Master of Science and PhD program in Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science in Computer Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science.  These programs are designed to increase the student’s fundamental knowledge and to give the student guidance and experience in research. A graduate student pursues these objectives by taking advanced courses, participating in seminars, and carrying out and reporting on a research project. The department provides the advantage of close personal association between graduate students and faculty, giving special attention to individual needs and interests.

Faculty members are engaged in research over a wide range of subjects in the computer science. Current research interests include: complexity theory, circuit complexity, proof complexity, computational learning theory, quantum information , machine learning, computer vision, image processing, medical imaging, automated deduction, software verification, and cryptographic protocal analysis, virtual reality, operating systems, network security systems and systems biology. 

Details of the MS in Computer Science are in the interdisciplinary graduate program section.

A program of study leading to the Master of Science in Computer Science is offered jointly by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Comput­er Science. With unique strengths in engineering, science, and business, Clarkson is in a position to offer students an unusual opportunity to study computer science in an interdisciplinary environ­ment. Courses are offered in a wide variety of areas, ranging from theoretical topics in computer science to applied topics. Students having an undergraduate background with appropriate computer science content are invited to apply. The regular course load for a full-time student, including research credit towards the M.S. degree, is 30 credit hours per calendar year. Thirty credit hours and a thesis are required for the M.S. degree.

Requirements for the M.S. Degree in Computer Science

In addition to the general requirements for the M.S. degree established by the University, a student is required to satisfy the following set of requirements: 

The program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level work. At least 20 credit hours must be earned in residence at Clarkson. Each student’s program of study must be approved by the Computer Science Advisory Committee.

Those students who are not fully prepared to pursue graduate work in computer science may be required to take CS511 Foundations in Computer Science. In addition, students with insufficient background in computer science may be required to take undergraduate computer science courses, for which graduate credit will not be given.

Course and seminar work will comprise a minimum of 20 credit hours. To ensure some breadth in the program, courses must include four that satisfy the following criteria: 

Two foundation courses must be taken, as described below: 

      CS541 Introduction to Automata Theory and Formal Languages 

      CS547 Computer Algorithms   

Two courses from the following set, where each of these courses requires a substantial amount of programming: 

       CS544 Operating Systems 

       CS545 Compiler Construction 

       CS550 Software Design and Development 

       EE505 Computer Graphics 

       EE569 Software Design and Analysis
graduate-level courses before coming to Clarkson, the Advisory Committee may waive the re­quirement that the student take these specific courses upon request from the student.  

 At least two restricted elective courses will be taken from the courses offered by the computer science or computer engineering departments as selected by the student and their advisor. Of these two restricted elective courses:  

(a) one must be a course that focuses on research topics in computer science.  

 (b) one must be a computer engineering course with relevant emphasis on computer science topics. 

Students should consult with their advisors to identify courses in these categories.  

Two seminar credits. To earn a seminar credit, students must enroll in a seminar course in Computer Science.  

Thesis credit will comprise a maximum of 10 credit hours of the 30 credit-hour minimum. All students must have a research advisor by the end of their first semester of study and must submit a research proposal to the Examination Committee by the end of the semester before they plan to graduate. The Examination Committee shall consist of a minimum of three faculty members. All students must complete a thesis and defend it orally to their Examination Committee. Two copies of the completed thesis must be submitted to the University. 

A wide variety of research areas are represented by the faculty supporting this program. Among these are algebraic theory of automata, algorithms, artificial intelligence, automata and formal language theory, automated deduction, Boolean circuits, complexity theory, computational learning theory, computer-aided design, computer architecture, distributed artificial intelligence, expert systems, file systems, finite element methods, finite model theory, genetic programming, hardware and software verification, high speed network architectures, intelligent tutoring, machine learning, multiagent systems, multigrid and spectral methods in numerical analysis, multime­dia applications, networked computing, operating systems, parallel and distributed computing, programming environments, semantics, virtual reality, and VLSICAD. Further information can be obtained at www.clarkson.edu/mcs/cs_deg_req.html or contact Jennifer Reed in the School of Arts & Sciences (sciencegrad@clarkson.edu).   Mailing address: Jennifer Reed, Graduate Coordinator, Clarkson University, School of Arts and Science, Graduate Studies, 8 Clarkson Ave., Potsdam, NY  13699-5802.  Phone: (315)268-3802; Fax: (315)268-3989