Dr. Joseph Kizza, Department Head
(423) 425-4202 or email at Joseph-Kizza@utc.edu
Dr. Mina Sartipi, Graduate Program Coordinator
(423) 425-5336 or email at Mina-Sartipi@utc.edu
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers a Master of Science degree in Computer Science with concentrations in Computer Science (CPSC) and Information Security and Assurance (ISA). These programs are intended to prepare individuals for work in industry and government or further graduate study. Requirements for the M.S. degree include a minimum of 33 hours of credit earned in graduate course work including a thesis or 36 hours including a project.
Admission
A student who holds a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university may be considered for admission to the program. This program is designed for students with the foundation provided by the baccalaureate degree in computer science. However, students with degrees in other disciplines may be admitted. Students whose academic training is considered inadequate in certain areas will be required to complete additional undergraduate and/or graduate foundation courses as determined by the department.
Application Procedures
To be accepted into master program in Computer Science with general computer science or with information security and assurance concentration, a student must complete all of the following:
- Have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. An official transcript is required from each previously attended college. An application and non-refundable application fee of $30 for domestic, $35 international, should also be submitted to the Graduate School.
- Be granted admission to UTC’s Graduate School based on a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 (based on a 4.0 scale), or GPA of 3.0 in the senior year.
- For international students where English is not their native tongue, they must have an official Test of English as a Forign Lange (TOEFL) score of 550 or above (A score of 213 or above on te computer-based test, or a score of 79 or above on the Internet-based test, is considered equivalent to a score of 550 or above on te paper-based test.) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) sscore of 6.0 or above is required for all applicants whose native language is not English.
Programs and Requirements
Computer Science: Computer Science
The CPSC M.S. program requires that a student complete a minimum of 33 semester hours in graduate work when pursuing the thesis option, or 36 semester hours in graduate work including a graduate project when pursuing the non-thesis option. Students admitted to the program who lack academic experience in certain areas will be required to complete up to 18 hours of additional course work in the foundation courses listed below in order to gain needed competencies. All students admitted to the M.S. program must complete 15 semester hours of required course in the core courses listed below. The program also includes 6 hours of thesis and 9 hours of computer science elective courses. The student in consultation with his/her major adviser and the program graduate coordinator can select an additional 3 hours of elective coursework in an area of interest within or outside of computer science. Students may elect to undertake a project in lieu of a thesis. In this case, 6 additional hours of elective coursework, for a minimum total of 36 hours of graduate credit, are required. The courses used for these additional six hours are subject to the approval of the major adviser and the Graduate Coordinator of Computer Science. With either the thesis or project option, a minimum of 21 hours of credit must be from UTC computer science courses at the 5000 level. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average and are subject to all general regulations of The Graduate School, such as those regulating admission to candidacy, transfer of credits, time limitations, thesis, and degree conferral.
Computer Science: Information Security and Assurance
The CPSC-ISA M.S. program requires a student to complete a minimum of 33 semester hours in graduate work including the thesis, or 36 semester hours in graduate work including a graduate project. Students admitted to the program who lack academic experience in certain areas will be required to complete up to 18 hours of additional course work of the foundation courses listed below in order to gain needed competencies. All students admitted to the M.S. program must complete 15 semester hours of required computer science core courses and 6 semester hours of required ISA core courses listed below. The program also includes 6 hours of thesis and 3 hours of ISA elective courses The student in consultation with his/her major adviser and the program graduate coordinator can select an additional 3 hours of elective coursework in an area of interest within or outside of computer science.. Students may elect to undertake a project in lieu of a thesis. In this case, 3 additional hours of ISA elective coursework and 3 additional hours of elective course in the student’s interest area, for a minimum total of 36 hours of graduate credit, are required. The courses used for these additional 3 elective hours are subject to the approval of the major adviser and the Graduate Coordinator. With either the thesis or project option, a minimum of 21 hours of credit must be from UTC computer science courses at the 5000 level. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average and are subject to all general regulations of The Graduate School, such as those regulating admission to candidacy, transfer of credits, time limitations, thesis, and degree conferral.
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