An M.S. coursework-only option ("a master's along the way") is available to Ph.D. students who seek to earn a Master of Science degree on the way to their Ph.D.
Students not pursuing a Ph.D. who wish to complete a coursework-only master's (no thesis) should enroll in the Master of Engineering degree program. Compare the two degrees here.
- Klaudia Escobar Villatoro - Administrative and Office Specialist, Master of Science and Ph.D. programs, D.C. area
- Andrea Sirles - Graduate Program Coordinator
To earn an M.S. in Computer Science at Virginia Tech, students must fulfill the following:
- Total Credits: Minimum of 30 graduate-level credits
- Coursework: At least 21 credits from approved, letter-graded courses
- Research: Sufficient credits of CS 5994 (Research & Thesis) to meet the 30-credit total
- GPA: Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all graduate coursework
- Examinations: Completion of the Final Thesis Defense
- Timeline: Two years
To fulfill the 21-credit coursework requirement, students must:
- Breadth Requirement: Complete one course in at least four distinct areas, including Area 0 (Ethics) View approved breadth area courses »
- Take at least 7 CS courses at the 5000 or 6000 level
- Minimum 1 course at the 6000 level
- Maximum 6 credits of 4000-level CS courses (if approved)
- Cognate Course (optional): One approved non-CS course relevant to your research
- CS 5944 Graduate Seminar (2 semesters, 1 credit each)
- CITI Training: Complete two courses via the CITI training course system:
- Responsible Conduct of Research
- Conflict of Interest Training
Students are expected to complete all degree requirements within 2 years. Timely progress is essential for good standing and funding eligibility.
- Select Advisor - End of 1st semester
- Submit Plan of Study - End of 2nd semester
- Apply for Degree - Year 2, beginning of final semester
- Thesis Defense - End of 2nd year
- Submit ETD - After successful thesis defense Virginia Tech ETD LaTeX Template
Examples of prior students' MS theses are available here.
Failure to meet milestones may result in:
- Loss of funding
- Academic hold
- Probation or dismissal
- 2 of 3 must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree
- Non-Ph.D. members must have recognized expertise
- If you are reading this, Dr. Brown is probably your committee chair.
- Tenured/Tenure Track
- Collegiate Faculty
- Professor of Practice (approved)
- Emeritus faculty in the Department of Computer Science
The following faculty have aligning research interests and frequenty join committees for members of this research group---however you are not limited to this list:
- SE: Gulzar, Meng, Tilevich, Seyam, Edmison
- HCI: Lee, Chen, Rho
- Education: Chen, Seyam, Edmison, Omebo, Ellis, Shaffer, Edwards
- May include one from outside CS@VT
- Must be approved in advance List of Approved Committee Members
- All members must be pre-approved
- Substitutes for exams must also be approved
You must be registered during the term you take each exam.
- Purpose: Defend completed thesis
- Timing: Year 2, final semester
- Scheduling: At least 2 weeks in advance. Submit via Graduate School's Signature Approval System (Requires full committee approval, please contact them before scheduling in the ESS system).
Assumes Fall start; actual course sequence may vary.
- CS 5xxx (3 cr) – First breadth area
- CS 5xxx (3 cr) – Second breadth area
- CS 5944 Graduate Seminar (1 cr)
- CS 5994 Research Thesis (credits as needed)
- CS 5xxx (3 cr) – Third breadth area
- CS 5xxx or 6xxx (3 cr) – Fourth breadth area
- CS 5944 Graduate Seminar (1 cr)
- CS 5994 Research Thesis (credits as needed)
📝 Submit Student Activity Report in late Spring🧪 All students evaluated on Green Thursday🌐 Internships may require a filed Plan of Study (especially for international students)
- CS xxxx (3 cr)
- CS 5xxx or 6xxx (3 cr)
- CS 5994 Research Thesis (credits as needed)
If not yet taken, this is a good time to complete the CS 6xxx requirement.
- CS 5xxx or 6xxx (3 cr)
- CS 5994 Research Thesis (credits as needed)