Master of Science in Computer Science | Georgia Tech Catalog

Master of Science in Computer Science | Georgia Tech Catalog
Catalog
2025-2026 Edition
Master of Science in Computer Science
The program for the Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) prepares students for more highly productive careers in industry. Graduates receive the MSCS for completing one of three options in the program as described in this section. Students may apply to the program if they possess a bachelor's degree in computer science from an accredited institution. Students without a bachelor's degree in computer science are encouraged to apply as well, with the understanding that they will be required to complete remedial coursework appropriate to their background in addition to the requirements of the MSCS degree. All applicants are evaluated according to their prior academic record, scores on the Graduate Record Examination, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Applicants are selected for fall semester admission only. The application deadline is February 1. However, all applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible because the selection process may begin well before the deadline.
Students entering the program must demonstrate a core competency in computing equivalent to undergraduate-level courses in the following areas:
systems, design and analysis of algorithms,
formal languages and automata theory,
databases,
networking and communications,
computer architecture, and
human-computer interaction.
This requirement can be satisfied by having taken undergraduate courses as a part of an undergraduate degree, taking remedial courses in the MS CS program, or by examination. Students may specialize in areas of their choice. Every student must complete at least one specialization as a part of their degree program. The current eleven specialization areas are:
Computer Graphics, Computing Systems
High-Performance Computing, Human-Computer Interaction
Interactive Intelligence
Machine Learning
Modeling and Simulations
Scientific Computing
Social Computing
Visual Analytics.
A student who is enrolled in another graduate program of the Institute may pursue an MSCS while that student is also pursuing their degree in the other major. To be granted permission to pursue the MSCS, a student must submit to the MS program coordinator of the College of Computing the material required for admission to the MSCS program. This includes transcripts, letters of recommendation, and GRE General Test. If the student is approved by the College to pursue the MSCS, the student will be notified in writing. At no time will a student outside the College be allowed to pursue a concurrent degree without prior permission of the MS program coordinator of the College of Computing.
A student enrolled in the MS degree program in computer science who wishes to be admitted to the PhD program in computer science should apply via the same process as external students. It is expected that such a student will have at least two letters of recommendation from College of Computing faculty.
For more information about the Master of Computer Science program, visit
www.cc.gatech.edu
Program of Study
The College's master's degree requirements supplement the Institute's master's requirements listed in this catalog:
Students must achieve a grade-point average of at least 3.0 to graduate, and no course grades below C will count toward graduation. Students must take all master's degree coursework on a letter-grade basis.
Undergraduate courses required for the BSCS degree may not be used toward the MSCS degree. In addition, no graduate credit will be given for 3000 level courses or lower-level courses.
No course may be used to satisfy the requirements of two degrees. In addition, no graduate credit will be given for CS courses with a number lower than 4140.
A maximum of 6 hours may be taken at the 4000-level and/or with a subject code other than CS or CSE. See exceptions under the Project and Thesis options below.
The maximum total credit hours of Special Problems (CS or CSE 89xx) that may be applied toward the MSCS degree is 3. These courses must be within the CoC.
There is no maximum number of Special Topics (CS or CSE 88xx) courses that may be used towards the degree.
Each student must complete the requirements for one specialization. Click
here
for specialization requirements.
Students may choose from one of three options in pursuing the MSCS degree, including:
Course Option
This option requires the student to complete 30 hours of coursework.
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Total Course Credit Hours (no MS project or thesis hours)
30
CS and CSE (minimum 24 credit hours)
24
CS and CSE 6000-8000 Level Courses (minimum 24 credit hours)
24
6000/8000 Level Courses (minimum 24 credit hours)
24
Project Option
This option requires the student to complete 21 credit hours of coursework and a 9 credit hour project. The project requires approval by a faculty advisor and the MS program coordinator in the semester prior to its inception.
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Total Coursework Credit Hours
21
MSCS Project hours (
CS 6999
Total Credit Hours
30
CS and CSE Courses (minimum of 15 credit hours)
15
CS and CSE 6000-8000 Level Courses (minimum of 15 credit hours)
15
May not include MS project or thesis hours.
Thesis Option
This option requires the student to complete 18 credit hours of coursework and a 12 credit hour thesis. The thesis process is defined elsewhere in this catalog.
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Total Coursework Credit Hours
18
MS Thesis Credit Hours
12
Total Credit Hours
30
CS and CSE Courses (minimum of 15 credit hours)
15
CS and CSE 6000-8000 Level Courses (minimum of 15 credit hours)
15
May not include MS project or thesis hours.
