M.S. in Computer Science

Note

If you declared your major prior to Fall 2021, please follow the M.S. in Computer Science (Prior to Fall 2021) page.

Overview

The M.S. in Computer Science provides foundations of Computer Science while acknowledging that Computer Science is key to algorithms in the sciences. Other programs in the Computer Science Department with different foci are M.S. in Information Technology and the M.S. in Software Engineering.

The M.S. in Computer Science offers the following concentrations of specialization:

• No Concentration (Default)
• Artificial Intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• Computer Systems
• Thesis Track

Curriculum

• Each program requires a total of 30 credit hours

  • Generally 10 three-credit courses

• Students can receive up to 6 credit hours (replacing two of our courses) for graduate work taken elsewhere

  • See the transfer credit section of the Graduate Student Handbook for details.

Important

Students who have taken undergraduate Loyola classes:

Many 400-level courses in the department have closely related 300-level analogues, e.g. COMP 443: Computer Networks and COMP 343: Computer Networks. Students who enter the MS program after taking a Loyola course in this category must choose to take 400-level courses that are not closely related to any 300-level courses taken earlier, unless they have GPD permission.

Warning

The Computer Science has more prerequisites than other programs.

Overall, to achieve depth and breadth, Computer Science students must complete the following to obtain the required 30 credits to graduate:

• Two (2) required courses

• Four (4) electives restricted to a concentration

• Four (4) general electives

Major Prerequisites

A four-year undergraduate degree in any field. Computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, or related background recommended.

Preparation Courses

All of these courses must be taken if you do not have a four-year undergraduate degree in a related field.

• COMP 400A: Foundations of Object-Oriented Programming

• COMP 400B: Data Structures I

• COMP 400C: Data Structures II

• COMP 400D: Introduction to Computing Tools and Techniques

• COMP 400E: Discrete Structures

Warning

Students may not use an introductory course to satisfy a foundation or elective requirement.

Preparatory courses do not count towards the 30 required credit hours of non-preparatory courses.

A student taking any necessary preparation course is considered to be a full-fledged student of the Graduate School. Preparation courses may be taken in the same semester as other graduate courses, provided the prerequisites for the other graduate courses are met. Students are expected, however, to take all necessary preparation courses early in their career.

A student may place out of an introductory course under any of the following conditions:

• The student has appropriate coursework equivalent to the introductory course.

• The student has appropriate and verified professional experience equivalent to the introductory course.

• The student passes a Graduate Competency Assessment (GCA) in the introductory course area.

• This can be waived under the discretion of the GPD.

If a student has had a preparatory course waived, departmental assistance will usually be necessary to allow the student to register for any other course having that preparatory course as a prerequisite.