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    Nov 03, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Computer Science, MS


The department offers the Master of Science with a major in computer science.

Admission requirements

The student must satisfy all the general admission requirements of the Toulouse Graduate School. In addition, a successful applicant usually meets the following admission criteria of the computer science and engineering department:

  • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE). See the department’s web page for information concerning typical admission test scores.
  • All applicants to the University of North Texas must show proof of English language proficiency (see admissions.unt.edu/international/English-language-requirements).
  • A current GPA of at least 3.0 on course work.
  • Completion of a sufficient amount of prior work in the field of computer science which may entail some undergraduate leveling courses.
  • At least 12 hours of mathematics, including differential and integral calculus, discrete mathematics and two other courses selected from statistics, linear algebra, abstract algebra, logic, numerical analysis and differential equations.

An overall evaluation of the student’s credentials is used as a basis for admission. Students with an insufficient computer science background may be provisionally admitted to the program and may enroll in graduate-level courses once any required leveling courses are completed with a grade of B or better. Admission is competitive, and satisfaction of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Admission to candidacy

After removal of any deficiencies, graduate students who have been enrolled in 18 or more semester credit hours will be required to submit a degree plan. If a degree plan is not submitted on time, a registration block will be placed, and not removed, until an approved degree plan is submitted to and approved by the Graduate School.

Admission to candidacy is granted by the dean of the Graduate School after the degree plan has been approved.

A change in program from our Computer Science Master’s program to our Computer Science with concentrations in Professional Master of Science in Cybersecurity or Data Science, MS  will not be approved by the CSE Graduate Committee. If you wish to make a change in program to any other program, it is permissible after you have completed one long semester in your initial program.

Leveling courses

  • CSCE 1030, Computer Science I
  • CSCE 1040, Computer Science II
  • CSCE 2100, Computing Foundations I
  • CSCE 2110, Computing Foundations II
  • CSCE 2610, Assembly Language and Computer Organization
  • CSCE 3110, Data Structures and Algorithms

All entering students must demonstrate knowledge of the material covered in these courses. An entering student may demonstrate knowledge of the material by:

  • Completing the courses at UNT
  • Completing similar courses at another institution
  • Evidence based on employment experience

A student may be required to successfully pass a placement exam to demonstrate their knowledge of the material.

Degree requirements

The computer science and engineering department offers two master’s degree options:

Option A: Thesis option (30 hours that include 6 hours of thesis). Leveling and internship courses cannot be counted.

Option B: Course option (33 hours). Leveling and internship courses cannot be counted.

Academic standards

If a student’s GPA on all graduate and/or deficiency courses falls below 3.0, the student will be placed on probation the following term/semester. Students who cannot raise their GPA above 3.0 during that term/semester will be dropped from the program. To qualify for the master’s degree, the student must earn a grade of B or better in each of the core courses.

Course selection


Computer science master’s students are required to take one course from each of the four groups listed below.

  • The remaining courses and areas of specialization are selected in consultation with the student’s advisor. 
  • No more than 3 hours in non-organized courses (such as directed study or special problems) will be permissible.
  • Leveling course(s) are typically required if the applicant does not have a BS with a major in computer science.