Master of Science: Computer Science

The Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) is a 30 Credit Hours graduate degree program, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The MSCS Degree Program offers different options to help students complete the degree based on their needs and time and financial planning. The MSCS prepares the graduates for a wide range of future opportunities, whether it is corporate research, product development, manufacturing, service sector, the management, or entrepreneurial endeavors. It also prepares graduates for doctoral studies. The overall goal is to put graduates into a position to be leading technology developers and innovators.

Degree Options

• The MSCS Degree Program is open to both full-time and part-time students.
• The MSCS Degree Program admits both domestic and international students. International students must comply with the US Federal Government’s restrictions on the number of online classes.
• The MSCS Degree Program offers two academic options: Thesis and Non-Thesis (Course) options. In the thesis option, the students have the opportunity to engage in research that builds upon the coursework to investigate the state-of-the-art and emerging challenges and topics in the chosen area.

MSCS Emphasis Areas

The MSCS Degree Program at UMKC has the following 5 Emphasis Areas:

1. Artificial Intelligence
2. Cybersecurity
3. Data Science
4. Networking & Telecommunications
5. Software Engineering & Systems

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the MSCS should have a GPA of at least 3.0 on the scale of 4.0 in the last 60 semester hours of relevant undergraduate coursework in Computer Science, Software Engineering, and other related computing and engineering programs. Some students may have to take additional core computer science prerequisite courses if they do not have the necessary background for any specific graduate course or emphasis area. The following documents are required for consideration for admission:

1. Completed application form for graduate (masters) admission.
2. Official transcripts of all college work.
3. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.
4. For international applicants, a minimum test score of 79 (TOEFL iBT) or 6 (IELTS) is necessary (the older TOEFL and CBT scores are no longer accepted).
   1. TOEFL/IELTS Waiver/Exemption: International students from English speaking countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand do not need to take TOEFL or IELTS.
   2. International students from the following Non-English speaking countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Turkey, South Africa, and Singapore, where the medium of college education in the STEM disciplines is English, do not require TOEFL or IELTS.

   Note: COMP-SCI 5501 may be required of students provisionally admitted to the MSCS program.

   MSCS Degree Requirements

   1. MSCS students must complete at least 24 Credit Hours (equivalent to 8 regular courses) from CS topic areas (CS designated graduate courses). For some of the emphasis areas, the CSEE designated graduate courses will also be counted towards this 24 Credit Hours requirement. MSCS students can take the remaining 6 Credit Hours (equivalent to 2 regular courses) from any related discipline, including CS.
   2. MSCS degree program has two options:
      1. Course-Option: 10 Courses (8 CS Courses + 2 courses from any related discipline).
      2. Thesis-Option: 8 Courses (6 CS Courses + 2 courses from any related discipline) + MS Thesis (6 Credit Hours).

      MSCS Degree Emphasis Area Selection Guidelines

      1. The students in the MSCS Degree Program are not required to select an emphasis area. They will obtain the MSCS diploma if they fulfill the degree requirements listed above.
      2. However, it is strongly recommended to select at least one emphasis area to be prepared for a career in that area.
         1. Employers in a particular sector would like to see that a graduate has a series of relevant courses and training in various topics and tools related to that sector.
         2. It is important to acknowledge that current technologies and industries are very specialized. Most of the time, employers ask for specific skills and academic backgrounds for each new position.
         3. Students are recommended to take at least 12 Credit Hours from a selected emphasis area. These 12 Credit Hours can be covered by four (4) courses or two (2) courses and the MS Thesis in the chosen field.
         4. To expand academic training and increase employability, a student can take courses from two emphasis areas. Taking classes from more than two areas is highly discouraged.
         5. If an MSCS student takes courses from 3 or more different emphasis areas, the employers may not find that student suitable for any of their positions after graduation.

         Core Requirements

         All students are required to complete a core curriculum of: