Computer Science: Master of Science Program (For students admitted prior to Summer 2005)

Degree Programs: Computer Science (M.S.)

The Master of Science program in computer science is for people with computer science or closely related backgrounds that wish to broaden their general knowledge of the field or to deepen their understandings of one or more particular aspects of it. Beyond a breadth requirement (which applicants will largely, if not completely satisfy, on the basis of their undergraduate records) there are no specified courses that must be taken. A maximum amount of flexibility is offered to students, who, with the help of their advisors, select courses from among the offerings of the COMS (Computer Science) and other Columbia University departments. Research-oriented students have the option of substituting a thesis for 9 points of graduate course work.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Degree required for admission: Bachelor's degree with a good record. (Non-CS majors, however, will have extensive breadth course work to fulfill).

GPA required: Most students admitted have earned an average in technical courses of between 3.5 and 4.0. The Computer Science department requires at least a 3.3 average, but this is acceptable only from graduates of distinguished undergraduate programs.

GRE requirements: The General GRE Tests are required. A subject GRE test is not required but may be helpful in strengthening your application.

Other application requirements: Two recommendation letters, transcripts, resume, and a personal-professional statement are required.  If you have taken courses with CVN, be sure to order a Columbia transcript.  TOEFL test scores are required of all students who received their bachelor's degree in a country where English is not the official and spoken language.  All application requirements in the Graduate Application must be completed as specified in the application.

 Undergraduate course work and other academic background requirements:

Computer Science: 10 courses (above and beyond the introductory level first course) is required. It is expected that these should adequately cover the fundamentals of the field.

Mathematics: 5 semesters required including two semesters calculus and one semester Discrete Math (COMS 3203)

Breadth requirement:
Students who have not already completed the following course equivalents as undergraduates will be required to do so before receiving the M.S. degree.  These courses (even those that are 4000-level courses) cannot count toward the 30 credits required for the M.S.:

Introduction to Probability and Statistics (SIEO W4150)
Data Structures and Algorithms (COMS W3137)[previously COMS W3139]
Software Engineering (COMS W3156)*
Scientific Computation (COMS W3251)
Computability and Models of Computation (COMS W3261)
Computer Organization (COMS W3824)
Programming Languages and Translators (COMS W4115)
Artificial Intelligence (COMS W4701)

NOTE: ALL course requirements, including deficiencies in entrance requirements and core courses (see below), must be taken for regular credit. They CANNOT be satisfied via R-credit (auditing) or with courses taken on a pass/fail basis.
* Tentative Requirement, more information to come

The following courses can be taken to fulfill breadth requirements and can be credited toward the degree:

Breadth Requirement	Substitute which can be taken for graduate credit
Data Structures and Algorithms (COMS W3137)	Analysis of Algorithms (CSOR W4231)
Scientific Computation (COMS W3251)	Numerical Algorithms and Complexity (COMS W4241)
Computability and Models of Computation (COMS W3261)	Introduction to Computational Complexity (COMS W4236)
Computer Organization (COMS W3824)	Computer Architecture (COMS W4824 -- ONLY with Instructor permission)

It is also expected that students have taken at least four regular computer science courses, as part of their undergraduate educations. To the extent that this is not the case, then, in addition to any missing core courses, they must add additional courses, which may be on an undergraduate-level, to their programs. These will not count toward the 30 points of non-core courses.

Also, certain upper-level graduate courses might be applicable toward breadth requirements and toward the degree, subject to the departmental advisor's approval.  In addition, those students who have advanced standing (i.e., have graduate credits that have not been used toward any degree) may receive credit for their advanced standing of up to the number of credits that they must take in breadth requirements that is equal or less than the number of credits they have in advanced standing.  Students must have received a B or higher in the advanced standing courses; no more than 9 credits of advanced standing may be substituted; and it is subject to the approval of the departmental advisor.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

Required course work: In addition to course work in the core subjects, candidates must also complete at least 30 points of appropriate non-core graduate courses. Note that not all 4000 level courses are acceptable for graduate credit toward this degree. In addition to the 4000-level courses that are required parts of the CS department's undergraduate program, a few other courses are considered not appropriate. This matter is dealt with by faculty advisors when approving student's programs each semester.

At least 15 of these points must be in courses designated COMS, and these must include at least 12 points of COMS courses (exclusive of seminars) at or above the 6000 level. Up to 12 points of projects courses may be taken, unless a thesis (COMS E6902, a 9 point course) is elected. In that case no more than 3 points of projects is permitted. Thesis and projects courses may be applied to satisfying the aforementioned requirement concerning upper level graduate courses. Some courses, for example, in algebraic coding theory and in computer-communication networks offered by the ELEN Department are considered acceptable 6000 level courses under this heading; these include ELEN E6718, ELEN E6761, ELEN E6763, and ELEN E6768.

Elective courses: In addition to the above, other graduate courses (at or above the 4000 level) may be from other departments such as ELEN, MATH, or IEOR. No more than 3 points may be counted for courses deemed marginally technical, such as courses in management or in qualitative economics.

Non-technical electives: A student has the option of including a suitable non-technical graduate course in the MS program. This will count for at most 3 points toward the graduate course requirement.

Transfer of credit: Up to 6 credit hours (points) of acceptable graduate-level academic work from an accredited academic institution earned prior to enrolling at Columbia may be transferred to Columbia, subject to the CVN program advisor's approval. Please note that students must request the transfer of credit upon acceptance into the MS program, that credit will only be considered for transfer if the grades earned were at least 3.0 on the 4.0 scale, and that an official college transcript and copy of the class syllabus and/or course description from the school's bulletin must accompany the "Transfer of Credit Request" form.

Thesis/Project: No thesis is required for the degree.  Up to 12 credits of the COMS-designated course requirement may be satisfied in projects, unless a thesis (COMS E6902, 9 credits) is elected.  In that case, no more than 3 credits of projects is permitted.

 Scholastic average required for graduation: 2.7

Time Limit: All degree requirements must be completed within 5 years of the beginning of the first course credited toward the degree. This includes courses taken under Video Special status.