Dr. Rasha Morsi, Program Coordinator
(757) 823-0047
mailto:csgrad@nsu.edu | http://www.cs.nsu.edu
Program Mission:
The computer science (CS) graduate program provides a quality CS education to students, especially those from underrepresented populations, by strengthening their leadership, analytical, and research skills to empower them to fulfill their career aspirations and to become productive computer science professionals.
The Master of Science (M.S.) degree requires 30 graduate credit hours of course work including a thesis (6 credits), or 33 graduate credit hours of course work including a project (3 credits). All degree requirements must be completed within four calendar years. No more than twelve (12) graduate credits may be transferred from other graduate schools. Full-time students starting with a B.S. degree in Computer Science should expect to take 1-1/2 to 2 years to complete the Master of Science degree. Students in the accelerated online program should expect to take one (1) year to complete the M.S. degree.
There are four tracks of study:
- Computer Science*
- Emphasis in Information Assurance
- Emphasis in Data Science and Machine Learning
- Emphasis in Communication Networks
*This track is also offered as an accelerated online program for project students only.
STANDARD M.S. PROGRAM
The M.S. program requires 30-33 graduate credit hours of course work including a thesis or a project. The 30 credits for the thesis track and 33 credits for project track which include 12 credits of core courses for all students. Thesis students need 12 elective course credits and 6 thesis credits. Project students need 18 elective credits and 3 project credits. All degree requirements must be completed within four calendar years.
Full-time students with a B.S. degree in Computer Science or related field should expect to complete the M.S. degree with thesis in 2 years and project in 1-1/2 to 2 years years. A cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 is required for graduation.
ACCELERATED ONLINE PROGRAM
The Accelerated Online program is designed for the adult learner, especially working professionals who wish to further their skills in an online format for students interested in Computer Science. Courses are offered in 7-week formats that allow flexibility to take one or two courses per term. Students can complete their degree in 12-months. For more information on this option see our website.
B.S./M.S. ACCELERATED PROGRAM
The Accelerated Master of Science in Computer Science program allows promising students enrolled in the BS in Computer Science program, including any of its tracks, to gain admission to the Accelerated Master of Science program in Computer Science at Norfolk State University. Students that meet the eligibility requirements can enter the program, and upon designation of Junior standing in the Computer Science curriculum, can take any 500-level course with subject designation CSC for dual-credit toward the BS and MS degree programs. A maximum of 12 credits may be dual-counted toward the BS and MS degree requirements. Upon completion of the Accelerated Master of Science in Computer Science program, students will have earned the BS in Computer Science and the MS in Computer Science degrees. The dual-counted courses allow completion of the combined degrees on an accelerated time-scale.
How to Apply
Contact the Graduate Program Coordinator, Dr. Rasha Morsi at rmorsi@nsu.edu.
Program Goal
To graduate students who are prepared to work in a computer science-related field or to enroll in a doctoral program in a computer science-related discipline, and who demonstrate creativity and innovative problem-solving skills.
Program Learning Outcomes
-
Demonstrate the ability to conduct independent research.
-
Demonstrate knowledge of the body of literature in one or more advance topics in computer science through critically analyzing and evaluating research findings..
-
Apply computing fundamentals in one or more areas of computer science.
-
Demonstrate proficiency in post undergraduate topics in the core areas of data communication, operating systems, analysis of algorithms, and advanced computer architecture.
Application Deadline
The deadline for application to the Master of Science Graduate Program in Computer Science is May 1 of each year for Fall and November 1 for Spring. The Accelerated Online option accepts students six (6) times per year. Information on the Accelerated online program can be found at Online NSU.
All application materials must be complete and received at Norfolk State University on or before the deadline. Enrollment in the program begins the semester following admission. Applications are available online. Please upload all supporting documents to include the following:
- CV/Resume
- Personal Statement
- Request form for 3 letters of recommendations
- Unofficial Transcript (An official transcript with your degree conferred is required upon acceptance for admission)
NOTE: The accelerated track has a revolving application process, please see the accelerated program website for dates.
