CS Masters’ Handbook
The handbook addresses many of the questions you may have about the CS Master’s program.
CS Master’s Program
As a graduate student in the CS department, you can take advantage of:
- Small classes taught by highly regarded faculty members
- Opportunities to participate in cutting edge research
- A collegial department atmosphere, where students and faculty interact frequently
MS in Computer Science Graduate Program Coordinator: Dr. Francesca Spezzano
Masters Program Information
Application and Admission Requirements
Applicants must have either a baccalaureate degree in computer science, or a baccalaureate degree in a related field plus substantial course work and/or professional experience in computer science, with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Start the application for MS in Computer Science by selecting the following button. It will walk you through the steps needed and will prompt you for the appropriate information.
Apply for the Masters in Computer Science
Application Review
Completed applications will be reviewed by the Computer Science Graduate Committee.
- Applicants who meet the stated requirements and whose computer science background is deemed sufficient will be admitted to the program with Regular status. Admission to the program is competitive.
- Applicants whose computer science background is deemed deficient may be granted admission with Provisional status. In this case the applicant will be required to pass specific undergraduate computer science courses in order to remove the deficiency and be granted Regular admission status.
- Unless otherwise specified, all deficiencies must be removed within two years of Provisional admission to the program. Time spent in Provisional status counts toward the limit of five years (or up to seven years if an extension is granted) allowed for completion of the degree.
- The program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours and a typical full-time student finishes the program in two years. A part-time student might take 3-4 years. The degree program is flexible allowing students to work with their adviser to shape it to their needs. More thorough degree requirements and course offerings can be found in the most recent Graduate Catalog.
Application Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Minimum TOEFL or IELTS Score for International Students?
See Boise State University TOEFL and IELTS requirements. Meeting this minimum requirement does not guarantee admission.
What is the Minimum GRE Score?
Effective January 25, 2021, our program no longer requires applicants to submit GRE scores.
What is the Minimum GPA?
3.0. Meeting this minimum requirement does not guarantee admission.
What should I put in my Statement of Purpose?
Highlight your strengths, acknowledge past weaknesses and what you have done to overcome those or strengthen yourself in light of those weak elements. Follow the elements identified in the Graduate Catalog (specific page) and application. All statements of purpose are checked for plagiarism.
What is the Application Procedure? When are the Application Deadlines?
See Boise State University’s Graduate College checklist. Official transcripts are required in order for your application to be reviewed by the program (see Graduate College Instructions on Submitting Official Transcripts). Applications must be submitted no later than May 1st for Fall admission and October 15th for Spring admission.
How can I Submit an Assistantship Application?
When submitting your application online, you can specify whether or not you would like to apply for graduate assistantship. There is no additional form for assistantship application. All admitted students are considered for funding based on the strength of their overall application and the available funds. Funding is competitive. For priority consideration for assistantship funding, applications must be submitted by January 15th for fall admission or October 15th for the spring admission. Other funding opportunities can be found on the graduate school website.
Are there Tracks or Specializations in the MS CS Program?
There are no tracks or specializations; students are able to choose any subset of courses in consultation with their advisor. You may view individual faculty pages and/or a list of faculty sorted by research areas.
My Baccalaureate Degree is not in Computer Science. May I Apply for the MS CS?
Regular admission requires foundational knowledge in computer science, including introductory programming courses, data structures, and calculus (e.g. a minor in Computer Science). We welcome students transitioning from other backgrounds and encourage them to seek this foundation before applying. The statement of purpose instructions in the Graduate Catalog (specific page) and application guide applicants on how to share their preparedness for starting the program.
What are the Tuition Rates and Fees?
See Boise State University Financial Services Tuition Information.
Helpful Links
- Graduate Admissions
- Graduate Catalog
- Overview of obtaining a Masters in Computer Science (Degree Guidelines)
- Current Graduate CS course schedule
For more information contact
Department of Computer Science Main Office
Office: CCP 364
Phone: (208) 426-5766
Email: computerscience@boisestate.edu
Degree Guidelines
Getting Started
Research Advisor
Each student is assigned an initial, temporary advisor with whom they can consult to register for graduate courses in their first semester. Students should talk to other faculty about their various research so as to find that which interests the student. The student should find a permanent advisor within the first semester, but no later than the second semester in the program. Once you have selected an advisor, you should complete the Change of Advisor Form. The student’s advisor is the primary mentor and will be actively engaged in the student’s academic, research, and professional activities. The student’s advisor also provides direction on the student’s academic plan and may provide funding support through grants and fellowships. Frequent interaction between the student and advisor is essential for student success. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule regular meetings and communicate often with their advisor.
