The School of Computer and Information Sciences offers the degree of Master of Science in Computer Science. This degree program has two options: Computer Science and Computer Information Systems. The Online Master of Science in Computer Science with CIS option will begin from Spring 2007. In addition, the Online Graduate Certificate Program in CIS is also designed for those who need to improve their skill. The degree programs are designed to serve two purposes:

1. as a "Professional" program to allow computer scientists in industry to upgrade their professional skills
2. as an "Academic" program to allow capable computer scientists to prepare for the terminal degree

The Master of Science in Computer Science degree program has thesis / non-thesis option:

Thesis Option (36 Hrs)

1. 30 Semester Credit Hours of Graduate Coursework
   
   1. Required Core Computer Science Courses (15 Hrs)
   2. Elective Computer Science Courses (15 Hrs)
2. Master's Thesis and Thesis Defense (6 Hrs)
3. Partipation in Graduate Seminar

Non-Thesis Option (36 Hrs)

1. 36 Semester Credit Hours of Graduate Coursework
   
   1. Required Core Computer Science Courses (15 Hrs)
   2. Elective Computer Science Courses (21 Hrs)
2. Partipation in Graduate Seminar

Academic Standards

Students pursuing a Master’s degree must maintain the following standards:

1. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
2. Only two courses with grades of C can be applied to the degree
3. No course with a grade below a C will be applied toward a degree
4. In any graduate degree program, all requirements, including course work at Georgia Southwestern State University, transfer credit and transient credit course work, must be completed within seven (7) calendar years from the date of initial enrollment in course work, without regard to the initial admission status and without regard to credit hours earned.

Graduate students who fail to maintain academic standards will be placed under academic review at the end of the semester in which their status falls below the required standards.

Admission Requirements

Regular Admission (without conditions)

1. Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university
2. A minimum of 2.5 undergraduate cumulative GPA (based on a 4.0 scale)
3. A minimum of 3.0 GPA on all previous graduate work attempted
4. A minimum total of 800 on the verbal and quantitative sections (combined) of the GRE.
5. Three letters of reference

Exemptions: Applicants who have earned a master's degree from an accredited university are exempted from a requirement of a GRE score and can be admitted in the program based on a graduate GPA.

Depending upon test scores and GPA, a student not meeting these requirements for regular admission may first receive Regular Admission with conditions to the M.S. degree program in Computer Science.

Regular Admission (with conditions)

Students seeking a degree through graduate study who does not meet the requirements for regular admission without conditions may be admitted with conditions. Those students admitted with conditions must meet the following requirements:

1. The student who does not have the necessary background course work must complete the appropriate undergraduate pre-requisite courses as determined by school. The grade in each course must be no lower than C. The student will be allowed to take up to nine graduate semester hours (three courses) for which he/she has met prerequisites
2. The student whose undergraduate GPA is less than 2.5 but equals or is more than 2.2 will be allowed to take nine graduate semester hours (three courses). The student must make a grade of B or better in each course.
3. The student must satisfy the conditions of both background and the GPA requirements listed above.
4. At the time the conditions to admission are met, the student's record will be updated to reflect a change to admission without conditions. If the conditions are not met as required, the student will be expelled from the graduate program.

Downloadable Documents

• Curriculum Sheet for MS in Computer Science (CS and CIS Options)
• Online Graduate Certificate Program [Low Res 140 KB] [High Res 3.45 MB]
• Internship Learning Agreement
• Internship Course Outline
• Internship Employer Evaluation
• Internship Mid-term Evaluation
• Internship Request Form
• Multi-Year Schedule of Classes

Application Procedure Information

• Application Process
• International Student Application Process

For more information on our graduate programs, please feel free to contact:

Director of Graduate Programs in CIS

Dr. Arvind C. Shah
Tel: (229) 931-2100 -ext 2114
Email: acs1@canes.gsw.edu