Admissions
Apply online. Once your application is complete, the departmental Graduate Program Committee will review your package and decide on admission.
Academic Preparation
Students entering the master’s in computer science program are expected to have an
- Undergraduate degree from an accredited 4-year college or university in
- Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related degree such as Electrical Engineering, and
- Generally, an overall major GPA of at least 2.8.
B.S./M.S. Degree Requirements
- Minimum CGPA: 3.0/4.0
- Minimum CGPA: 3.0/4.0 across all Computer Science courses
- Enrolled and in good academic standing in BS.CSC (any track)
- Completion of BS.CSC, BS.CSC.CET, BS.CSC.DNIMAS, BS.CSC.CET.DNIMAS, BS. CSC.SET, or BS.CSC.CYBT curriculum through the third year
- Students must have earned at least 89 credits by the semester in which they seek to enroll in any MS.CSC courses
- Personal Statement of motivation and career objectives (1 page)
- Resume to include experience and qualifications
- Letter of Reference from one (1) CS, Engineering, Science or Mathematics Faculty
International Students
For international students, an official evaluated transcript is required for the application to be considered complete.
English Proficiency
To meet the English Proficiency requirement for admission, a TOEFL score of at least 80 or an IELTS score of at least 6.5 should be achieved. The TOEFL will be waived if a student has completed at least one year of full-time study at a college or university in an English-speaking country.
GRE
GRE scores are required of all applications seeking assistantships and scholarships. GRE scores should be sent to the School of Graduate Studies and Research. Generally, the minimum GRE score required for successful applicants is 152 or better on Verbal, and 155 or better on Quantitative and the Graduate Program Committee may waive the GRE requirement if an applicant majored in computer science or computer engineering and has a GPA of 3.2 or higher in computer courses.
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance is available for graduate work and can include standard federal and state financial aid. There may be a limited number of teaching, research, and laboratory assistantships (TA, RA, and LA) awarded each year.
Renewals of TA, RA, and LA awards are not automatic and are subject to annual review and availability of funding. The length of support does not exceed two academic years with one intervening summer (5 semesters total).
COMPUTER SCIENCE CURRICULUM
Summary of Graduation Requirements
Students completing a thesis will complete 30 credit hours and students completing a project will complete 33 credit hours.
| Subject Area | Credits |
|---|---|
| Core Courses | 12 |
| Major Requirements | 18-21 |
| Total Credit Hours | 30-33 |
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 15-18 | |
| Data Communication | ||
| Operating Systems | ||
| Analysis of Algorithems | ||
| Advanced Computer Architecture | ||
| Masters Thesis I and Masters Thesis II | ||
or CSC 795 | Masters Project | |
| Electives | 12-18 | |
Thesis students take 12 credits of elective courses; Project students take 18 credits of elective courses. | ||
| Game Design and Development | ||
| 3D Game Programming | ||
| Principals of Modeling and Simulation | ||
| Advanced Computer Topics III | ||
| Advanced Computer Topics IV | ||
| Computer Graphics | ||
| Systems Programming | ||
| Compiler Construction | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| Computational Science | ||
| Computer Networks | ||
| Computer Security II | ||
| Cryptography | ||
| Parallel Computing | ||
| Scientific Visualization | ||
| Graduate Independent Study I | ||
| Wirless Sensor Networks | ||
| Advanced Topics in Networking | ||
| Network Defense | ||
| Cloud Computing | ||
| Evolutionary Computing | ||
| Secure Software Development | ||
| Advanced Topics in Information Assurance | ||
| Advanced Graduate Topics I | ||
| Advanced Graduate Computer Topics II | ||
| Graduate Independent Study II | ||
Tracks
Information Assurance
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 535 | Computer Security I | 3 |
| CSC 555 | Management of Information Security | 3 |
| CSC 635 | Computer Security II | 3 |
| CSC 650 | Cryptography | 3 |
| CSC 745 | Network Defense | 3 |
| CSC 760 | Secure Software Development | 3 |
| CSC 765 | Advanced Topics in Information Assurance | 3-0 |
| Total Credits | 21-18 | |
Communication Networks
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 530 | Data Communication | 3 |
| CSC 630 | Computer Networks | 3-0 |
| CSC 720 | Wirless Sensor Networks | 3 |
| CSC 730 | Advanced Topics in Networking | 3-0 |
| CSC 745 | Network Defense | 3 |
| CSC 782 | Advanced Graduate Computer Topics II | 3-0 |
| Total Credits | 18-9 | |
Data Science and Machine Learning
The Data Science and Machine Learning track at Norfolk State University equips students with the skills needed to organize, collect, analyze, and draw inferences from large unstructured and structured data sets. Graduates of this track will master the theory, algorithms and state-of-the-art tools used by professionals for collecting, mining, and analyzing large data sets. Graduates also will learn the skills needed to clearly communicate results make recommendations based on those results.