Thesis vs. Project
Students work with their advisor to choose either the thesis or project option. A thesis is larger in scope, from six to nine credits. A thesis is research where questions are formed and addressed; a project involves developing a technological artifact – often developing software. A project is typically smaller in scope, from three to six credits. Both require the student to write a full report. See the graduate catalog for further discussion on what is a thesis versus what is a project.
Course Plan
- Students are required to take Graduate Courses related to Computer Science (21-27 credits). All courses should be selected by the student and approved by their advisor and the graduate coordinator.
- Students can take up to three credits of independent study. Students can also take up to three credits of Practicum (industrial internship). These must be approved by the student’s advisor, committee, and the graduate program coordinator. See next section on how to create a committee.
To view the course descriptions of these courses, go to the Graduate Computer Science Catalog hosted by the Office of the Registrar. Please note that the semester offerings of these electives are accurately reflected in this table, but may not be up to date in the course catalog.
*The courses CS 501, CS 503, CS 505, CS 516, CS 517 and CS 518 are restricted to students in the CS Teacher Endorsement Graduate Certificate or Masters of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction programs.
| Number | Name | Offering | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS 501* | Computer Science Principles | summer only | 1 |
| CS 503* | Teaching and Learning Computer Science | fall only | 1 |
| CS 505* | Teaching and Learning Computer Science II | spring only | 1 |
| CS 507 | Computing Foundations for Computational Science | fall only | 1 |
| CS 508 | Network and System Foundations for Cybersecurity | spring only | 1 |
| CS 510 | Databases | fall and spring | 1 |
| CS 516* | Introduction to Web Development | fall and spring | 1 |
| CS 517* | Mobile Application Development | fall and spring | 1 |
| CS 518* | Inclusive Strategies for Teaching Computer Science to Women and Minorities | summer only | 1 |
| CS 521 | Design and Analysis of Algorithms | fall (even years) | 0.5 |
| CS 523 | Cyber Physical Systems | spring (even years) | 0.5 |
| CS 524 | Cyber Security of Critical Infrastructures | spring (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 525 | Computer Networks | fall only | 1 |
| CS 530 | Parallel Computing | fall (even years) | 0.5 |
| CS 531 | Advanced Programming Languages | fall (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 533 | Introduction to Data Science | fall only | 1 |
| CS 534 | Machine Learning | spring only | 1 |
| CS 535 | Large-Scale Data Analysis | fall (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 536 | Natural Language Processing | spring (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 537 | Introduction To Information Retrieval | fall (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 538 | Recommender Systems and Online Personalization | spring (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 539 | Social Media Mining | fall (even years) | 0.5 |
| CS 541 | Computer Architecture | fall only | 1 |
| CS 547 | Digital Forensics | fall (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 550 | Programming Language Translation | spring (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 552 | Operating Systems | fall and spring | 1 |
| CS 554 | Advanced Operating Systems | spring (even years) | 0.5 |
| CS 555 | Distributed Systems | spring (even years) | 0.5 |
| CS 557 | Artificial Intelligence | fall (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 561 | Theory of Computation | fall (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 564 | Visualization Techniques | fall (even years) | 0.5 |
| CS 565 / Math 565 | Numerical Methods II | check math course catalog | - |
| CS 566 / Math 566 | Numerical Methods II | check math course catalog | - |
| CS 567 | Applied Cryptography | fall (even years) | 0.5 |
| CS 569 | Human Computer Interaction | spring (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 572 | Object-Oriented Design Patterns | spring only | 1 |
| CS 573 | Advanced Software Engineering | fall only | 1 |
| CS 574 | Advanced Software Quality | spring (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 575 | Software Security | spring only | 1 |
| CS 622 | Advance Network Security | spring (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 633 | Deep Learning | fall (odd years) | 0.5 |
| CS 637 | Advanced Topics in Information Retrieval | spring (even years) | 0.5 |
| CS 667 / Math 667 | Advances in Applied Cryptography | spring (even years) check math course catalog | 0.5 |
Culminating Experience
Each student is assigned an initial, temporary advisor with whom they can consult to register for graduate courses in their first semester. Students work with their advisor to choose one of the following culminating activities: thesis, project, or capstone course:
- A thesis is larger in scope, from six to nine credits. A thesis is research where questions are formed and addressed. It requires a proposal, thesis work, a written document, and a final presentation (referred to as a defense).
