Modality
On Campus
Program URL
https://cs.georgetown.edu/graduate/ms/
The Department of Computer Science is home to advanced research on the cutting edge of computing technology. The Master of Science program connects students with the ideas, skills, and opportunities to shape the digital world in which they live.
The program strengthens students’ foundational education and prepares them for careers in industry or prepares them for advanced study at the doctoral level.
Academic Policies
The academic policies and procedures of the Computer Science program are those specified in Georgetown University’s Bulletin and the program handbook.
Program Requirements
Students have the option of completing the program through 30 credits of coursework or completing the program through 24 credits of coursework and a master’s thesis.
All students must take at least one Systems computer science course numbered 5000 or higher. They must either take Algorithms (COSC 5200) or demonstrate proficiency computer algorithms and take at least one algorithms/theory computer science course numbered 5000 or higher. The Graduate Committee maintains a list of eligible courses.
Students who do not write a thesis take an additional 8 electives to complete the degree. Electives must be numbered 4000 or higher, but at least four of these classes must be numbered 5000 or higher.
Students choosing to write a thesis complete 24 credits of coursework but substitute Graduate Thesis Research for two electives numbered 4000-4999. Students selecting the thesis option must have a grade point average of at least 3.000 or higher prior to their first enrollment in Thesis Research.
Thesis Requirements
Students who opt to complete a thesis must identify a topic and a thesis adviser before enrolling in Thesis Research. The thesis adviser must be a full-time faculty member within the Department of Computer Science. Students will work with their advisers to form a committee consisting of at least two additional members who are also full-time faculty in the Computer Science Department.
Thesis proposals are due at least one month prior to the thesis defense. Students must publicly defend the thesis. The defense includes at 45-minute presentation with 15 minutes reserved for public questions. At the conclusion of the defense, the adviser will excuse the audience so that the committee can privately question the student. The committee will in turn deliberate in private about the sufficiency of the thesis and any required modifications. Students must pass with a majority vote.
