An advanced degree built for the future.

The new Master of Science in Computer Science degree program is built on a 96-year foundation of engineering and computer science at University of the Pacific. The one to two-year program, taught at the iconic ivy-covered campus in Stockton, California, teaches students advanced techniques and best practices of professional research and establishes the intellectual foundations for achieving excellence in the field of computer science. Graduates of the degree program will be prepared to create new technologies and enhance existing systems with a curriculum that dives into machine learning, data science, virtual reality, and more. Whether you are a working adult, a residentially-based undergraduate student, a transfer student, or looking to make a career change into Computer Science, we offer a variety of flexible plans of study to meet many needs.

Interdisciplinary

Students will have the opportunity to take graduate-level courses from disciplines outside of Computer Science, such as business, engineering management, and computer engineering, as part of the MSCS degree, preparing them to work in interdisciplinary settings that are common in industry today.

Faculty Mentorship

Pacific’s distinguished computer science professors serve as dedicated faculty advisors and engage with the international computing community to provide students with exceptional experiential learning opportunities.

Master of Science in Computer Science

 

Undergraduate Core Courses (12-16 units that may be satisfied through courses taken for a BSCS degree)

 (3-4 units) COMP 141. Programming Languages
 (3-4 units) COMP 147. Computing Theory
 (3-4 units) COMP 157. Design and Analysis of Algorithms
 (3-4 units) ECPE 170. Computer Systems and Networks or COMP 173. Operating Systems

 

Required Graduate Course (3 units)

ENGR 201. Techniques in Research

 

Graduate Computer Science Electives (12 units)

Students must complete 12 units of COMP courses at the 200 level.

 

Computational Electives (6 units)

Students must complete 6 additional units of COMP, ECPE, or MATH courses at the 100 or 200 level. COMP 141, COMP 147, COMP 157, COMP 173, ECPE 170, MATH 161, MATH 162, and MATH 166 may not count as Computational Electives.

 

Graduate Electives (9 units)

Students must complete 9 additional units of 200 level coursework.

 

 

  • Undergraduate degree in any field
  • Official Transcripts (3.0 minimum undergraduate GPA)
  • One (1) Letter of Recommendation
  • Personal Statement

Additional requirements for international applicants may be found here.

To complete this plan, students must already have an undergraduate degree and have taken courses equivalent to COMP 141 Programming Languages, COMP 147 Computing Theory, COMP 157 Design and Analysis of Algorithms, and ECPE 170 Computer Systems and Networks or COMP 173 Operating Systems.

 

First Year

FALL

  • ENGR 201 Techniques in Research
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course
  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course

SPRING

  • MSCS COMP Elective Course
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course
  • MSCS Computational Elective Course
  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course

SUMMER

  • MSCS Computational Elective Course
  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course

First Year

FALL

  • COMP 047 Discrete Math for Computer Science
  • COMP 051 Introduction to Computer Science
  • MATH 045 or 051 Calculus
  • ENGR 201 Techniques in Research

SPRING

  • COMP 053 Data Structures
  • COMP 147 Computing Theory
  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course
  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course

SUMMER

  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course
  • MSCS Computational Elective Course

 

Second Year

FALL

  • ECPE 170 Computer Systems and Networks
  • COMP 141 Programming Languages
  • COMP 157 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course

SPRING

  • MSCS COMP Elective Course
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course
  • MSCS Computational Elective Course

High School students with a GPA of 3.8 or higher may be admitted directly into the Accelerated BSCS/MSCS program to begin their first semester at Pacific. Continuing Pacific students may be admitted to the Accelerated BSCS/MSCS program between the SECOND and THIRD years with a Pacific GPA of 3.5 or higher. Once admitted to the Accelerated BSCS/MSCS program students must maintain a GPA of 3.3 or higher to remain in the program.

NO 100-level COMP courses may be taken as MSCS Computational Electives. 100-level MATH and ECPE courses may be taken as MSCS Computational Electives.

