There are two options in the Master program (thesis option and non-thesis option). The non-thesis option requires coursework only, while the thesis option requires a thesis  with your research advisor with less course work.

Both options are equally considered for admission without preference or priority. For the thesis option, procedure of how to secure an advisor and seek his or her confirmation is the same as that of PhD (see PhD requirements below). Master students may change the degree option at any time during the study.

The most important thing for PhD admission is to secure your tentative advisor, even before you formally apply (individual contact as stated below). View the department's faculty directory to review each faculty member's research areas and identify your potential PhD advisor. Contact the faculty member by email with your portfolio (CV, transcript, publication, etc.). If he or she is willing to serve as your PhD advisor, seek confirmation.

Once you have a confirmation, ask for a Recommendation Letter from your potential advisor and specify your potential advisor in your Statement of Purpose to be part of your application package. Please note that the confirmation to serve as your advisor does not mean you’ll be automatically offered a financial assistantship. You need to ask the advisor about the availability of assistantship (see the link to “Graduate Degree Funding”).

You may  apply formally for PhD without this procedure of securing the advisor. We will circulate your application materials to faculty members to see if someone is interested in serving as your advisor. If you are applying for the PhD program without a MS degree (directly from BS) and without securing an advisor, we may still admit you as an MS to be able to convert to PhD within 2-3 semesters (all your credits are then counted toward PhD). During this period, you interact with faculty and demonstrate your aptitude for PhD.

There are three major mechanisms of assistantship for graduate students in Computer Science: Graduate Research Assistants (GRA), Graduate Teaching Assistants (GRA) and Fellowship. There are also Grader positions based on hourly rate wages. Students can be appointed as GRA or GTA by any rate up to 50% FTE (Full-Time Equivalent), which is the maximum part-time employment rate for students (100% represents the full-time job). Monthly wage for 50% FTE is approximately $2,000, which is proportional to the % FTE (e.g. $400 for 10% FTE). The student’s out-of-state tuition is waived if the student is offered at least a 25% FTE or higher.

This assistantship is to support students by contributing to a faculty members’ research. If a GRA is offered, the out-of-state tuition is waived (if higher than 25% FTE) and the monthly wage is provided according to % FTE. Students may contact individual faculty members with materials (CVs, publication, etc.) preferably before application to demonstrate their qualification and competency in the interested research areas. The faculty member may offer a GRA position with admission if the student is qualified and funding is available. Or it may be offered anytime with continued interactions with faculty members during study in the Computer Science program.

GTAs are normally required to teach undergraduate-level laboratory courses. If a GTA is offered, the out-of-state tuition is waived (if higher than 25% FTE) and the monthly wage is provided according to % FTE. The department appoints GTAs every semester. Students apply for the GTA positions several months earlier than the start of class to teach, pass the communication test (non-native speakers only) and are selected by the department. Therefore, new incoming students are typically not eligible for the GTA position during the first semester.

This mechanism provides students with biweekly wages based on hourly rates (no tuition waived). Graders are normally required to grade assignments from undergraduate-level courses. Students may contact individual faculty members who teach the course to be appointed as Grader several months earlier before the start of class. Typically new incoming international students are not eligible for the Grader position (US citizens or permanent residents are eligible) during the first semester.