The Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) program offers a curriculum based on theoretical foundations and practical applications. The curriculum includes advanced courses in core areas of computer science and flexible electives to meet your professional goals. Students can customize their curriculum with the General Option, or choose one of the pre-built specializations.
Interested in the MSCS but have no undergraduate computer science coursework? Bridge to the MSCS through the Computer Science Fundamentals Certificate.
Most MSCS graduates are employed within 6 months of graduation (2017-2021). Recent graduates are employed by Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and other major firms in the region.
Choose the program that fits your goals: Course Only option, Research Project option, Data Science specialization, or Software Engineering specialization.
With appropriate planning, the MSCS general option can be completed in 5 quarters. Most students complete in 6-7 quarters. Completing a specialization requires up to 49 credits and may take 7 quarters to complete depending on when the program is started.
In the General Option, students to choose their electives. You can develop a focused or broad foundation that aligns with your interests and academic goals. There are two variations of the MSCS General Option:
Applicants can select whether to pursue the Course Only or Research Project option after enrollment. Depending on background and time to graduation, students in the General Option may have the option to switch to one of the MSCS specializations after enrollment.
The MSCS with a specialization in Data Science (MSCS-DS) program provides the skills to develop computer solutions that require expertise in data science. This program is unique in that students who complete the program receive both an MSCS degree and a specialization within data science. This combination is very attractive as technology companies are looking for developers that have experience in data science. Students complete both a set of core courses that part of all MSCS degrees at Seattle University plus a set of data science courses. The program culminates in a real-world capstone data science project.
The specialization can be completed in 5 quarters for students starting in Fall Quarter only. Due to course sequencing, students starting in Winter Quarter can complete the program in 7 quarters and students starting in Spring Quarter can complete the program in 6 quarters.
The MSCS with a specialization in Software Engineering (MSCS-SE) program enables students to build the skill set they will need for a fulfilling career in the software industry. Students will gain experience across the software development life cycle - from requirements analysis, to architecture and design, to development and testing. The Department of Computer Science has been working with local tech companies for decades, and the curriculum is current and relevant to industry needs.
The MSCS-SE program consists of a set of core courses common to all MSCS degrees at Seattle University plus a set of software engineering courses. The program culminates in a real-world capstone software engineering project.
The specialization can be completed in 5 quarters for students starting in Fall Quarter only. Due to course sequencing, students starting in Winter Quarter can complete the program in 7 quarters and students starting in Spring Quarter can complete the program in 6 quarters.