- A project involves developing a technological artifact – often developing software. A project is typically smaller in scope, from three to six credits. It requires a proposal, project work, a written document, and a final presentation (referred to as a defense). See the graduate catalog for further discussion on what is a thesis versus what is a project .
- The capstone course is a 3-credit class that gives the students experience with scoping and proposing a semester-long project of their choosing that is based on the courses they have taken in the program, defending the proposal in front of peers and the Capstone course instructor, completing the project, writing a report about the project, and presenting the project in front of peers and the Capstone course instructor.
Notes
- Students that receive a graduate assistantship during their master agree to pursue the thesis option. Those that choose the course only option will be advised by the instructor of the Capstone Course.
- Students who have not identified an advisor for a thesis or project by the end of the second semester will be assigned an academic advisor and it will be assumed they are pursuing the Capstone Course option.
Thesis/Project Process & Resources
Select Topic & Work on Research
Students must define and refine the topic of their thesis or project (in their first semester) with their advisor. Students should work on their research topic throughout their studies.
Form a Committee
The student’s thesis or project will be advised and evaluated by a committee. Students should work with with their advisor to select and invite an additional two or three faculty members to participate on the committee. The norm is three members (including the advisor) and the maximum is four members. Typically the members of this committee are faculty within the Department of Computer Science. However, there can be one committee member that is from outside the Department of Computer Science (from another academic department on campus or industry). When the student and advisor have decided on the committee, the student should discuss this with them to make sure that they agree to serve on the committee. Fill out the “Appointment of Supervisory Committee” form (available from the Graduate College website) and submit to Graduate College. A complete directory of faculty and staff can be found on the Computer Science website.
Apply for Admission to Candidacy
The student needs to apply for Admission to Candidacy to the Graduate College. This must be done nine months before the student intends to graduate. The deadline is stated in the Academic Calendar for the semester the student intends to graduate, not in the Academic Calendar for the semester during which the student submits this form. This also means that the student must complete their thesis/project proposal before this deadline. The Application for Admission to Candidacy form can be found on the website for Graduate College. Part of the candidacy form is to plan out the rest of the your program of study which the student should make in consultation with their advisor. It then becomes a “contract” for the student to follow. Any changes need to be done via a graduate Academic Adjustment form.
Propose Thesis/Project
The student must write a thesis or project proposal working closely with their advisor. Proposal defense should be publicly announced. The student then presents this proposal to their committee in a formal presentation. This must be done at least one semester before the semester that the student intends to graduate. After proposal, Proposal Acceptance Form must be completed by the student and signed by all members of committee plus the Graduate Coordinator and then turned in to the CS Admin Office for department record. Detailed instructions for the proposal can be found in Appendix A of the CS Graduate Student Handbook.
Write the Thesis/Project Report
The student then writes the thesis or project report and presents it to their supervisory committee (refer to the Finish Line section for details and pay attention to deadlines). It must be written using a template provided by the Graduate College. If the student uses the Microsoft Word template on a Mac, we recommend ensuring use of the most recent version of Office, which is available to students for free. Instructions and samples can be found on the Thesis/Project Resources tab.
The Department of Computer Science at Boise State University strives to help students through every stage of thesis/project process, to fully understand and map out precisely where their research is going, how they plan on getting there (the Hypotheses), and what transportation to take (the specific Analytic Methodologies). See below for links to additional resources.