Requirements:
All students taking this track are required to take CSC 611 and CSC 614
- Thesis students are required to take at least 2 more courses from the list
- Project students are required to take at least 4 more courses from the list
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 521 | Database Principles and Design | 3-0 |
| CSC 535 | Computer Security I | 3-0 |
| CSC 570 | Artificial Intelligence | 3-0 |
| CSC 611 | Machine Learning | 3-0 |
| CSC 612 | Computational Science | 3-0 |
| CSC 660 | Parallel Computing | 3-0 |
| CSC 678 | Scientific Visualization | 3-0 |
| CSC 750 | Evolutionary Computing | 3-0 |
| CSC 755 | Cloud Computing | 3-0 |
PLAN OF STUDY OPTIONS
Option 1 (Thesis)
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 530 | Data Communication | 3 |
| CSC 564 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC 625 | Analysis of Algorithems | 3 |
| CSC 668 | Advanced Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective or Emphasis Course | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective or Emphasis Course | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Second Year | ||
| CSC 798 | Masters Thesis I | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective or Emphasis Course | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective or Emphasis Course | 3 |
| CSC 799 | Masters Thesis II | 3 |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Option 2 (Project)
| First Year | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 530 | Data Communication | 3 |
| CSC 564 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC 625 | Analysis of Algorithems | 3 |
| CSC 668 | Advanced Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective or Emphasis Course | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective or Emphasis Course | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Second Year | ||
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective or Emphasis Course | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective or Emphasis Course | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective or Emphasis Course | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective or Emphasis Course | 3 |
| CSC 795 | Masters Project | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 33 | |
BS/MS ACCELERATED PROGRAM
Program Expectations
Accelerated students must:
- maintain required minimum CGPA’s overall and in Undergraduate Computer Science courses
- earn a B-grade or higher in all attempted dual-credit courses
- earn the MS degree within two regular semesters of the conferral semester projected at the time of admission to the Accelerated Master of Science in Computer Science program; otherwise, they shall be dismissed from the Accelerated Master’s program.
- If a student in the Accelerated Master of Science in Computer Science program has already completed CSC 430 and/or CSC 464 in the undergraduate program, then to fulfill the total credits requirement for the MS.CSC program s/he will be required to take suitable substitutions for CSC 530 and/or CSC 564, subject to approval by the GPC and the School of Graduate Studies as applicable.
- Students dismissed from the Accelerated program may not re-apply to it; however they may:
- remain eligible to complete any remaining requirements to earn the BS.CSC as applicable;
- apply for regular admission to NSU graduate programs for which they qualify, including but not limited to MS.CSC.
Summary of Graduation Requirements
| Subject Area | Credits |
|---|---|
| BS Degree Requirements | 108-114 |
| MS Core Courses | 12 |
| MS Elective Courses | 18 |
| Project | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 141-147 |
Dual Credit: Any 500 level courses with subject designation CSC will be eligible for credits in the BS.CSC, BS.CSC.D, BS.CSC.CET, BS.CSC.CET.D, BS.CSC.SET, BS.CSC.CYBT, and BS.CSC.CYBT.D programs. Students must achieve a B grade or higher in the designated 500-level courses to count towards MS.CSC degree requirements. Therefore, total degree requirements range from 141 to 147.
