Master of Science in Computer Science
Application
Deadlines
Spring 2023:
September 15, 2022
Fall 2023:
December 15, 2022
- Program Overview
- Application Information
- Tuition & Fees
- Meet Our Students
- Career Outcomes
- DEN@Viterbi - Online Delivery
- Request Information
The MS in Computer Science provides intensive preparation in the concepts and techniques related to the design, programming, and application of computing systems. Students are provided a deep understanding of both fundamentals and important current issues in computer science and computer engineering so that they may either obtain productive employment or pursue advanced degrees.
The MS in Computer Science program requires the student to take a broad spectrum of courses, while simultaneously allowing for emphasis in desired areas of specialization.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
>Interested in Computer Science but do not possess a Computer Science background? Please consider our MS in Computer Science - Scientists & Engineers program.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
Please Note: Requirements for graduation, course offerings, course availability, track offerings, and any other degree requirements are subject to change. Students should consult with an academic advisor prior to registering for any classes.
- A minimum of 28 units is required for the general MS in Computer Science degree
- Required courses: 12 units
- Computer Science (CSCI) Elective Courses: 12 units
- Additional Elective Course: 4 units
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation
- A maximum of 4 units may be taken from approved 400-level courses in either Electrical Engineering or Computer Science; the remaining units must be approved courses at the 500 or 600 level
- Only one doctoral (600-level) course can be counted in the degree
- Only one non-CSCI course can be counted in the degree
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
|---|---|
| Spring 2023 | September 15, 2022 |
| Fall 2023 | December 15, 2022* |
| * DEN@Viterbi (Online Delivery) Deadline Extension: An application extension for Fall 2023 is available for online DEN@Viterbi applicants who intend to pursue their entire degree program online and do not require a visa sponsorship. Please email den@viterbi.usc.edu to request an application extension. On-campus students who apply by published deadlines will be considered for scholarships if admitted. Online DEN@Viterbi applicants can view the Master's Scholarships (DEN@Viterbi) page for scholarship opportunities. |
|
Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information.
Applicants are required to have completed or be in process of completing an undergraduate degree in computer science or its equivalent from a regionally-accredited university, and must possess substantial computing background. Please review detailed Computer Science eligibility criteria.
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts: Upload Electronic Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A mailed hard copy or official e-transcript is not required for admission to our programs.
- Submit an electronic copy of official transcripts (.pdf recommended) and other degree related documents through the online graduate application (International applicants, visit USC Graduate Admission’s Country Requirements page for details on required documents)
- Unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable
- If the transcript includes a separate grading scale, make sure it is also uploaded
- For upload purposes, all transcript related documents for a single school must be submitted as one document
- If you are admitted, you will be given specific instructions on submitting your hard copy transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement: The personal statement should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the Viterbi School of Engineering, your preparation for this field of study, study interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.
- GRE: General GRE test scores are not required for 2023
- Letters of Recommendation (Optional): Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study.
English Language Proficiency: In addition to application requirements above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. There is no minimum TOEFL or IELTS score required for admission to the Viterbi School. For possible exemption from additional language requirements, you must achieve an Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) score of 90, with no less than 20 on each section or an IELTS score of 6.5, with no less than 6 on each band score. Please review USC Graduate Admission – Proficiency in English.
IMPORTANT: USC does not accept Duolingo and TOEFL Essentials test scores.
The following is an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition.
TUITION
| Academic Year | Per Unit Rate | 3-unit Course | 4-unit Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2022 - Summer 2023* | $2,309 | $6,927 | $9,236 |
| Fall 2021 - Summer 2022* | $2,199 | $6,597 | $8,796 |
| * Tuition is the same for on-campus and online students | |||
ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE – 28 UNIT PROGRAM
MANDATORY STUDENT FEES - 2022/23
| Fee Description | Fee Amount | On-Campus | DEN@Viterbi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Health Center Fee | $527/semester | ||
| Norman Topping Student Aid Fee | $8/semester | ||
| ENGR Computing Access Fee (On-Campus students) | $40/semester | ||
| ENGR Computing Access Fee (DEN@Viterbi students) | $20/semester | ||
| Exam Proctoring | $40 - $100 per course | ||
| Health Insurance (U.S.-based health insurance is required, but it does not have to be through USC) | Fall 2022: $805 Spring 2023: $1,468 |
Visit Tuition & Fees for more information
SANTOSHI RAKSHITA BALIVADA
Tell us about an exciting and unforgettable experience from your time at USC.
