the items found on your MySlice Financial Aid To Do List, after you have been admitted.

Facilities:

Classes are taught entirely online. Classrooms are equipped with at least two cameras, microphones (for the instructor and students) smart boards and/or tablet monitors and each class session will be webcast live.

Online students have the option to attend the live class session through an online web conferencing platform or view the recording after the class has ended. The web conferencing platform provides interface includes three pods: 1) Camera view of the instructor, 2) Display of the smart board or tablet monitor and 3) Chat tool through which students can pose questions to the instructor and other students. The audio feed will include the instructor and students in the classroom.

Software-based labs are completed using various applications that are downloaded or accessed remotely by the student. These labs are supported by live and recorded explanations and demonstrations by faculty and teaching assistants. In some classes, live support sessions are held online to assist students while they are completing the labs in their locations.

Labs that require tactile manipulation of instruments can be completed locally if the student has access to appropriate equipment (oscilloscope, function generator, multi-meter, etc.). Students record their experiment results and reported back to the instructor. In some cases student may be asked to capture their work on video or still images.

Learning Outcomes:

The purpose of the master’s program is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for a professional career or doctoral studies. This is done through course work in the foundational elements of the field and in at least one graduate specialization. Areas of specialization include artificial intelligence, bio-computation, computer and network security, human-computer interaction, information management and analytics, mobile and internet computing, real-world computing, software theory, systems, and theoretical computer science.

Total Credits: 30

A candidate for MSCS degree is required to take 10 graduate level courses (30 credits), including four required (core) courses (see below). The remaining six courses are chosen by the candidate from a wide range of graduate level courses in computer science and computer engineering offered each semester to form a coherent program of study. Students found to be deficient in in certain areas may be required to take a remedial course in their first semester of study.

Degree:

Master of Science in Computer Science

Transfer Credit:

A maximum of 9 transfer credits for students admitted to the online programs. This is consistent with the College’s policy on transfer credit for residential part-time graduate students. Transfer credits are certified after the students complete their course work requirements. Upon completion of course work, the College forwards the necessary paperwork to the Graduate School, which certifies any transfer credits (as well as the credits completed with us) prior to graduation.

Part-time Study:

The online MSCS program can be completed part-time.

Satisfactory Progress:

The student must maintain a cumulative total GPA of at least a 3.0 in those courses to be credited towards the M.S. degree, and a minimum cumulative total GPA of 2.8 in all graduate courses taken at Syracuse University.