BS.CSC/MS.CSC plan of study
Take 500 level courses as shown below then complete the required and elective courses from the MS.CSC Curriculum.
| Junior | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 292 | Unix and C Programming | 3 |
| CSC 380 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| CSC 468 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| Science | First Semester Science Sequence | 4 |
| MTH 351 | Probability & Statistics I | 3 |
| CSC 530 | Data Communication | 3 |
| Elective | Computer Science Elective 300 level or above | 3 |
| Humanities | Humanities Elective | 3 |
| CSC 275 | Fundamentals of Cybersecurity | 3 |
| Credits | 28 | |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
| Senior | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 498 | Computer Science Seminar I | 2 |
| CSC 564 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Computer Science Elective 300 level or above | 3 |
| Cultural | Social Science Cultural Elective | 3 |
| Cultural | Humanities Cultural Elective | 3 |
| CSC 499 | Computer Science Seminar II | 2 |
| CSC XXX | Computer Science Elective 300 level or above | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| CSC XXX or | Graduate Elective | 3 |
MTH XXX | Mathematics Elective 300 level or above |
|
| Elective | Free Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 31 | |
| Total Credits | 31 | |
BS.CSC.D/MS.CSC PLAN OF STUDY
Take 500 level courses as shown below then complete the required and elective courses from the MS.CSC Curriculum.
| Senior | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| APS 410 | Applied Science Seminar | 0 |
| CSC 530 | Data Communication | 3 |
| CSC 564 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC 498 | Computer Science Seminar I | 2 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Comptuer Science or Mathematics Electives 300 level or above | 3 |
| Cultural | Humanities Cultural Elective | 3 |
| APS 411 | Applied Science Seminar | 0 |
| CSC 468 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CSC 499 | Computer Science Seminar II | 2 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Comptuer Science or Mathematics Electives 300 level or above | 3 |
| Cultural | Social Science Cultural Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 31 | |
| Total Credits | 31 | |
BS.CSC.CET/MS.CSC PLAN OF STUDY
Take 500 level courses as shown below then complete the required and elective courses from the MS.CSC Curriculum.
| Senior | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| EEE 431 | Microcontrollers | 3 |
| CSC 275 | Fundamentals of Cybersecurity | 3 |
| Humanities | Humanities Elective | 3 |
| CSC 468 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CSC 498 | Computer Science Seminar I | 2 |
| Cultural | Social Science Cultural Elective | 3 |
| Cultural | Humanities Cultural Elective | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| CSC 530 | Data Communication | 3 |
| CSC 564 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC 499 | Computer Science Seminar II | 2 |
| Credits | 31 | |
| Total Credits | 31 | |
BS.CSC.CET.D/MS.CSC PLAN OF STUDY
Take 500 level courses as shown below then complete the required and elective courses from the MS.CSC Curriculum.
| Senior | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| APS 410 | Applied Science Seminar | 0 |
| CSC 530 | Data Communication | 3 |
| CSC 564 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC 498 | Computer Science Seminar I | 2 |
| Cultural | Humanities Cultural Elective | 3 |
| ENG 303 | Professional & Technical Writing | 3 |
| APS 411 | Applied Science Seminar | 0 |
| EEE 231 | Digital Logic Design | 3 |
| EEE 231L | Digital Logic Design Laboratory | 1 |
| CSC 468 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CSC 499 | Computer Science Seminar II | 2 |
| Elective | Foreign Language Elective | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| Cultural | Social Science Cultural Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 32 | |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
BS.CSC.SET/MS.CSC PLAN OF STUDY
Take 500 level courses as shown below then complete the required and elective courses from the MS.CSC Curriculum.
