Master of Science in Computer Science

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Join this respected graduate Computer Science program at North Carolina A&T State University — America's largest public HBCU, the country's top producer of African American engineers and the leader in percentage of engineering master’s degrees awarded to women. This program combines computer science fundamentals with practical knowledge and technical excellence in the most advanced technologies. The research interests of the faculty include cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science, big data, visual analytics, virtual reality, software engineering, distributed and web-based systems, multiagent systems, trustworthy cloud computing, software engineering and high-performance computing. Research is funded by agencies including the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the National Security Agency, the Department of Energy and National Laboratories.

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PROGRAM SNAPSHOT

  • Credits required: 30
  • Time to completion: 3-4 semesters if full-time
  • Tuition: $233/credit hour (in-state); $860/credit hour (out-of-state)

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WHY GET AN M.S. IN COMPUTER SCIENCE DEGREE?

An advanced degree will allow you to expand your knowledge, stay up-to-date with trends and technology, be more competitive in the job market, and increase your earning potential. According to data from PayScale, the average starting salary of graduates with an M.S. in Computer Science is 25% higher than that that of graduates with a B.S. in Computer Science. This graduate program will prepare you for an exciting and prosperous career in 21st century computing, which is becoming more focused on the creative engineering aspects of software design and development than on just programming. You will have a hand in solving complex computing problems in fields such as software engineering, cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial Intelligence, machine learning, visualization and virtual environments.

JOB OUTLOOK

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in computer and information technology to grow 11% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the overall job average of 4%. These occupations are projected to add about 531,200 new jobs during this time period. Worker demand will stem from an increased emphasis on cloud computing, the collection and storage of big data, and information security.

Demand for computer and information research scientists, for which a master’s degree is the preferred qualification, is expected to grow 15% from 2019 to 2029.

$91,250

Median pay, computer and information technology overall per year 2020

32,700

Number of U.S. computer and information research scientist jobs 2019

Unconditional admission requires a B.S. in Computer Science. For some applicants, 1 to 3 background courses may be required. 

Find out more about graduate admissions and apply today.

The program requires 30 hours (10 courses) with three core courses (9 credit hours):

  • COMP 710 Software Specification, Analysis and Design
  • COMP 755 Advanced Operating Systems
  • COMP 775 Advanced Design and Analysis of Algorithms

There are no formal concentrations, but students can specialize in one of three areas: Software

Engineering, Cyber Security, or Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Students may select

courses that allow them to also receive the Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Cyber Security.

 

Explore the curriculum guide.

 

Explore the graduate handbook.

North Carolina A&T has established a number of financial support opportunities for outstanding graduate students in order to enhance research and graduate education. These include fellowships, scholarships, assistantships and out-of-state tuition supplements. Students who are pursuing the thesis option will receive tuition support and a monthly stipend.

Graduate Coordinator: Huiming (Anna) Yu, cshmyu@crnabiz.com, 336-285-3699

Department Chair: Xiaohong (Dorothy) Yuan, xhyuan@crnabiz.com, 336-285-3693

Application Deadlines

Priority
  • Fall admission: Feb. 1
  • Spring admission: Sept. 1

 

International

  • Fall admission: June 1
  • Spring admission: Oct. 1

General

  • Fall admission: July 1
  • Spring admission: Nov. 1
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The College of Engineering at N.C. A&T Develops Leaders and Innovators

Job data and information are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, EMSI and O*NET OnLine.

EMPLOYERS OF OUR GRADUATES

Graduates of the program have been hired by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, SAS and many other leading corporations. Many graduates also find employment in government agencies, such as the CIA, NSA, FBI, NASA and NAVSEA.

CORPORATE PARTNERS

Graduates of the program have been hired by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, SAS and many other leading corporations. Many graduates also find employment in government agencies, such as the CIA, NSA, FBI, NASA and NAVSEA.

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POTENTIAL CAREERS

  • Computer and Information Research Scientist
  • Computer and Information Systems Manager
  • Computer Network Architect
  • Computer Programmer
  • Computer User Support Specialist
  • Digital Interface Designer
  • Information Security Analyst
  • Software Developer
  • Software Engineer
  • Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester
  • Systems Engineer
  • Web Developer