In my 2nd semester, I got an invitation to apply for the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (GHC) conference. This is a series of conferences designed to bring the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront. This excited me so much as it was my first time attending the world's largest National conference gathering of women in computing and was a truly unforgettable experience.
What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share?
USC has given me everything – challenges that helped me learn from my experiences, opportunities that helped me grow professionally and personally and above all a platform to showcase my talents. I started off by acquiring a good GPA, went on to become a Course Producer for one of the most popular courses of the CS department CSCI 571: Web Technologies, and secured a Summer internship as a software engineer Intern at Walmart. Being away from home for the first time in my life, USC made me responsible and taught me the value of time, people and money. I have learned to stay strong, independent, motivated, and not to take success to head or failure to heart !!
Which organizations/activities have you been involved with outside of the classroom?
Apart from academic excellence, USC has some amazing student chapters/organizations , which give students an opportunity to expand their network and build their managerial skills. I have been a part of the Hindu Student Organization (HSO) in my first semester, where I was a part of the logistics team. I had to arrange, organize and manage events. This gave me outstanding experiences, from which I learned to be more spontaneous in life. Additionally, I was a part of the USC Bookstore, where I was a student worker. This gave me countless memories, as everyday I got to meet people from different cultures all over the world, and helped me expand my network. I also got to meet a lot of celebrities during this time.
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DIMITAR KIRILOV
Tell us about an exciting and unforgettable experience from your time so far at USC.
I did my Bachelor’s degree at the American University in Bulgaria –a small university where anyone quickly gets to know everyone. USC on the other hand is a huge university for the standards of where I come from. It has the same population as my entire hometown. I didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t know much about the area of the university. I had to be proactive to go around and learn about my surroundings and meet people. Kind of like a quest to explore the unknown land. It had its challenges, especially with COVID measures being enforced. But it was so much fun and exciting. I still look back at my first few weeks with a smile on my face. I went to all of the new student welcoming events and met so many bright and inspiring people who have a wide variety of interests and skills. I highly encourage new students to do something similar. Meeting people and participating in events and activities is how unforgettable memories are made and how opportunities open up.
What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share?
I think I managed to meet people from all the continents now, and from so many countries. I think learning about other cultures is such an eye-opening experience in many aspects. You start to understand other people more, but you also learn more about yourself. I especially encourage internationals and people like me who come from smaller towns to explore cultural events. After all, you don’t get such chances every day. Check out an on-campus event, go to a concert, or a sports game, travel around Los Angeles. You might be surprised how much you will grow from that as a person.
Which organizations/activities have you been involved with outside of the classroom?
I am part of the Fulbright community in LA, the USC Star Wars club, and Remedy Through Music which is a volunteering club for musicians. I have also applied to be a mentor in Fall 2022.
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LINSHENG JI
What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share?
I'm joining the camera sensor industry this summer as an Intern! As a photography enthusiast, I have always wanted to make some contribution to the industry.
What do you like most about living in Los Angeles?
I love riding motorcycle in Los Angeles. World famous San Gabriel Canyons arewithin 30 minutes ride from town. The weather is always sunny and temperature is never too low in winter. With legal lane splitting in California, It is a paradise for riders.
What advice would you give future Viterbi students?
Look at the curriculum first and see if the school offers courses to your interest before you make a decision. Don't buy a car if you live near the campus. You will not drive it often. Begin preparing for job interviews as early as possible.
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KANIKA JINDAL
What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share?
Getting an internship in one of the best companies in the world -Microsoft along with three other best offers, shocked me of my own abilities.