| Junior | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 372 | Data Structures | 3 |
| ENG 303 | Professional & Technical Writing | 3 |
| Cultural | Social Science Cultural Elective | 3 |
| MTH 351 | Probability & Statistics I | 3 |
| Science | Second Science and Laboratory Elective | 4 |
| CSC 361 | Survey of Programming Languages | 3 |
| CSC 420 | Database Principles and Design | 3 |
| CSC 380 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| Humanities | Humanities Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 31 | |
| Senior | ||
| CSC 498 | Computer Science Seminar I | 2 |
| CSC 564 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC 485 | Software Quality Assurance and Testing | 3 |
| CSC 530 | Data Communication | 3 |
| CSC 486 | Software Project Management | 3 |
| CSC 499 | Computer Science Seminar II | 2 |
| CSC 468 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| Cultural | Humanities Cultural Elective | 3 |
| CSC 488 | Distributed Software Systems | 3 |
| CSC 487 | Engineering Secure Software Systems | 3 |
| Credits | 28 | |
| Total Credits | 59 | |
BS.CSC.CYBT/MS.CSC PLAN OF STUDY
Take 500 level courses as shown below then complete the required and elective courses from the MS.CSC Curriculum.
| Junior | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 292 | Unix and C Programming | 3 |
| CSC 380 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| CSC 530 | Data Communication | 3 |
| Science | First Semester of Science Sequence | 4 |
| MTH 351 | Probability & Statistics I | 3 |
| CSC 449 | Cryptography and Network Security | 3 |
| Humanities | Humanities Elective | 3 |
| CSC 420 | Database Principles and Design | 3 |
| CSC 361 | Survey of Programming Languages | 3 |
| CSC 535 | Computer Security I | 3 |
| Credits | 31 | |
| Senior | ||
| CSC 445 | Computer Network Defense | 3 |
| CSC 498 | Computer Science Seminar I | 2 |
| CSC 564 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective | |
| CSC 313 | Network Administration | 3 |
| Cultural | Social Science Cultural Elective | 3 |
| CSC 468 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CSC 499 | Computer Science Seminar II | 2 |
| CSC 494 | Digital Forensics | 3 |
| Cultural | Humanities Cultural Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 25 | |
| Total Credits | 56 | |
BS.CSC.CYBT.D/MS.CSC PLAN OF STUDY
Take 500 level courses as shown below then complete the required and elective courses from the MS.CSC Curriculum.
| Junior | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| APS 310 | Applied Science Seminar | 0 |
| CSC 292 | Unix and C Programming | 3 |
| CSC 361 | Survey of Programming Languages | 3 |
| MTH 351 | Probability & Statistics I | 3 |
| CSC XXX | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| ENG 285H | Honors Public Speaking | 3 |
| APS 311 | Applied Science Seminar | 0 |
| CSC 372 | Data Structures | 3 |
| CSC 380 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| Elective | Foreign Language Elective | 3 |
| ENG 303 | Professional & Technical Writing | 3 |
| PED 100 | Fundamentals of Fitness for Life | 1 |
| HED 100 | Personal and Community Health | 2 |
| Credits | 30 | |
| Senior | ||
| APS 410 | Applied Science Seminar | 0 |
| CSC 530 | Data Communication | 3 |
| CSC 564 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC 498 | Computer Science Seminar I | 2 |
| CSC 313 | Network Administration | 3 |
| Cultural | Humanities Cultural Elective | 3 |
| APS 411 | Applied Science Seminar | 0 |
| CSC 468 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CSC 499 | Computer Science Seminar II | 2 |
| CSC 494 | Digital Forensics | 3 |
| CSC 449 | Cryptography and Network Security | 3 |
| Cultural | Social Science Cultural Elective | 3 |
| Credits | 28 | |
| Total Credits | 58 | |
MS.CSC PLAN OF STUDY
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CSC 530 | Data Communication | 3 |
| CSC 564 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSC 625 | Analysis of Algorithms | 3 |
| CSC 668 | Advanced Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CSC 5xx or above | Graduate Elective | 18 |
| CSC 795 | Master's Project | 3 |