The student must obtain advance approval of the thesis proposal by the faculty advisor and MSCS coordinator. See your academic advisor for more information about the thesis process.
Specializations
Computational Perception and Robotics
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
Algorithms: Pick one (1) of:
CS 6505
Computability, Algorithms, and Complexity
CS 6515
Introduction to Graduate Algorithms
CS 6520
Computational Complexity Theory
CS 6550
Design and Analysis of Algorithms
CS 7520
Approximation Algorithms
CS 7530
Randomized Algorithms
CSE 6140
Computational Science and Engineering Algorithms
And, pick one (1) of:
CS 6601
Artificial Intelligence
CS 7641
Machine Learning
Electives
Pick three (3) courses from Perception and Robotics, with at least one from each:
Perception
CS 6475
Computational Photography
CS 6476
Introduction to Computer Vision GR
CS 7499
3D Reconstruction and Mapping in Computer Vision, Robotics, and Augmented Reality
CS 7636
Computational Perception
CS 7639
Cyber Physical Design and Analysis
CS 7644
Machine Learning for Robotics
CS 7650
Natural Language
Robotics
CS 7630
Autonomous Robotics
CS 7631
Autonomous Multi-Robot Systems
CS 7633
Human-Robot Interaction
CS 7638
Artificial Intelligence Techniques for Robotics
CS 7648
Interactive Robot Learning
CS 7649
Robot Intelligence: Planning
Total Credit Hours
15
Computer Graphics
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
Pick one of:
CS 6491
Foundations of Computer Graphics
CS 6457
Video Game Design and Programming
CS 7496
Computer Animation
Pick one of:
CS 6505
Computability, Algorithms, and Complexity
CS 6515
Introduction to Graduate Algorithms
Electives: select three (3) of:
CS 6457
Video Game Design and Programming
CS 6475
Computational Photography
CS 6476
Introduction to Computer Vision GR
CS 6491
Foundations of Computer Graphics
CS 6492
Shape Grammars
CS 6730
Data Visualization: Principles and Applications
CS 7496
Computer Animation
Total Credit Hours
15
Computing Systems
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
CS 6505
Computability, Algorithms, and Complexity
or
CS 6515
Introduction to Graduate Algorithms
And, pick two (2) of:
CS 6210
Advanced Operating Systems
CS 6241
Design and Implementation of Compilers
CS 6250
Computer Networks
CS 6290
High-Performance Computer Architecture
CS 6300
Software Development Process
CS 6390
Programming Language Design
CS 6400
Database Systems Concepts and Design
Electives: pick three (3) of:
1,2
CS 6035
Introduction to Information Security
CS 6200
Graduate Introduction to Operating Systems
CS 6220
Big Data Systems and Analytics
CS 6235
Real-Time System Concepts and Implementation
CS 6238
Secure Computer Systems
CS 6260
Applied Cryptography
CS 6262
Network Security
CS 6263
Intro to Cyber-Physical Systems Security
CS 6291
Embedded Software Optimizations
CS 6310
Software Architecture and Design
CS 6340
Advanced Topics in Software Analysis and Testing
CS 6365
Intro Enterprise Comput.
CS 6422
Database System Implementation
CS 6423
Advanced Database System Implementation
CS 6550
Design and Analysis of Algorithms
CS 6675
Advanced Internet Computing Systems and Applications
CS 7210
Distributed Computing
CS 7260
Internetworking Architectures and Protocols
CS 7270
Networked Applications and Services
CS 7280
Network Science: Methods and Applications
CS 7290
Advanced Topics in Microarchitecture and organization of high-performance processors.
