Offered by: College of Science, Computer Science Department
The Master of Science program in Computer Science offers state-of-the-art classes in the domain of Software Engineering, Cyber Security & Operations, Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Game Development & Virtual Reality and Robotics in addition to foundations of computer software, networks and hardware systems. The program provides theoretical foundations to advance critical thinking as well as hands-on training for workforce-ready graduates for tomorrow’s IT world. The graduate classes are offered mostly in the afternoon to make it a convenient choice for current career professionals looking for an advanced degree.
The curriculum matrix for the degree program may be found here. The curriculum matrix is the alignment of courses (curriculum) with the desired goals and student learning outcomes of the program. It shows what is taught and how these outcomes are achieved through the completion of the degree program. Information for the prospective students is available at: www.cpp.edu/~sci/computer-science/prospective-graduate-students/
Daisy Tang, Chair
Mohammad Husain, Graduate Coordinator
Admission to the Program
- These are minimum requirements for the program admission. Admission is competitive and meeting minimum requirement does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants seeking unconditional admission must have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or closely related field with a GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses or the most recent 60 semester units attempted, and have successfully completed courses covering the following topics with a GPA of 3.0 or better:
10-12 semester units including Calculus and Probability and Statistics
12-15 semester units including Object-Oriented Programming, Discrete Structures and Logic, Data Structures, and Computer Organization and Digital Design
12-15 upper division semester units including Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Computer Architecture, Operating Systems, and Software Engineering.
- Applicants who do not meet unconditional admission but have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA above 3.0 may seek conditional admission. However, priority will be given to unconditional admissions first. Conditional admission requires successful completion of courses covering the following topics with a GPA of 3.0 or better:
10-12 semester units including Calculus and Probability and Statistics
12-15 semester units including Object-Oriented Programming, Discrete Structures and Logic, Data Structures, and Computer Organization and Digital Design
Students in conditional standing must satisfactorily complete the following list of upper division courses before becoming eligible for unconditional graduate standing.
12 upper division semester units including Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Computer Architecture, Operating Systems, and Software Engineering.
Students admitted conditionally will not be allowed to concurrently register for graduate courses that are required for the completion of their projected graduate or professional program.
Applicants whose native language is not English and who hold a bachelor’s degree from a college or university where the principal language of instruction was not English must have passed the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam with a minimum score of 6.5 or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam with a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based, or 550 on the paper-based, or 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL. Per CSU Admissions and SEVIS Policy, international students attending the University on a visa requiring issuance of an I-20 may not be conditionally admitted and must meet all requirements prior to gaining admission to the University.
Graduate Conditionally Classified
A person may be admitted to a graduate degree or credential program in this category if, in the opinion of appropriate campus authority, he/she can remedy deficiencies by additional coursework but otherwise satisfies all other university requirements for admission. However, priority will be given to unconditional admissions first. All prerequisites must be specified by the admitting department at the time of student admission. Academic departments are responsible for tracking conditionally admitted students and must report their academic progress to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and the Graduate Studies Office via a memo on a term basis. Students admitted conditionally will not be allowed to concurrently register for graduate courses that are required for the completion of their projected graduate or professional program. To comply with both existing federal regulations and CSU system policy, conditionally admitted students’ financial aid is limited to private loans. Once all deficiencies are resolved and unconditional status is granted by Cal Poly Pomona, students may be eligible for federal and state aid. Conditional admission does not guarantee unconditional status and subsequent completion of a program.
Requirements
Students are urged to know the general scholastic requirements described in the “Graduate Studies - General Information ” section of the catalog.
All graduate students must meet/contact with the Graduate Coordinator or attend an orientation meeting.
Computer Science MS students can take up to 6 semester units of CS 4000+ levels elective classes to satisfy their elective courses requirement, excluding the following courses: CS 4000 , CS 4310 , CS 4610 , CS 4620 , CS 4630 , and CS 4800 . However, these 4000+ level classes cannot be classes that a CS MS student already took in their undergraduate curriculum. Current Cal Poly Pomona Computer Science BS students planning on continuing to the Computer Science MS program should check the policy here. For CS 4990 courses, a total credit limited to 6 semester units of is applicable to a degree, with a maximum of 2 sections of per semester. The same restriction applies for CS 5990 courses as well. Therefore, in a master’s contract, a CS MS student can have a maximum of 6 semester units of CS 4990 and 6 semester units of CS 5990 course credits.
No more than 9 semester units of acceptable graduate credit may be transferred from another graduate institution. No more than 9 semester units taken through Extended University may be used on a contract. No more than 9 semester units of acceptable graduate credit may be petitioned by an undergraduate student.
A total limit of 9 semester units of transfer, Extended University, and/or units petitioned for graduate credit may be included on a master’s contract. The stipulated time limit of 7 years applies to all of the above. A grade point average of 3.0 (B) or better must be maintained in all upper-division undergraduate and all graduate courses.
Admission to the program does not admit a student to candidacy for a degree. Advancement to Candidacy is granted to an unconditional student, having passed the Graduation Writing Test (GWT) and upon the recommendation of his/her faculty advisor, and implies a readiness to attempt project/thesis. The candidate must be enrolled during the semester of graduation.
