Computer Science (MS) Thesis

Computer Science (MS) Thesis

Degree: Master of Science

Major: Computer Science Thesis

Total Hours: 30

Graduate Program

The Department of Computer Science offers a program of study leading to the Master of Science degree in Computer Science. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available.

The objective of the master’s degree is to produce professional computer scientists capable of contributing technically to the basic core areas of computer science as well as to application areas. A mixture of courses, laboratory, and research work in the program is designed to place graduates at the forefront of technical excellence.

Research

The department engages in a broad-based research program. Current faculty research interests include artificial intelligence, big data, computer systems, cloud computing, computer vision, cybersecurity, database, data analysis, game development, real-time system, and wireless and sensor networks.

Admission to the Graduate Program

Students seeking admission to the Master in Computer Science program must meet the following requirements as follows:

  1. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is optional but encouraged. Admission is competitive and based on a comprehensive evaluation of all submitted application materials. 
  2. A resume that includes academic information such as transcripts of undergraduate studies (with GPA/CPGA shown), references for academic publications, work experience and any other relevant scholarly activities.
  3. For applicants whose native language is not English, an IELTS or TOEFL score is required as indicated at the Lamar University website.
  4. Demonstrable knowledge of programming in a high-level language and operating systems is required. The two options are either taking equivalency exams or enrolling in leveling courses (COSC 4304 Foundations of Programming and COSC 4302 Operating Systems) and passing with a grade of "B" or higher.

Background Requirements

Students must be able to demonstrate sufficient undergraduate computer science background before beginning courses towards the M.S. program. The following undergraduate background courses or their equivalents are required: COSC 4304 Foundations of Programming andCOSC 4302 Operating Systems. These two prerequisites can be taken in the first semester, but they do not count toward the graduate degree.

Students must make at least a “B” grade in these two prerequisite courses in order to satisfy the undergraduate background requirements and to take other required graduate courses.

Students may be excused from a prerequisite course if they are able to pass a competency exam given on the content of the associated course. A competency test is given for each prerequisite course by the Computer Science Department for a fee of $75 per examination. Each examination may be taken only once before the first semester entering the degree. In some cases, students may also be excused from a prerequisite course if they have courses on their transcripts that the Computer Science Department considers equivalent in content to the prerequisite. The content of courses taken in other institutions is not necessarily the same as courses taken with the same title in Lamar University. We are not interested in having students take extra courses, but we do have to ensure the soundness of our graduate-level courses.

In addition to these two prerequisites, our M.S. program requires either 8 graduate courses and a thesis or 9 courses and a one-semester project. In both cases, an oral defense is required in addition to a written report. If you are a full-time student taking 9 credit hours (i.e., three courses) during the fall and spring semesters, you will finish all work within two years.

Degree Requirements

  1. Core Course Requirement (6 courses; 18 semester hours).COSC 5313 Analysis of Algorithms, COSC 5328 Computing Networks, CPSC 5360 Software Engineering, COSC 5390 Thesis, COSC 5391 Thesis II, and one from CPSC 5340 Database Design, CPSC 5370 Artificial Intelligence, or CPSC 5375 Machine Learning.
  2. Elective course requirement:
    1. Only courses with the subject COSC or CPSC and numbered in the 5000–5999 range count toward the new 30‑credit degree plan.
    2. Once you complete one of the three core courses: CPSC 5340 Database Design,CPSC 5370 Artificial Intelligence, and CPSC 5375 Machine Learning, the remaining two courses may be taken as elective options.
    3. Non‑CS courses are not allowed only if one of the following applies:
      1. No CS elective courses are available in the relevant semester.
      2. The student is enrolled in an approved certificate program requiring courses from other departments.
      3. An approved course is transferred from another department at Lamar University or from another accredited university.
  3. Completion of COSC 5390 Thesis and COSC 5391 Thesis II and submission of an acceptable thesis. Successful oral defense of the thesis. If a failure occurs, the defense may be repeated. A second failure will cause the student to be dropped from the degree program in Computer Science.

Alternate Work/Study 

An enrolled student may alternate between study and employment as a formal part of her/his training. While working, the student might perform research and collect data for his/her thesis at a facility that offers technology not available at Lamar University. A letter from the student’s academic advisor explaining why he or she is unable to conduct research on campus.