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Program Requirements

Computer Science MS

The Emory Computer Science department offers a Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science suited to individuals with an undergraduate degree in many disciplines, as long as they have some computational experience.

The MS in Computer Science program allows students to focus on data mining and machine learning (Data Science), natural language processing and intelligent systems (AI), visualization and human computer interaction (HCI), theory, systems, and high performance computing.

Course Requirements

Students must take a course from each of the three core subject areas and at least four elective courses. The specific sets of required and elective courses depend upon a student’s choosing.

Core Subject Areas

Students are required to 1 course from each subject area. Courses not used to fulfill the subject area requirements may be taken to fulfill the electives requirement. 

Algorithms Subject Area
  • CS 523: Data Structures and Algorithms
    • MS students are advised to take CS 523 unless they have a strong background in both data structures and algorithms.
  • CS 526: Algorithms
Intelligent Systems Subject Area
  • CS 534: Machine Learning
  • CS 557: Artificial Intelligence 
  • CS 570: Data Mining 
Computer Systems Subject Area 
  • CS 551: Systems Programming
  • CS 554: Database Systems 
  • CS 580: Operating Systems

Electives

The number of electives a student must complete is determined by the options listed below. Existing students often prefer the project option as it provides more flexibility and applied learning.  

1. Project:
  • Completion of 5 approved elective courses (15+ credit hours)
  • Completion of 6 credit hours of CS: 597R or CS: 599R.
    • This involves a substantial software development effort under the supervision of a faculty advisor resulting in a tangible artifact appropriate to Master’s level contributions. This can be conducted over one or more semesters with different faculty but must comprise one major comprehensive project.
2. Coursework:
  • Completion of 7 approved elective courses (21+ credit hours)
3. Thesis:
  • Completion of 4 approved elective courses (12+ credit hours)
  • Completion of 9 credit hours of CS: 599R.
    • This involves a substantial research project at least equivalent to PhD proposal-level work, comprising original research of publishable quality, manifested in a substantial thesis. This can be conducted over one or more semesters but must comprise one major research effort. Please see the LGS Website for additional thesis guidelines and timelines. 

 Recently offered CS electives:

  • CS 524: Theory of Computing
  • CS 540: Software Engineering
  • CS 541: Information Visualization
  • CS 553: Information and Computer Security
  • CS 555: Parallel Processing
  • CS 556: Program Language and Compilers
  • CS 558: Networking
  • CS 571: Natural Language Processing
  • CS 572: Information Retrieval
  • CS 573: Data Privacy and Security
  • CS 581: High Performance Computing: Tools and Applications
  • CS 584: Topics in Computer Science

A full list of approved electives can be found in Appendix A of the CS MS Program Handbook. 

Students may substitute at most one of the above electives with a relevant course from Mathematics, Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biomedical Informatics, the Rollins School of Public Health, School of Medicine, and appropriate schools at Georgia Tech through the ARCHE program. When substituting courses, a student must obtain prior written approval from the CS MS DGS.

Grade Policy: All MS coursework must be completed with a grade of C or higher. The GPA of all core, elective, and additional courses must be 3.0 or higher, i.e. a B average or better.

Practicum

All MS students will be required to complete a practicum (CS596R: Computer Science Master's Practicum) involving a substantial project either under the direction of an Emory faculty member or a Computer Science/Informatics expert in Industry.

This requirement is intended to provide students with practical experience with real-life projects, an essential element of an applied discipline such as Computer Science. Students may repeat this once, and in exceptional circumstances, one additional time with permission from the Director of Graduate Studies.

Information on the web pages is for information only, definitive rules are in the graduate handbook.