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Department ofComputer Science and Engineering

M.S. in Computer Science and Engineering

All students admitted to the MSCSE program are expected to already have competence in the fundamental subjects listed below, as required within an accredited program for a B.S. in Computer Science Engineering.. An applicant without such background (but who has completed college level calculus and advanced programming) may still be admitted, provided the deficiencies are corrected by coursework that is in addition to the normal degree requirements, and that is completed within the first year of graduate study. Alternatively, a student may take a similar course at another approved accredited institution. Online, continuing education, extension courses, and courses without a closed book exam are not accepted. The subjects and corresponding SCU courses that may be used to correct the deficiencies include:

  1. Logic design COEN 21 or 921C

  2. Data structures COEN 12 or 912C

  3. Computer organization & assembly language COEN 20 or 920C or ELEN 33

  4. Discrete math AMTH 240

  5. Probability AMTH 210

  6. One of the following: Differential Equations (AMTH 106), Numerical Analysis (AMTH 220, 221), or Linear Algebra (AMTH 245, 246)

  7. One additional advanced programming course or one year of programming experience in industry.

The SCU COEN and ELEN courses listed above and AMTH 106 are considered undergraduate-level and may not be used to satisfy the requirements for the M.S. in Computer Science and Engineering. However, students who have satisfied item 6 above, but who have never studied numerical analysis, may use AMTH 220/221 as electives; students who have satisfied item 6 above, but who have never studied linear algebra, may use AMTH 245/246 as electives. Laboratory components are not required for the above courses.

Degree Requirements

Engineering Graduate Core- Enrichment Experience.
Students must take a minimum of 8 units of the Graduate Core Enrichment Experience.

  • A minimum of 4 units must be from the Graduate Core which requires at least two courses from the three areas

    • Emerging Topics in Engineering,
    • Engineering and Business/Entrepreneurship,
    • Engineering and Society.

    The remaining 4 units can be accumulated by the following

  • a) Taking one or more major technical electives,

  • b) Taking additional classes from the Graduate Core,
  • c) Taking Cooperative Education course
  • d) Combining courses from a, b and c.

Please refer to Chapter 6: Enrichment Experience and Graduate Core for additional information and the core course list.

MSCSE Core

  • COEN 210, 279, and 283
    • Students who have taken one or more of these core courses or their equivalent must replace said course(s) with the advanced course equivalent (COEN 313, 379, and/or 383) or, with their advisor’s approval, replace said course(s) with elective(s).

MSCSE Electives

  • A student must take a minimum of 8 units of COEN 300-899 courses. CSE electives must be approved by the advisor.
    • Electives: Sufficient units to bring the total to at least 46. (The minimum number of COEN graduate units should be at least 36 units, and courses must be approved by the advisor.)

Please Note: Students wishing to do a thesis (COEN 497) should consult with their academic advisor regarding a modification of these requirements.

Contact Us

Chair: Silvia Figueira

Department Manager (contact for Graduate Matters): 
Pam Lin 408-554-6805

Department Manager (contact for Undergraduate Matters): 
Valerie Woitte 408-554-5281

Computer Science and Engineering
Santa Clara University
500 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95053

SCDI Bergin, Bldg. 203

 

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