Which organizations/activities have you been involved with outside of the classroom?
I hold the position of Senator for the Viterbi Graduate Student Association for two semesters and participated in USC Thorton musical school’s choir - Oriana.
What do you like most about living in Los Angeles?
L.A. is a perfect combination of amazing beach sunsets and morning hikes, and during the day, it has a lot of world-class stores where we can shop.
Alumni Employment
- A9.com - Software Engineer
- Accenture
- Achieve Intelligent Technologies, Inc. - Senior Data Scientist
- Activision Blizzard
- Adobe
- ADP - Associate Application Developer
- Adroix Corp DBA CodeForce 360 - Software Developer Trainee
- Aibee Inc. - Algorithm Engineer
- Akamai Technologies - Software Engineer
- Alibaba
- Alignment Healthcare
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) - Programmer Analyst
- Amazon
- Amazon Studios
- Amazon Web Services
- Amgen
- Amount - Analyst - Software Engineer
- Analog Devices, Inc. - Full Stack Web Developer
- Anyscale - AI/ML Software Engineer
- AppDynamics - Entry Level Software Engineer
- Appfolio Inc. - Software Engineer
- Apple Inc.
- Atomus
- Audible
- Automation Anywhere
- Bank of Thailand - Senior Analyst
- Barclays - Software Engineer
- Beijing Jiaming Invest - Java Developer
- Black Sesame Technologies
- BlackRock, Inc.
- Blizzard Entertainment
- Bloomberg L.P.
- Bloomreach Inc.
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Systems Analyst
- Boeing - Software Engineer
- Bytedance - Applications Software Engineer
- C3.ai
- Chevron Corporation - Software Engineer
- Chicago Trading Company - Associate Engineer
- China Life Insurance (Group) Company - Engineer
- Cisco Systems
- Citrix Systems, Inc.
- Clari
- Class-track - Founder / Mobile Developer
- CloudData Technology LLC
- Cloudera Inc.
- Clumio
- Cognitiv.ai
- Coinbase
- Copyright Xiangcai Securities Co.,Ltd - Analyst - Software Engineer
- Coupang
- CrowdStrike - Engineer
- DataVisor - AI Software Engineer
- DeepSrcibe Inc. - Full Stack Developer
- Dell, Inc. - Software Engineer
- Deloitte - AI/ML Software Engineer
- Deviation Games - Associate Engineer
- Dexterity, Inc.
- DigitalOcean, LLC
- Digitbridge, Inc.
- DoorDash
- Easley-Dunn Productions, Inc.
- eBay Inc.
- Eficens Systems LLC - Full Stack Developer
- Eightfold AI
- Electronic Arts - Software Engineer
- Epic Systems Corporation - Software Developer
- ESRI
- EvenUp
- Expedia, Inc.
- EY
- FabFitFun - Software Enginneer
- Factset - Software Developer
- Five9 Inc. - Product Manager
- FMSH - Algorithm Engineer
- Fortinet
- FunPins Inc - Full Stack Developer
- Goldman Sachs
- Grindr - Data Analyst
- Harmonize - Mobile Engineer
- Harvard Medical School - Post-doctoral Researcher
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- HGS Digital, LLC
- Honey
- Huawei
- Hulu
- Humana Inc. - Software Engineer
- IBM - Software Development Engineer
- Ideal Concepts
- Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) - Computer Engineer
- Infinics Inc.
- inMobi - SDE
- Insight Data Science
- Instagram - Software Engineer
- Intel
- Interactions LLC - Sr. Inventive Scientist
- Intuit Inc.
- Inxech Corp
- IXL Learning - Software Engineer
- JD.co - Data Engineer Intern
- Juniper Networks, Inc.
- Kerr Consulting
- King Fahd University Of Petroleum and Minerals - Graduate Assistant
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - Software Engineer
- Liberty Mutual Holding Company Inc. - Full Stack Software Engineer
- Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc.
