Computer Science (M.C.S.) · UC Irvine

The Master of Computer Science is a 15-month professionally-oriented program that prepares students for immediate entry into the technology workforce and enhances opportunities for career mobility and growth. The program emphasizes computer science concepts that apply to a wide variety of applications and industries, including technology, business, finance, healthcare, environmental, and more. Students learn and reinforce their knowledge through classroom and project-based learning and through individual and collaborative assignments. Midway through the program, students work on a culminating project over the span of twenty weeks, immersing in ideation, design, development, and finally, execution. The final projects are showcased to the community, including industry partners and hiring managers, with a strong emphasis on supporting network and relationship-building, and securing employment.

Admission

Students in the program typically have a computing-related or highly related undergraduate degree or background; however, students from other technical and non-technical backgrounds with sufficient preparation and experience in programming, as well as professional experience, are welcome and encouraged to apply. All applicants are evaluated on their application materials: academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, statement of history, resume and experience.

For specific information regarding the admissions requirements and application process, please refer to the Graduate Division website. To contact the MCS program directly, please email mcs@ics.uci.edu or call 949-824-5158.

Requirements

Course	Title	Units
A. Complete any three of the following core courses:
COMPSCI 222P	Principles of Data Management
COMPSCI 232P	Computer and Communication Networks
COMPSCI 238P	Operating Systems
COMPSCI 250P	Computer Systems Architecture
COMPSCI 260P	Algorithms with Applications
COMPSCI 261P	Data Structures with Applications
COMPSCI 273P	Machine Learning and Data Mining
B. Complete the following two project courses:
COMPSCI 297AP	Capstone Project I
COMPSCI 297BP	Capstone Project II
C. Complete at least seven of the following elective courses that are not being counted as core courses from Section A:
COMPSCI 201P	Computer Security
COMPSCI 203P	Network Security
COMPSCI 220P	Databases and Data Management
COMPSCI 222P	Principles of Data Management
COMPSCI 223P	Transaction Processing and Distributed Data Management
COMPSCI 224P	Big Data Systems
COMPSCI 231P	Parallel and Distributed Computing for Professionals
COMPSCI 232P	Computer and Communication Networks
COMPSCI 238P	Operating Systems
COMPSCI 244P	Internet of Things
COMPSCI 250P	Computer Systems Architecture
COMPSCI 253P	Advanced Programming and Problem Solving
COMPSCI 260P	Algorithms with Applications
COMPSCI 261P	Data Structures with Applications
COMPSCI 262P	Text Processing and Information Retrieval
COMPSCI 271P	Artificial Intelligence
COMPSCI 273P	Machine Learning and Data Mining
COMPSCI 274P	AI Foundations: Neural Networks and Deep Learning
COMPSCI 275P	Graphical Models and Statistical Learning
COMPSCI 290P	Special Topics in Information and Computer Science 1.
D. Complete the following:
COMPSCI 291P	Professional Development for Computer Science Careers 2
E. Complete one of the following:
COMPSCI 298P	Computer Science Practicum
COMPSCI 299P	Individual Study

All Master of Computer Science students are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 throughout the program, with no individual grade lower than a B. The normative time to degree is four academic quarters plus summer, or approximately 15 months.

May be taken only once to fulfill graduation requirements.
Students must enroll in three quarters of COMPSCI 291P during their first year (fall, winter, spring).