MS – Mathematical Computer Science
MS: Concentration in Mathematical Computer Science
The Master of Science (MS) in Mathematics degree with a concentration in Mathematical Computer Science is designed primarily for students with a bachelor's degree in computer science or for students with a bachelor's degree in mathematics or engineering and a modest background in computer science. This program lays the foundation for doctoral work or prepares students to pursue a career in industry.
The student must fulfill the Graduate College requirements specified in the Graduate College Catalog as well as departmental requirements detailed in the MSCS Graduate Handbook, which includes:
Minimum Semester Hours Required 32.
Course Work At least 24 hours must be in mathematics courses, of which 12 hours must be at the 500-level. The student must complete a course of study in one of the following concentrations or, in exceptional cases approved by the Graduate Studies Committee, a general program of study without a concentration can be followed.
Core courses (12 credit hours)*
- MCS 401 (Computer Algorithms I) or MCS 441 (Theory of Computation)
- MCS 421 (Combinatorics) or MCS 423 (Graph Theory)
- MCS 471 (Numerical Analysis) or MCS 481 (Computational Geometry)
Departmental 500-level courses completed with an A or B (12 credit hours) selected in consultation with an advisor
- At least two courses must be MCS courses.
- Courses may include independent study.
- Courses CANNOT include MATH 589 (Teaching and Presentation of Mathematics).
Remaining courses to be selected in consultation with an advisor.
- Other courses may be substituted with the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.
- Courses may be selected from other departments with advisor's approval.
Master’s Exam or Master’s Thesis
- Students must pass the master’s exam in Mathematical Computer Science, or
- Achieve a grade point average of at least 3.5 for the core courses, earn 5 credit hours in master's thesis research (MCS 598), write an acceptable thesis, and pass an oral defense.
Satisfy the Graduate College requirement among the 32 credit hours completed toward the degree:
- Complete 9 hours of 500-level courses, NOT including independent study.
*Students who have completed the core courses at another institution must meet with their faculty mentor to identify suitable courses to substitute for those previously taken. Once the course substitutions have been identified, the students must submit a request to the Director of Graduate Studies, signed by the faculty mentor, listing the recommended course substitutions.