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Computer Science, M.S.
Graduate Degree
Program Overview Request Info Program Highlights Featured Courses Accelerated Program Options Career Opportunities Admission Requirements
Program Overview

The Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) degree is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skill, and professional practices needed in computing fields. The program also prepares students who desire to pursue further graduate work leading to a Ph.D. degree.

Why Master Degree in Computer Science?

The benefits of earning a master degree in computer science will vary from industry to industry but below are of the most common benefits of earning an MS in computer science and you will better understand whether or not it is the right move for you to make to achieve your personal and career goals.

  • Increased Earning Potential

Computer science graduates are at the top of the list of the projected highest-paid master’s degree graduates for the Class of 2017, according to results of NACE’s 2017 Salary Survey. The overall average salary projection for Class of 2017 computer science graduates is $81,039. On average, employees with a master’s degree earn 18 percent more than bachelor’s degree holders over their lifetime. Computer science professionals, specifically, see an average $30,000 boost in salary after earning their graduate degree.

  • Career Advancement

Many organizations prefer that their employees have some sort of graduate degree; in fact, 74 percent of employers have recently raised their educational standards.

  • Broadened Professional Network

Earning a graduate degree will help you widen your professional network by helping you meet, work, and learn with professors and other students, who may help your career down the road. For more program information.

View Program Overview and Curriculum
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Program Highlights
State-Of-The-Art Facilities

Advanced computer labs provide the space for next level research in Computer Science.

Front Lines of Advanced Tech

Degree provides the basis for next level work in one of the most advanced fields in the world.

Career Ready

Provides students like you that extra education to give you the advantage needed to advance.

Featured Courses
CS 515 - Data Mining
Covers (1) the process of knowledge discovery, (2) algorithms (association rules, classification, and clustering), and (3) real-world applications. Focuses on efficient data mining algorithms and scaling up data mining methods.
CS 600 - Advanced Web Technology
This course introduces modern web technologies and covers the concepts, practices, and technologies to design, develop, and manage scalable, reliable and secure web applications using client side and server side programming, mobile technology, web services, rest services, and cloud services that are accessible to a large number of users.
CS 620 - Applied Algorithms
Study of clustering, graph-theoretic, genetic, probabilistic and randomized algorithms and their application to machine learning, data streams, data mining, computer vision, natural language processing, information retrieval, and bioinformatics.
View All Courses
Accelerated Program Options

Department of Computer Sciences and Electrical Engineering at Marshall University offers an accelerated path for students to obtain a bachelor’s and master’s degree on an accelerated path. It is offered as an accelerated bachelor’s plus master’s degree with:

Undergraduates accepted to an Accelerated Master’s Degree (AMD) program can begin taking graduate coursework while still in the B.S. program. These graduate credits can be taken in their senior year up to a maximum of 12 hours in place of electives. AMD will facilitate an easy and fast transition into the graduates program.

We encourage qualified undergraduates to consider doing an accelerated Master’s degree and please meet your advisor to see if you qualify for the program.

Advantages of an Accelerated Degree

  • Complete the Bachelor’s degree with up to 12 fewer credit hours, (must meet all other degree requirements for the Bachelor’s degree);
  • Begin work on the master’s degree during the senior year;
  • Complete up to 12 graduate credits at undergraduate tuition rates;
  • Earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in less time.

Eligibility Requirements for the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program

  • Must have completed at least 90 hours toward the Bachelor’s degree;
  • Must have at least a 3.30 overall undergraduate GPA;
  • Must have at least a 3.50 GPA in the major;
  • Must submit two reference letters, a personal statement, a graduate application and fee but are exempt from submitting GRE scores and a final transcript.

How to Apply

  1. During the junior or senior year, eligible students should meet with their Undergraduate Advisor and the Chair/Director of the chosen Master’s degree program to develop an AMD Plan of Study. This form is available from this Link. The completed, signed, and approved Plan of Study must be submitted to the Graduate College. Any changes to the AMD Plan of Study must be approved by the Undergraduate Advisor and Chair/Director of Graduate Studies and submitted in writing to the Dean of the Graduate College.
  2. The student’s acceptance into the AMD program is subject to the approval of the Plan of Study by the Dean of the Graduate College.
  3. Students accepted into the AMD program should apply for admission to the chosen Master’s degree program for the first semester after the Bachelor’s degree is awarded. Applications should be submitted during the last semester of the senior year.
Career Opportunities
Marshall University Master of Science in Computer Science (MS in CS) degree prepares you for high tech careers in computing industry. The program also prepares students to subsequently pursue doctoral degree in Computer Science.
  • Computer System Architecture
  • Lead Software Engineer
  • Software Project Manager
  • Database Administrator
  • Senior System Analyst
  • IT Architect
  • Network Manager
  • Information Security Manager