COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Computer Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute requires students to meet both the Office of Graduate Education’s degree standards and the department-specific curriculum requirements, guided by a faculty adviser through a formal Plan of Study. The program requires completion of 30 credit hours, with at least 18 credits at the 6000 level and a maximum of six independent study credits. Students must demonstrate competence in the core areas of Algorithms, Software, and Systems at the undergraduate level, which can be satisfied through prior coursework, examinations, or advanced study. Degree requirements also include at least four courses with a grade of B or better, covering at least two depth buckets, with a minimum of two courses in one bucket. Additionally, students must complete either 3–4 credits of a master’s project (CSCI 6970 or CSCI 6980) or 6–9 credits of a master’s thesis (CSCI 6990); thesis students must present their work orally, while project students present a poster at a departmental session. Graduate students are expected to actively participate in the academic community by attending at least 50% of departmental colloquia each semester, up to a maximum of four semesters. This structure ensures mastery of core competencies, research or project experience, and engagement with the broader computer science community, preparing graduates for advanced technical or research-oriented careers.