Who is the Master's in Computer Science program for?
Drexel’s College of Computing and Informatics’ (CCI) Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) is designed for students who hold a four-year bachelor's degree or master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in computer science, software engineering, or a related STEM degree.
Fast Facts
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Hours
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Full-time (FT) or Part-time (PT)
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Time-to-Degree
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2-3 years (FT); 2-4 years (PT)
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Format
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On campus or online
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Term Starts
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Fall, Winter
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Curriculum Design
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Traditional Course-by-Course or Modular Certificate. Please see the Curriculum section below for a full explanation of the Modular Certificate curriculum.
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Hands-on experience
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Thesis option is available for those preparing for doctoral studies; Graduate co-op is available for on-campus, full-time students.
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Technical experience required?
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Yes. Students without a technical background will likely need to complete prerequisite courses.
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GRE required?
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Recommended for students with a GPA below 3.0 on the 4.0 U.S. GPA scale, or equivalent
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Meets F1 Visa STEM Requirements?
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Yes
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Master's in Computer Science Overview
The Master of Science in Computer Science program is designed to provide breadth of understanding in the core topics of computer science, in-depth advanced material, and a range of topics in the research areas of the faculty. A balance of theory and practice is presented, preparing students to perform cutting-edge research as well as training students to become practicing computer scientists or software engineers in business, industry, or government.
The program provides room for electives outside of Computer Science in an area you might want to apply your computing skills.
A thesis option is available to prepare students for doctoral studies or other research-oriented career paths.
Request More Information
Be in touch with us to get answers to all your questions! We can connect you with a Recruitment Specialist, one of our Graduate Dean’s Ambassadors, or a faculty member to help. Contact our graduate recruitment team at cciinfo@drexel.edu and we’ll get back to you soon.
Meet a Computer Science Student
Master's in Computer Science Curriculum
IMPORTANT NOTE: Drexel operates on the quarter, not semester, system, offering classes during four, 10-week terms throughout the year. (You are not required to take classes every quarter, but full-time students must complete the degree in three years.)
Our master’s degrees are 45 credits (15 courses) which is equivalent to 30- to 33-credit degrees at other universities. The benefit of the quarter system is that students receive instruction in more topic areas than through the semester system and have more freedom to personalize their curriculum using electives.
This degree is available through a traditional course-by-course curriculum or a modular certificate curriculum.
Traditional Curriculum
CCI's Master’s Degree in Computer Science consists of:
- Six required core courses
- Five required electives in at least two of the following focus areas: Theory; Intelligent Systems; Programming Systems; Computer Systems; Vision and Graphics; Applications; Software Engineering; Data Science
- Four free elective courses that may be selected from the above focus areas or Computer Science Department-approved courses. You will choose your electives to customize your degree based on your goals and interests.
Full-time, on-campus students who are accepted for fall and winter term admissions can also choose a Graduate Co-op option. Please visit the Steinbright Career Development Center to learn more about cooperative education and its benefits.
Please visit Drexel’s Course Catalog for a full description of each required course and elective for this program. You can also find a sample Plan of Study for the degree.
Modular Certificate Curriculum
This curriculum allows the student to select several certificates in order to 1.) gain a foundation in Computer Science principles and practice and 2.) focus in-depth on specific skills and knowledge through certificates, customized to your needs and professional goals.
Following the modular certificate option enables you to earn marketable credentials — skills set-based certificates — on your way to completing the master’s degree, and it lets you complete a certificate, step away from the program if you need to, and return to seamlessly pick up where you left off.
In the modular certificate option, you will select:
- Required core certificate(s)
- One or two Major Electives
- Optionally one Flexible Elective
In addition, you may need to take a small number of additional courses in order to complete the degree requirements.
There are a number of possible certificate combinations, and you will work with your adviser and the faculty to create the sequence that best fits your needs and background.
The following certificates can be used to create the MS in Computer Science:
Core
Major Electives
Flexible Electives (optionally choose one)
Full-time, on-campus students who are accepted for fall and winter term admissions can also choose a Graduate Co-op option. Please visit the Steinbright Career Development Center to learn more about cooperative education and its benefits.
Where Our Computer Science Graduates Work
- Lockheed Martin
- Facebook
- GoPuff
- Amazon
- AMD
- VUI Search
- Susquehanna International Group, LLP
Computer Science Career Outlook
Computer Science, like all disciplines within the computer and information sciences, has a very healthy employment outlook. Read more about this field and the places you can go with this master’s degree.
Master's in computer science requirements include:
- A completed application for the online format or on-campus format.
- A four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or an equivalent international institution. Please note: Those without a prior degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or Math (plus programming) may have to take additional prerequisites before pursuing advanced computer science courses.
- A GPA of 3.0 or higher, in a completed degree program, bachelor’s degree or above.
- Official final transcripts from ALL Colleges/Universities attended. Please note: For students who have attended an institution outside of the US, it is highly recommended to submit a NACES approved course-by-course transcript evaluation (i.e., WES) for expedited review of your application. This approved evaluation will take the place of the transcript requirement to complete your application.
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores (must be five years old or less) are not required but recommended for international students and domestic students below a 3.0 GPA.
- One letter of recommendation is required. Two are recommended (academic, professional, or both).
- Essay/Statement of Purpose.
- Current Resume.
- Prerequisites for MSCS in Computer Science.
- Prerequisites for all graduate level programs: computer requirements and skills
- Additional requirements for International Students
Please visit our Graduate Admissions section for application deadlines.
Finances
Tuition
Please visit Drexel’s official Graduate Tuition & Fees webpage. Note that this master’s degree requires 45 quarter credits.
Scholarships
There are a variety of sources of financial aid and scholarships to help you fund your master’s degree — explore them here.
Get in Touch
Our Recruitment Specialists are here to walk you through the sometimes confusing world of financing your graduate education. Get in touch with us now by filling out this form.
Schedule a Visit or Register for an Online Information Session
Learn more about the College of Computing & Informatics experience through an online information session or an in-person visit. Contact our recruitment team to schedule your visit today by contacting us at cciinfo@drexel.edu!