CS 7292
Reliability and Security in Computer Architecture
CS 7560
Theoretical Foundations of Cryptography
CS 8803
Special Topics (Foundations of Programming Languages)
CSE 6220
High Performance Computing
Total Credit Hours
18
Any Core Courses in excess of the 9 hour requirement may be used as Computing Systems Electives
Any Special Topics (
CS 8803
) course that is being taught by a School of Computer Science faculty member may also count as a Computing Systems elective. The definition of “School of Computer Science faculty member” is a faculty member who appears on the School of Computer Science website
High-Performance Computing
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
CSE 6140
Computational Science and Engineering Algorithms
CSE 6220
High Performance Computing
Electives
Pick three (3) of:
CSE 6221
Multicore Computing: Concurrency and Parallelism on the Desktop
CS 6230
High-Performance Parallel Computing: Tools and Applications
or
CSE 6230
High Performance Parallel Computing: Tools and Applications
CS 6241
Design and Implementation of Compilers
CS 6290
High-Performance Computer Architecture
CS 8803
Special Topics (Parallel Numerical Algorithms)
or
CSE 8803
Special Topics
CSE 6236
Parallel and Distributed Simulation
CSE 8803
Special Topics (Hot Topics in Parallel Computing)
Total Credit Hours
15
Human-Centered Computing
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
CS 6451
Introduction to Human-Centered Computing
CS 6452
Prototyping Interactive Systems
CS 7455
Issues in Human-Centered Computing
Electives
Pick two (2) of:
CS 6455
User Interface Design and Evaluation
CS 6456
Principles of User Interface Software
CS 6460
Educational Technology: Conceptual Foundations
CS 6465
Computational Journalism
CS 6470
Design of Online Communities
CS 6471
Computational Social Science
CS 6474
Social Computing
CS 6476
Introduction to Computer Vision GR
CS 6601
Artificial Intelligence
CS 6730
Data Visualization: Principles and Applications
CS 6750
Human-Computer Interaction
CS 6795
Introduction to Cognitive Science
CS 7450
Information Visualization
CS 7451
Human-Centered Data Analysis
CS 7460
Collaborative Computing
CS 7641
Machine Learning
CS 7470
Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing
CS 7476
Advanced Computer Vision
CS 7610
Modeling and Design
CS 7632
Game Artificial Intelligence
CS 7633
Human-Robot Interaction
CS 7637
Knowledge-Based AI
CS 7620
Case-Based Reasoning
CS 7650
Natural Language
CS 7695
Philosophy of Cognition
CS 7697
Cognitive Models of Science and Technology
CS 7790
Cognitive Modeling
CS 8803
Special Topics (Computational Creativity)
CS 8803
Special Topics (Expressive AI)
CS 8803
Special Topics (Computers, Communications & International Development)
Total Credit Hours
15
Human-Computer Interaction
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
CS 6456
Principles of User Interface Software
or
CS 7470
Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing
CS 6750
Human-Computer Interaction
Electives
Pick three (3) from the two sub-areas below, including one from each sub-area:
Sub-area: Design and evaluation concepts
CS 6010
Principles of Design
CS 6320
Software Requirements Analysis and Specification
CS 6435
Digital Health Equity
CS 6455
User Interface Design and Evaluation
CS 6457
Video Game Design and Programming
CS 6460
Educational Technology: Conceptual Foundations
CS 6465
Computational Journalism
CS 6470
Design of Online Communities
CS 6795
Introduction to Cognitive Science
CS 7465
Educational Technology: Design and Evaluation
CS 7467
Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning
CS 7790
Cognitive Modeling
Sub-area: Interactive technology
CS 6440
Information to Health Informatics
CS 6730
Data Visualization: Principles and Applications
CS 6763
Design of Design Environments
CS 6770
Mixed Reality Experience Design
CS 7450
Information Visualization
CS 7451
Human-Centered Data Analysis
CS 7460
Collaborative Computing
CS 7470
Mobile and Ubiquitous Computing
CS 7632
Game Artificial Intelligence
Total Credit Hours
15
Artificial Intelligence
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
Take one (1) of:
CS 6300
Software Development Process
CS 6301
Advanced Topics in Software Engineering
CS 6505
Computability, Algorithms, and Complexity
CS 6515
Introduction to Graduate Algorithms
CSE 6140
Computational Science and Engineering Algorithms
Take two (2) of:
CS 6601
Artificial Intelligence
CS 7637
Knowledge-Based AI
CS 7641
Machine Learning
Electives
Pick two (2) courses from:
Interaction
CS 6440
Information to Health Informatics
CS 6460
Educational Technology: Conceptual Foundations
CS 6465
Computational Journalism
CS 6471
Computational Social Science
CS 6603
AI, Ethics, and Society
CS 6750
Human-Computer Interaction
AI Methods
CS 6476
Introduction to Computer Vision GR
