Online Masters in Computer Science

The Computer Science Department of the Bagley College of Engineering is now offering fully online graduate courses that are delivered both synchronously and asynchronously, maximizing the flexibility of the degree. Spring 2020 applications are now being accepted. Students who wish to take classes during the fall 2019 semester can apply as an unclassified student for the fall semester and as a CSE student for spring 2020. Unclassified admission does not guarantee full admission into the program but does allow qualified students the option to begin taking courses.

Students who wish to seek admission for the fall 2019 as an unclassified student or spring 2020 as a CSE M.S. student should visit grad.msstate.edu and click on the APPLY button in the top left corner of the page. The deadline for unclassified applications is the first day of classes but it is recommended that students complete their unclassified application by August 1 to be registered prior to the first day of school.

General Program of Study

The 31-hour credit program requires a graduate seminar, a graduate level theory course, a group courses in a primary and secondary specialization, and 12 hours of additional work. In total 15 hours must be at the 8xxx or higher. In addition to the regularly offered courses, if there is interest, students could request the department to offer other courses online. However, in order for courses to be offered in a timely fashion, distance courses must be requested early in the semester before registration. Below is an example of potential sequence.

CSE 8011 Graduate Seminar (Core: Seminar)

CSE 8833 Algorithms (Core: Graduate Theory)

CSE 6633 Artificial Intelligence (Primary Specialization, Introduction)

CSE 8673 Machine Learning (Primary Specialization, Advanced)

CSE 6643 AI Robotics (Primary Specialization)

CSE 6413 Principles of Computer Graphics (Secondary Specialization, Introduction)

CSE 8990 Special Topics: Data Visualization in R (Secondary Specialization)

CSE 8990 Special Topics: Markov Methods (Additional Hours)

CSE 6663 Human-Human-Computer Interaction (Additional Hours)

CSE 6503 Database Management Systems (Additional Hours)

CSE 8080 Directed Project (Additional Hours)

At this time, the following courses are scheduled to be offered for the next three semesters.
Our course offering makes it possible for students to receive their M.S. degree in Computer Science in only 3 semesters:

Non-Thesis versus Thesis

Distance students can choose to complete their degree with a thesis or non-thesis option. Thesis students must have 6 hours of CSE 8000 research with their major professor as part of their Additional Hours. Non-Thesis students may take CSE 8080 Directed Project with their major professor as part of their Additional Hours by agreement.

Research Opportunities

Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) is a research intensive department with faculty who are world class researchers. CSE’s research expenditure in 2018 was about $10M, which is one of highest in the nation. CSE faculty research includes Artificial Intelligence including Machine Learning and Soft Computing, Computer Systems including Security and Networks, Computational Sciences including High Performance Computing and Bioinformatics, Graphics and Visualization including Visual Data Science and Augmented Reality, Human Centered Computing including Robotics, and Software Engineering. We encourage both on-campus and online students to participate in our many research opportunities.

Seeking Admission

The Graduate School keeps a calendar for admission for each semester, but first consideration for Fall intake is February 1st and Spring intake is October 1st. Questions about the program may either be answered on our website or by contacting the Graduate Coordinator Dr. T.J. Jankun-Kelly.

A student who wishes to study Graduate Computer Science must have the ability to develop and analyze software for their study. Understanding the interface between computer hardware and software is required as is some mathematical fluency:

Two semesters programming with some OO
Data Structures
Operating Systems Fundamentals
Basic Computing Theory
Mathematics for Computer Science

MS applicants are required to have a 3.0 GPA in overall undergraduate work and complete a competitive GRE before admission; international students required a suitable English proficiency.

M.S. in Computer Science

Online Masters in Computer Science