View the Thesis or project proposal instructions
Utilize the Masters Thesis/Project report LaTeX style files
View Recent Masters Thesis/Project Reports
To schedule your defense please fill out the CS Graduate Proposal and Defense form
Capstone Course
The Capstone Course must be taken the semester the student intends to graduate (i.e., the student’s last semester). The Capstone Course is only offered Spring semester, so the student should plan accordingly as they create their course plan with their advisor. In order to enroll in the Capstone course, students must have completed at least 18 credits and have completed the Application for Admission to Candidacy (see below). Students will need to request a permission number from the admin office (cssupport-group@boisestate.edu) so they can verify these requirements are met.
Write the Capstone report and present it to peers and the instructor as a deliverable of the Capstone course. Students will follow instructor’s indications regarding the report and presentation template.
Final Expectations for All Students
- Complete the Exit Survey (add link)
- The advisor must complete the Program Learning Outcomes Assessment before the Graduate Coordinator will sign the final thesis or project defense forms.
- Celebrate!
The Finish Line
What to do During the Final Semester Before Graduation?
Advisor Approval
The student verifies with their advisor that they are ready to graduate!
Timeline
The student checks the Academic Calendar to find out the last date for thesis defense in their graduating semester (usually by the end of the 9th week). Projects can be defended until the finals week, but we strongly recommend an earlier date to have time to complete changes asked for by the student’s committee.
Schedule Defense
- The student contacts their committee and sets a date for their defense. They will need to schedule about one and half hours of time. The defense consists of a presentation that is open to the public. Presentations vary in length between 30-50 minutes. After the presentation, there is a public question and answer period, followed by a closed question and answer period by the committee.
- To schedule a room for the defense and get the defense advertised by the department and graduate college, the student must fill out the CS Graduate Defense Form for CS Admin Office staff. Admin staff will schedule and confirm a room, then produce a flyer advertising the defense to be posted in the department and emailed out to all CS grad students and faculty. Admin staff will also create a calendar item for the defense on the CS Events Calendar.
Apply for Graduation
The student then applies for graduation via myBoiseState.
Deliver Thesis to Committee
The student gives a printed copy of their thesis/project report to each member of their committee at least two weeks before the defense date. Some committee members may want even more lead time. The student should check with their committee well in advance.
Defend Thesis
- On the day of the defense, the student brings one copy of the Defense Committee Approval form available from the Graduate College website.
- After the defense, the student incorporates any changes suggested by the committee. The student has the committee chair approve the final version by signing the Defense Committee Approval page. A student who fails the defense may be permitted to try again but failure a second time will result in dismissal from the MS program.
- The student brings physical copies of the Defense Committee Approval page and Final Reading Approval page, as well as the Access Agreement for a Thesis or Dissertation form to the Graduate College office as soon as possible before submitting the document electronically via ScholarWorks. Then the student submits a review copy electronically through ScholarWorks – visit the ScholarWorks website for more details.
All forms are available on the Graduate College website
Present Project
Project reports are not reviewed or approved by the Graduate College. However, project reports can be uploaded into ScholarWorks, pending approval of the committee chair, and require the signed ScholarWorks Authorization for a Selected Graduate Project https://www.boisestate.edu/graduatecollege/forms/. Submit committee approval form to the CS Department Office (it does not need to go to the Graduate College).
Western Regional Graduate Program
The Masters of Computer Science Graduate Program participates in WICHE, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education and their Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). WRGP is a tuition-discounting program. WRGP enables students from WICHE states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming) to enroll in more than 400 participating graduate programs and pay the enrolling institution’s resident tuition rate, instead of the nonresident rate that an out-of-state student would normally pay. At Boise State University we offer this opportunity on a competitive basis. The Computer Science department will recommend a small number of WGRP awards based upon merit for outstanding applicants. This recommendation goes to the Graduate College for a final decision.
Assistantship
Assistantships that include a stipend, tuition, and fee waiver, and student health insurance may be available to MS students on a competitive basis. All admitted students are considered for funding based on the strength of their application and the availability of funds. Additional support for master’s research projects may be available from faculty members in the form of research assistantships.
Other Funding Opportunities
Other forms of financial aid, such as loans or the College Work-Study Program, are available to graduate students. Prospective students should contact the Financial Aid Office and consult the Boise State University catalog. Please also reference the Graduate College’s information regarding Tuition and Funding.