CS 7631
Autonomous Multi-Robot Systems
CS 7632
Game Artificial Intelligence
CS 7633
Human-Robot Interaction
CS 7634
AI Storytelling in Virtual Worlds
CS 7643
Deep Learning
CS 7647
Machine Learning with Limited Supervision
CS 7650
Natural Language
CS 8803
Special Topics (Advanced Game AI )
Cognition
CS 6795
Introduction to Cognitive Science
CS 7610
Modeling and Design
CS 7651
Human and Machine Learning
CS 8803
Special Topics (Computational Creativity)
Total Credit Hours
15
Machine Learning
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
Algorithms
Pick one (1) of:
CS 6505
Computability, Algorithms, and Complexity
CS 6515
Introduction to Graduate Algorithms
CS 6520
Computational Complexity Theory
CS 6550
Design and Analysis of Algorithms
CS 7510
Graph Algorithms
CS 7520
Approximation Algorithms
CS 7530
Randomized Algorithms
CSE 6140
Computational Science and Engineering Algorithms
Pick one (1) of:
CS 7641
Machine Learning
CSE 6740
Computational Data Analysis: Learning, Mining, and Computation
Electives
Pick three (3) of:
CS 6220
Big Data Systems and Analytics
CS 6476
Introduction to Computer Vision GR
CS 6603
AI, Ethics, and Society
CS 7280
Network Science: Methods and Applications
CS 7535
Markov Chain Monte Carlo Algorithms
CS 7540
Spectral Algorithms and Representations
CS 7545
Theoretical Foundations of Machine Learning
CS 7616
Pattern Recognition
CS 7626
Introduction to Behavioral Imaging
CS 7642
Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making
CS 7643
Deep Learning
CS 7644
Machine Learning for Robotics
CS 7646
Machine Learning for Trading
CS 7650
Natural Language
CS 8803
Special Topics (Probabilistic Graph Models)
CSE 6240
Web Search and Text Mining
CSE 6242
Data and Visual Analytics
CSE 6250
Big Data Analytics for Healthcare
ISYE 6416
Computational Statistics
ISYE 6420
Introduction to Theory and Practice of Bayesian Statistics
ISYE 6664
Stochastic Optimization
Total Credit Hours
15
Modeling and Simulations
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
CSE 6730
Modeling and Simulation: Foundations and Implementation
Pick one (1) of:
CSE 6220
High Performance Computing
ISYE 6644
Simulation
MATH 6640
Introduction to Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations
Electives
Pick three (3) of:
CSE 6220
High Performance Computing
CSE 6236
Parallel and Distributed Simulation
CSE/CHEM 8803
Special Topics (Quantum Information, Computation, and Simulation)
CS 7280
Network Science: Methods and Applications
INTA 6742
Modeling, Simulation and Military Gaming
ISYE 6644
Simulation
MATH 6640
Introduction to Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations
Total Credit Hours
15
Scientific Computing
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
CSE/MATH 6643
Numerical Linear Algebra
Pick one (1) of:
CSE/MATH 6644
Iterative Methods for Systems of Equations
MATH 6640
Introduction to Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations
Electives
Pick three (3) of:
CS/CSE 6230
High-Performance Parallel Computing: Tools and Applications
CS/CSE 8803
Special Topics (Parallel Numerical Algorithms)
CSE 6140
Computational Science and Engineering Algorithms
CSE 6220
High Performance Computing
CSE/MATH 6644
Iterative Methods for Systems of Equations
CSE 8803
Special Topics (Algorithms for Medical Imaging and Inverse Problems)
CSE 8803
Special Topics (Computational Chemistry)
MATH 6640
Introduction to Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations
Total Credit Hours
15
Social Computing
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
Pick two (2) of:
CS 6470
Design of Online Communities
CS 6474
Social Computing
CS 6471
Computational Social Science
Electives
Pick three (3) classes including additional classes from above and:
CS 6465
Computational Journalism
CS 6730
Data Visualization: Principles and Applications
CS 6750
Human-Computer Interaction
CS 7280
Network Science: Methods and Applications
CS 7450
Information Visualization
CS 7451
Human-Centered Data Analysis
CS 7641
Machine Learning
CS 7650
Natural Language
Total Credit Hours
15
Visual Analytics
Course List
Code
Title
Credit Hours
Core Courses
CSE 6242
Data and Visual Analytics
CS 6730
Data Visualization: Principles and Applications
CS 7450
Information Visualization
Electives
Pick two (2) from:
CS 6456
Principles of User Interface Software
CS 6465
Computational Journalism
CS 6491
Foundations of Computer Graphics
CS 6750
Human-Computer Interaction
CS 6795
Introduction to Cognitive Science
CS 7451
Human-Centered Data Analysis
CS 7641
Machine Learning
CSE 6740
Computational Data Analysis: Learning, Mining, and Computation
Total Credit Hours
15
The Master of Science in Computer Science is also offered online.
For more information, visit: https://omscs.gatech.edu/.
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