First Year

FALL

  • COMP 051 Introduction to Computer Science
  • CORE 001 Problem Solving and Oral Communication
  • ENGR 010 Dean's Seminar
  • MATH 045 or 051 Calculus
  • General Education Course

SPRING

  • COMP 047 Discrete Math for Computer Science
  • COMP 053 Data Structures
  • CORE 002 Writing and Critical Thinking
  • General Education Course

SUMMER

  • Free Elective or Minor Course (3-4 units)
  • Free Elective or Minor Course (3-4 units)
  • Free Elective or Minor Course (3-4 units)

Second Year

FALL

  • COMP 055 Application Development
  • Free Elective or Minor Course
  • General Education Course
  • Lab Science Course

SPRING

  • ENGR 030 Engineering /Computing Ethics in Society
  • MATH 037 Introduction to Statistics/Probability
  • General Education Course
  • Lab Science Course

SUMMER

  • ENGR 201 Techniques in Research

Third Year

FALL

  • COMP 157 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
  • Computer Science Elective Course (4 units)
  • ECPE 170 Computer Systems and Networks
  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course
  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course

SPRING

  • COMP 141 Programming Languages
  • COMP 147 Computing Theory
  • Computer Science Elective Course (4 units)
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course
  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course

SUMMER

  • MSCS COMP Elective Course

Fourth Year

FALL

  • COMP 173 Operating Systems
  • COMP 177 Computer Networking
  • Computer Science Elective Course (4 units)
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course

SPRING

  • COMP 178 Computer Network Security
  • COMP 195 CS Senior Project
  • Computer Science Elective Course (4 units)
  • ENGR 025 Professional Practice Seminar
  • MSCS Computational Elective Course
  • MSCS Computational Elective Course

To be admitted to the Accelerated BSCS/MSCS program transfer students must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher at their previous institution and transfer a minimum of 70 units of college level coursework that includes courses equivalent to the following:

  • COMP 047 Discrete Math for Computer Science
  • COMP 051 Introduction to Computer Science
  • COMP 053 Data Structures
  • MATH 037 Introduction to Statistics and Probability
  • MATH 051 Calculus I
  • Two lab science courses (that transfer to Pacific as Scientific Inquiry General Education courses)
  • An Artistic Process & Creation course (General Education)
  • A Civic & Global Responsibility course (General Education)
  • A Language & Narratives course (General Education)
  • A Social Inquiry course (General Education)
  • Two additional General Education courses

Once admitted to the Accelerated BSCS/MSCS program students must maintain a GPA of 3.3 or higher to remain in the program.

NO 100-level COMP courses may be taken as MSCS Computational Electives.  100-level MATH and ECPE courses may be taken as MSCS Computational Electives.

The BSCS and MSCS degrees are both awarded after the SPRING of the student's SECOND Year at University of the Pacific.

First Year

FALL

  • COMP 055 Application Development
  • COMP 147 Computing Theory
  • COMP 157 Design and Analysis of Algorithms
  • ENGR 201 Techniques in Research
  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course

SPRING

  • COMP 141 Programming Languages
  • Computer Science Elective Course (4 units)
  • ECPE 170 Computer Systems and Networks
  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course
  • MSCS Graduate Elective Course

SUMMER

  • COMP 127 Web Applications
  • MSCS Computational Elective Course
  • MSCS Computational Elective Course

Second Year

FALL

  • COMP 175 System Admin and Security
  • Computer Science Elective Course (3 units)
  • Computer Science Elective Course (3 units)
  • ENGR 030 Engineering/Computing Ethics in Society
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course

SPRING

  • COMP 173 Operating Systems
  • COMP 195 CS Senior Project
  • Computer Science Elective Course (3 units)
  • ENGR 025 Professional Practice Seminar
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course
  • MSCS COMP Elective Course

 

Student in an Owen Hall computer lab

Video Tour of the Program

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