Designed for students with a Bachelor’s degree in engineering or science but a limited background in computer science, this comprehensive, 37 unit program combines an introductory sequence of undergraduate preparatory and foundational coursework with all the graduate breadth requirements necessary to satisfy the traditional MS in Computer Science.
Note: Students admitted to this program are not able change to another program in computer science but may take electives from any computer science area.
View a previously recorded webinar that discusses the 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 37 units (33 degree applicable units) is required for the MS in Computer Science – Scientists and Engineers degree
Preparatory Programming Requirement Course*: 4 units
Foundational Requirements Courses*: 7 units
Breadth Courses: 16 units
Elective Courses: 9-11 units
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation
A maximum of 11 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
* The programming requirement and foundational requirements must be completed at USC and cannot be transferred in or waived.
Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
GRE General Test: Satisfactory and valid test scores. Valid GRE scores must be dated within five years of the start of the intended application semester. The fall semester starts in August, and the spring semester starts in January. Official scores must be reported from ETS directly to USC using ETS school code 4852. A department code is not required.
Resume/CV (Required)
Statement of Purpose (Optional): The statement of purpose should succinctly describe 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.
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.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
English Language Proficiency: In addition to the general admission criteria listed above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS examination to be considered a candidate for admission. 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. For more details on English Proficiency Criteria for the University of Southern California, please visit USC Graduate Admission – Proficiency in English.
The following is an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition.
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 ClassesDEN@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.
Preparatory Programming Requirement
1 Course – 4 units total.
CSCI 455 | Introduction to Programming Systems Design (4 units)
CSCI 455 is a preparatory requirement for this program, but the units for this course do not count toward the 33 units required for the degree.
Foundational Requirements
2 Courses Required – minimum 7 units total.
EE 457 | Computer Systems Organization OR EE 450 (4 units)
EE 450 | Computer Networks OR EE 457 (3 units)
CSCI 402 | Operating Systems (4 units)
Breadth Requirements
4 Courses Required – 16 units total.
CSCI 561 | Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (4 units)
CSCI 570 | Analysis of Algorithms (4 units)
CSCI 585 | Database Systems (4 units)
Elective Courses
Select two courses, 7-8 units, from approved 500- to 600-level course work from Computer Science.
CSCI 576 | Multimedia Systems Design (4 units)
CSCI 577a | Software Engineering (4 units)
CSCI 577b | Software Engineering (4 units)
See departmental advisor for more approved electives.
Please complete the following form for more information.
