Master of Science in
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About

Eastern Washington University’s Master’s Program in Computer Science is designed for students who want to strengthen their technical expertise and advance their careers in a rapidly evolving field.

The program combines hands-on, application-focused coursework with a strong theoretical foundation. This balance prepares graduates for careers in industry, research opportunities, or continued academic study while developing the problem-solving and analytical skills employers seek.

EWU is committed to supporting graduate students throughout their academic journey. We offer
Graduate Service Appointments (GSAs) that provide financial support and valuable professional experience while you earn your degree.

Whether you are continuing directly from undergraduate study or returning to school to expand your skill set, EWU’s Master’s in Computer Science offers small class sizes, engaged faculty, and a supportive learning environment focused on student success.

Questions? Admission Requirements

Curriculum & Requirements Electives

Admissions Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter or 60 semester graded post-secondary credits

Applicants without a computer science degree or computer science minor must complete the following foundational courses with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. These courses may be completed at EWU as a post-baccalaureate student or at another institution, provided the coursework is transferable to EWU.

  • Algorithms (CSCD 320)
  • Relational Database Systems (CSCD 327)
  • Software Engineering (CSCD 350)

In addition, some students may be required to complete one or more of the following prerequisite courses, depending on academic background:

  • Fundamental Programming (CSCD 210, CSCD 211)
  • Data Structures (CSCD 300)
  • Discrete Mathematics (MATH 301)

Please note that applications submitted during the summer may require additional processing time compared to submissions during the academic year.

Apply Now

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official EWU catalog, which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Computer Science, Master of Science (MS)

The Master’s Program in Computer Science has been designed to provide opportunities for professional growth in this rapidly changing field. The program strives to provide a balance between practical applications-oriented content and a theoretical framework for continued learning.

Required Core–this coursework provides core knowledge in the areas of algorithms, software engineering, and research methods.
CSCD 501ADVANCED ALGORITHMS5
CSCD 524
& 524L		ADVANCED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
and ADVANCED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING LAB		4
CYBR 515RESEARCH METHODS AND COLLOQUIUM4
Electives–choose five courses–at least two must be at the 500-level20
Note: This coursework provides the student an opportunity to take courses specialized to their particular area(s) of interest. Any 400-level or non-CSCD course must be approved by the CSCD graduate coordinator or the student’s graduate committee chair. CSCD 695 cannot be used to satisfy any portion of these elective requirements. CSCD 539 may apply more than once, provided distinct topics are studied. CSCD 595 may only be applied as a single elective.
Thesis or Project
Note: The student is expected to expand their knowledge with a published thesis or to apply their knowledge to a significant project. Projects may be work-related. The thesis or project is defended in a final oral examination of the student’s work.
CSCD 600THESIS (1-16 variable credit)16
or CSCD 601 RESEARCH REPORT
Total Credits49
Approved Electives
CSCD 527
& 527L		MODERN DATABASE SYSTEMS
and MODERN DATABASE SYSTEMS LAB		4
CSCD 529
& 529L		DATA MINING
and DATA MINING LAB		4
CSCD 530
& 530L		BIG DATA ANALYTICS
and BIG DATA ANALYTICS LAB		4
CSCD 539TOPICS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE4
CSCD 545
& 545L		GPU COMPUTING
and GPU COMPUTING LAB		4
CSCD 567
& 567L		CLOUD FOUNDATION AND PROGRAMMING
and CLOUD FOUNDATION AND PROGRAMMING LAB		4
CSCD 570
& 570L		3D COMPUTER GRAPHICS PRINCIPLES
and 3D COMPUTER GRAPHICS PRINCIPLES LAB		4
CSCD 573
& 573L		DATA VISUALIZATION
and DATA VISUALIZATION LAB		4
CSCD 574
& 574L		GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT 1
and GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT 1 LAB		4
CSCD 575
& 575L		GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT 2
and GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT 2 LAB		4
CSCD 577
& 577L		VIRTUAL REALITY WITH COMPUTER GRAPHICS AND GAME ENGINES
and VIRTUAL REALITY WITH COMPUTER GRAPHICS AND GAME ENGINES LAB		4
CSCD 580
& 580L		INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS
and INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS LAB		4
CSCD 583
& 583L		MODELING AND SIMULATION
and MODELING AND SIMULATION LAB		4
CSCD 584
& 584L		MACHINE LEARNING
and MACHINE LEARNING LAB		4
CSCD 585
& 585L		DEEP LEARNING
and DEEP LEARNING LAB		4

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking with the academic department is paramount in keeping an individual plan current.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
CYBR 5154CSCD 5015CSCD 524
& 524L		4
Computer Science Elective14Computer Science Elective14Computer Science Elective14
 8 9 8
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
CSCD 600 or 6014CSCD 600 or 6014CSCD 600 or 6018
Computer Science Elective14Computer Science Elective14 
 8 8 8
Total Credits 49
1

Electives–choose five courses–at least two must be at the 500-level. This coursework provides the student an opportunity to take courses specialized to their particular area(s) of interest. Any 400-level or non-CSCD course must be approved by the CSCD graduate coordinator or the student’s graduate committee chair. CSCD 695 cannot be used to satisfy any portion of these elective requirements. CSCD 539 may apply more than once, provided distinct topics are studied. CSCD 595 may only be applied as a single elective.

Students who earn an MS in Computer Science from EWU should be able to:

  • analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions;
  • apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions;
  • communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.

Electives

NumberTitleCredits
CSCD 524 & 524LAdvanced Software Engineering3 & 1
CSCD 527 & 527LModern Database Systems3 & 1
CSCD 529 & 529LData Mining3 & 1
CSCD 530 & 530LBig Data Analytics3 & 1
CSCD 539Topics In Computer Science4
CSCD 545 & 545LGPU Computing3 & 1
CSCD 567 & 567LParallel and Cloud Computing3 & 1
CSCD 570 & 570L3D Computer Graphics Principles3 & 1
CSCD 573 & 573LData Visualization3 & 1
CSCD 574 & 574LGame Design and Development 13 & 1
CSCD 575 & 575LGame Design and Development 23 & 1
CSCD 577 & 577LVirtual Reality With Computer Graphics and Game Engines3 & 1
CSCD 580 & 580LIntelligent Systems3 & 1
CSCD 583 & 583LModeling and Simulation3 & 1
CSCD 584 & 584LMachine Learning3 & 1
CSCD 585 & 585LDeep Learning3 & 1
CSCD 595Professional Internship2-16
CSCD 596Experimental Course2-5
CSCD 598Seminar1-5
CSCD 599Directed Study1-6

Electives give you the flexibility to tailor your program to your interests and professional goals. You’ll choose five elective courses (20 credits), with at least two at the 500-level, allowing you to dive deeper into advanced topics or explore complementary areas of study.

Questions?

Sanmeet Kaur, PhD

Associate Professor
Photo of Sanmeet Kaur, PhD
Catalyst 329
Office Hours
Spring 2024: Apr 1 - Jun 7, 2024 MTWR 11-11:50 a.m.