Program Statistics
Visit Master's Program Statistics and PhD Program Statistics for statistics such as program admissions, enrollment, student demographics and more.
Computer Science
Degree Types: MS, PhD
The Department of Computer Science offers programs leading to the MS and PhD degrees in Computer Science (CS).
We also offer these degree programs in partnership with other Northwestern schools and departments:
- MS and PhD programs in Computer Engineering (CE), in collaboration with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE) in the McCormick School of Engineering (MCC)
- PhD program in Computer Science and Learning Sciences (CS + LS) in collaboration with the Learning Sciences Department (LS) in the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP)
- PhD program in Technology and Social Behavior within the TSB program, a collaboration including the Computer Science Department in the McCormick School of Engineering(MCC) and the Media, Technology & Society (MTS) Program within the School of Communication (SoC).
The department also works in partnership with these affiliated Master's degree programs within the McCormick School of Engineering (MCC)
- Master of Science Program in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI)
- Master of Science Program in Information Technology (MSIT)
- Master of Science Program in Robotics (MSR)
- Masters of Business Administration, Artificial Intelligence (MBAi)
Additional resources:
Program Contact
Contact Madeleine Agaton
Program Coordinator
Degree Requirements
The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.
Master's
Total Units Required: 12
Prerequisites: Prior to their first quarter of study, MS students in Computer Science must take a preliminary exam covering topics in our undergraduate CS core sequence (COMP_SCI 111-0, COMP_SCI 211-0, COMP_SCI 212-0, COMP_SCI 213-0, COMP_SCI 214-0). The preliminary exam is offered only once per year in the week before New Graduate Student Fall Registration begins. This exam is not available to BS/MS students, or to transfers from another degree program.
Each student pursuing an MS degree in the Computer Science Department must declare their intention on the Graduate Student Tracking System (GSTS) to follow one of these three plans:
a) Thesis MS Degree, or
b) Project MS Degree, or
c) Course MS Degree.
The three options are summarized below. The student’s declaration is subject to approval by their adviser. We recommend that this declaration be made during the second (winter) quarter, but we require that it be made no later than the middle of their third academic quarter, e.g., May 1st for those beginning in fall.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Course Requirements | |
| Twelve (12) units of graduate- level credits are required for the CS MS degree. | |
| At least six (6) units of the 12 units must be COMP_SCI classes (excludes both COMP_SCI 499-0 and COMP_SCI 590-0 - these are not classes). | |
| At most six (6) of the 12 units can be courses other than COMP_SCI classes. Such courses must be approved in advance. | |
| At least three (3) of the 12 units must be courses at 400-level or above (includes COMP_SCI 499-0, but excludes COMP_SCI 590-0). Approved non-COMP_SCI 400-level courses can satisfy this requirement. | |
Plan A: Thesis MS Degree
Total Units Required: 12
In this plan, a student declares their intent to earn the MS degree by completing a formal thesis that reports substantial original research results. A maximum of three units of COMP_SCI 590-0 research credit can be counted toward the 12-unit requirement for the Thesis MS degree. Successful completion of this degree includes all coursework, formation of, and reporting by, an MS Examination Committee, and written approval of the student's completed thesis by that committee.
Plan B: Project MS Degree
Total Units Required: 12
In this plan, a student declares their intent to earn the MS degree by completing a project and writing a project report that contains results based on existing theory and techniques, or results of a significant experimental verification. A maximum of two units of COMP_SCI 590-0 research credit can be counted toward the 12-unit requirement for the MS Project degree. Successful completion of this degree includes all coursework, formation of, and reporting by, an MS Examination Committee, and written approval of the student's completed project report by that committee.
Plan C: Courses-only MS Degree
Total Units Required: 12
In this plan, the student must satisfactorily complete 12-courses approved by the student’s adviser. The choice of courses must represent a coherent program of study, and must prepare the student for advanced work in a specific field selected in coordination with the adviser.
Degree Requirements
The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.
PhD
Total Units Required: 10
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Course Requirements | |
| 10 graded units of graduate coursework | |
COMP_SCI 401-0 (Introduction to Graduate Studies) is required and should be taken in the fall quarter of the first year | |
Coursework includes COMP_SCI 499-0, but not COMP_SCI 590-0 (Research) | |
Track-specific course requirements are given in the CS PhD Manual | |
| The normal full-time course load is three units and the maximum is four units per academic quarter. All students receiving financial aid (fellowships, assistantships, grants, etc.) must register as full-time students. | |
Other PhD Degree Requirements
- Advisor: The CS PhD program uses an apprenticeship model. A PhD student is required to find an advisor by the end of their third quarter (typically spring quarter,) ideally earlier. The advisor must have a primary or partial academic appointment in the Computer Science Department, though courtesy faculty may be co-advisors.
- Research:The CS PhD program focuses on training researchers. Learning how to do research is accomplished mostly by doing research. A PhD student is expected to become involved in research from the first quarter. Research continues throughout the program, becoming increasingly self-guided as it does so, and culminates in the student's thesis work.
- Examinations: Qualifying Exam, Thesis Proposal (Prospectus), Oral Thesis Defense, and Written Dissertation.
- Teaching: at least one experience as an instructor, or teaching assistant
- Details of the above and other aspects of the CS PhD program are given in the CS PhD Manual, which can be found on the departmental web site or via phd.cs.northwestern.edu