The M.S. program will provide two tracks:

1. an academic track, which prepares students with further academic studies and into a Ph.D. degree,
2. a professional track, which prepares students to join the work force after graduation.

Both the non-thesis and thesis options are available to students in the academic track. The professional track will only have the non-thesis option, and an internship is required.

All students are required to complete at least 31 credit hours (thesis option) or 34 credit hours (non-thesis option) beyond their B.S. degree in mathematics, science, or engineering. The CPS Graduate Advisor will determine the specific list of courses each student takes. However, some courses are required of all students: 

 

1. All students are required to take the core sequence of courses CPS 5401 and  CPS 5310. These core courses are designed to provide the student with fundamental skills in mathematical modeling and numerical methods, which are essential in computational science. The CPS program committee may substitute CPS 5401 for another prescribed CS class for those students that have advanced computational skills.
2. All students are required to take four prescribed electives. If it is impossible to take four of these without duplicating equivalent courses taken previously, free electives or research courses may be substituted.
3. All students are required to take at least two prescribed classes in each of the following areas: computer science, mathematics and science/engineering. I
4. Academic track students with the non-thesis option are required to take 12 more credit hours of prescribed or free electives and the 3 credit-hour course “Professional Skills in Science and Engineering” .
5. Academic track students with the thesis option are required to take 3 more credit hours of prescribed or free electives, 3 credit hours of research , and 6 credit hours of thesis work (courses CPS 5398 and CPS 5399).
6. Professional track students do not write a thesis. They are required to take 12[ more credit hours of prescribed or free electives, and the 3 credit-hour course “Professional Skills in Science and Engineering” which they complete after returning from their internships.

 Students wishing to work with a thesis advisor may choose the thesis option and replace 9 hours of free electives with the M.S. thesis courses CPS 5398 and CPS 5299. The thesis must demonstrate the student’s knowledge of the material in the core and prescribed elective course work. A thesis committee made up of the student’s thesis advisor and three additional members of the CPS faculty will administer a final thesis examination