- Macy's, Inc. - iOS Developer
- Mapbox - Software Engineer
- Marketx Ventures - Software Engineer
- MasterCard Incorporated - Application Software Developer
- McAfee
- McKinsey & Co. - Data Scientist
- Meitu LLC - Data Platform Engineer
- Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Metropolis - Software Engineer
- MGM Resorts International - Software Engineer
- Microscape - Full Stack Developer
- Microsoft
- Motion2AI - Software Engineer
- Mozilla Corp - Software Engineer
- myKaarma - Software Engineer
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Naughty Dog
- Nestlé USA - Demand Planning Lead
- Netease Games
- Nordstrom, Inc.
- Northrop Grumman Corporation
- Novi Financial - Software Engineer
- Nuro - Software Engineer
- NVIDIA Corporation
- Oath
- Okta, Inc.
- OPPO - Backend Software Engineer
- Oracle Corporation
- Palm Beach Accountable Care Organization - Entry Level Software Engineer
- PayPal, Inc.
- Pensando Systems Inc.
- Perch Credit - Founding Software Engineer
- Pooyan Behnamghader
- Poslabs Inc.
- Prosimo.io
- Pure Storage - Software Engineer
- PwC - Cybersecurity & Privacy Associate
- Quadric.io - Software Engineer
- Qualcomm Incorporated
- Raytheon Technologies
- Redfin - Software Engineer
- Riot Games - Backend Software Engineer
- Rippling - Software Engineer
- Roblox - Software Engineer
- Salesforce
- Saviynt
- Schlumberger
- Scry Analytics - Data Scientist
- SearchStax Inc. - Software Developer Backend
- Second Spectrum - Software Engineer
- Secret - Software Development Engineer
- Serendipity Wonder Inc
- Shopee
- SiriusXM Radio Inc. - Software Engineer
- Skillz - Product Designer
- Slack - Associate Software Engineer
- Snap Inc. - Full Stack Software Engineer
- Snowflake Computing - Software Engineer
- Socialcode
- SonicWall Inc - Software Development Engineer
- Sony
- Specific Diagnostics - Data Engineer
- Splunk Inc
- SpringML, Inc. - Technical Lead
- ST INTERNATIONAL EXPRESS
- SumRidge Partners, LLC
- TabaPay, Inc. - Software Engineer
- Taozugong Limited, Inc.
- Target - Senior Software Engineer
- Tencent
- Tesla Motors, Inc. - Software Engineer
- TestMax, Inc. - Software Engineering Intern & Co-op (Android)
- Texas A&m Engineering Experiment Station (tees) - AR/VR Engineer
- The MathWorks, Inc.
- The Michaels Companies
- The Raine Group - Analyst- Investment Banking TMT
- The Walt Disney Company - Associate Software Engineer
- TikTok
- Treyarch - Engineering Intern
- TripAdvisor - Entry Level Software Engineer
- TuSimple
- Twilio
- Uber
- Unity Technologies
- University of Massachusetts Amherst - Postdoctoral Research Associate
- University of Oklahoma - Assistant Professor
- University of Southern California
- US Bank - Software Engineer
- USC Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute - Programmer Analyst
- USC Hillel - Director of First Impressions/Student Worker
- USC Marshall School of Business School Of Business - Frontend Web Developer
- Verizon Communications
- Verizon Media
- Viasat Inc - Data Engineer
- VIBRANT AMERICA - Backend Software Engineer
- Visa Inc.
