The Master of Science degree in Computer Science prepares students to work at advanced levels in industry, business or government, further graduate work, or to teach at the community college. Students are able to tailor their program to fit career interests and goals.

Admission to the Program

Applicants who hold an acceptable baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited four-year institution must apply to the University. Applicants who meet all the University requirements are admitted to postbaccalaureate unclassified standing. No more than 13-quarter units of acceptable course work completed before approval by the department’s graduate adviser and college graduate dean may be included on the master’s program. Students should contact the Computer Science Department to request to change their classification to conditionally classified standing and to obtain a list of courses that need to be taken to advance to classified standing. Students will be advanced to classified standing based on the recommendation from the department’s graduate adviser and approval of the college graduate dean once the following requirements are met:

• Students must complete all lower and upper division core courses or equivalents as required by the Computer Science Department at Cal State L.A.
• Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better at CSULA.
• Students must fill out a master’s degree program.

Students with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science who meet the conditions for classified standing may be advanced to classified standing immediately upon filling out a master’s degree program in consultation with the department’s graduate adviser.

On attaining classified graduate standing, students must complete all the requirements for the MS degree in Computer Science.