- VMWare
- Walmart
- Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, Inc. - PH-Associate Media & Art Pipeline Developer
- Waymo - Software Engineer
- Weiming Capital LLC
- WePay
- WeRide.ai - Software Engineer
- Williams-Sonoma, Inc. - AI/ML Software Engineer
- Zillow Group
Internships
211 LA County; ABB; Achieve Intelligent Technologies, Inc; ACTIVE WORKING PARTNERS LLC; Activision; Adobe Inc.; ADP, LLC; Aerotek; Aibee US Corporation; Akamai Technologies; Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2); Allthenticate, Inc.; Altomni Corp.; Amazon; AMD; American Express; American Tire Distributors, Inc; Amgen; Apple Inc; Autodesk, Inc.; Automation Anywhere; Avalara; Becht Engineering Co, Inc.; Beckman Coulter, Inc.; BigCommerce; Binate LLC DBA Nuleep; BioProber; Boehringer Ingelheim; Brain Corporation; Bytedance Inc.; Calsoft Systems; CCC Information Services; CeliTech Inc; Cisco Systems, Inc.; Citrix Systems, Inc.; City National Bank; Cloudera; Cohere Health, Inc.; Coinbase; Comcast; Commvault Systems, Inc.; ConsumerTrack Inc.; Convrrt, Inc; Corto LLC; Coupang Global; Coursera; CrowdStrike Inc.; Culturas.us; Databricks, Inc.; DataPrime Inc.; DeepMap Inc; Deliverr ,Inc.; Dell Technologies; DigitalOcean; Doordash; Dropbox, Inc.; Druva Inc.; EA Sports; Eastridge Workforce Solutions; eBay; echoAR; Eightfold AI, Inc; Electronic Arts; Emotive.io; Engineer.ai; Episource; Epsilon Data Management, LLC; Ericsson; Esri; ETSY inc; Expedia Inc.; Extron; Facebook, Inc.; Firepit Inc; Flickr(Smugmug); Frenzy Labs Inc.; GE Global Research; General Motors; Github; Goldman Sachs; Google; GotIt! Inc; GrammaTech; GrayMatter Robotics Inc.; Harmony Plus; Haystack Search LLC; Hewlett Packard Enterprise; Hilal Software Corporation; Hitachi Vantara, LLC; HubSpot, Inc.; HULU; Hydrosimulatics Inc; Hylink Digital Solutions; IBM; Indi EV Inc; Infineon Technologies; Intel Corporation; Intuit; Invoca; Ismile Technologies; Jam City; JPMorgan Chase; Kaarya LLC (DBA myKaarma);
This program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online. If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student. Learn More About DEN@Viterbi
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.
| Core Requirement |
| 1 Course Required - 4 units total. |
| CSCI 570 | Analysis of Algorithms (4 units) |
| Additional Course Work |
| The remaining elective units necessary to earn the degree are completed by selecting additional 500-level CSCI courses. |
| Note: A maximum of 2 units of CSCI 590 and a maximum of 2 units of CSCI 591 may be applied. Furthermore, up to four units may be 400-level, and up to eight units may be 600-level. Approval for enrollment in 600-level courses must come from the faculty instructor and department adviser. With adviser approval, one non-Computer Science course may be selected from the approved list. |
| CSCI Courses Available on DEN@Viterbi |
| CSCI 402x | Operating Systems (4 units) |
| CSCI 455x | Introduction to Programming Systems Design (4 units) |
| CSCI 510 | Software Management and Economics (4 units) |
| CSCI 530 | Security Systems (4 units) |
| CSCI 531 | Applied Cryptography (4 units) |
| CSCI 551 | Computer Networking (4 units) |
| CSCI 561 | Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (4 units) |
| CSCI 568 | Requirements Engineering (4 units) |
| CSCI 570 | Analysis of Algorithms (4 units) |
| CSCI 572 | Information Retrieval and Web Search Engines (4 units) |
| CSCI 576 | Multimedia Systems Design (4 units) |
| CSCI 577a | Software Engineering (4 units) |
| CSCI 577b | Software Engineering (4 units) |
| CSCI 578 | Software Architectures (4 units) |
| CSCI 585 | Database Systems (4 units) |
Department Profile
Course Intro:
CSCI 572 (elective course)Information Retrieval and Web Search Engines
Academic Disciplines
- Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
- Astronautical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering & Materials Science
- Civil & Environmental Engineering
- Computer Science
- Data Science & Cyber Security
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Financial Engineering
- Energy & Sustainability
- Industrial & Systems Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Systems Architecting & Engineering
Published on July 10th, 2017
Last updated on February 10th, 2023