Graduate Programs
Overview of Graduate Programs in Computer Science and Engineering
Faculty and Their Research Interests
Admission Requirements and Process
Application Deadlines
Decision Dates
Request for Information Form
Advice to Graduate Applicants Without a Degree in Computer Science
Other Related Links:
Current Student Profiles
Virtual Tour of MSU
Computer Science and Engineering Graduate Student Association (CSEGA)
The Graduate School at Michigan State University
MSU College of Engineering
Office of International Students and Scholars
1. Overview of Graduate Programs in Computer Science and Engineering
Today is an exciting time for Computer Science and Engineering! Advances in computing have transformed
our world in the last several decades in ways that were once considered the substance of only dreams. Computing transcends boundaries---
enabling multiple disciplines, connecting diverse peoples and cultures, and globalizing economies and work forces. At Michigan State University,
Computer Science and Engineering has become a true microcosm of this important and exciting field.
Completion of a graduate degree in Computer Science and Engineering provides you with an opportunity to pursue career opportunities that
would not otherwise be possible. Examples include cutting-edge research and development in business, industry, or a national laboratory, or a
position in academia to engage in teaching and research. A graduate degree provides you with a deeper exposure to the field of computer science
and engineering, and enhances your ability to pursue further independent study of new emerging areas of our discipline.
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers graduate study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Master of Science
(M.S.) degrees. Advanced study and research are available in four general areas:
| Software Systems:
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Intelligent Systems:
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Networking and Ubiquitous Computing:
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Biological Computing:
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Interdisciplinary work with other departments is encouraged, and faculty and students
involved in many of the research areas listed above are working with colleagues in other disciplines.
Our M.S. Program prepares students for professional opportunities as well as for moving on to a Ph.D. program. In completing
a M.S. degree, a student has the options of doing a thesis. The thesis option places emphasis on new research. All M.S.
students must satisfy breadth requirements as well as taking enough high-level courses.
The Ph.D. degree, whose bearer is generally regarded as having an expert understanding of a particular area, is appropriate
for people who are committed to pursue a deep intellectual commitment in education and research. A Ph.D. program is qualitatively
different from a M.S. program. It is an open-ended commitment, normally taking three or more academic years of study and research.
The requirements for the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees are described in the
Graduate Handbook. However, graduate students are engaged in educational and research activities outside of the classroom. Most M.S.
students are involved in thesis research, and all Ph.D. students are engaged in dissertation research. Both of these activities provide
students with the opportunity to work with faculty and other graduate students in research groups and laboratories within the CSE department
and other departments. The Department hosts many guest speakers and visitors from academia and industry throughout each academic year. These
visitors present lectures open to all students. In addition, all graduate students who are in their first year of study in the Department attend
a research seminar series during the fall semester, where they learn about many of the ongoing research activities in the Department.
Graduate students can also participate in academic governance at the Department, College and University levels.
At the Department level, graduate students elect voting members to the Department Advisory, Graduate Study and Research and
Computing Environment Committees as well as a voting representative to the general Department Faculty Meeting. At the College level,
graduate students have voting representation on the Engineering College Advisory Council and on the Engineering Research and Graduate
Studies Committee. At the University level, graduate students elect voting members on the University Graduate Council, Academic
Council and other committees as specified by the University Bylaws for Academic governance.
For a complete description of the requirements for the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees, Department policies, and information concerning financial support,
please see the Graduate Handbook.
2.Faculty and Their Research Interests
Please see the CSE Faculty Page
3. Admission Requirements and Process
The application for admission, application fee, and all the required supporting
documents should be received at least two months prior to your desired semester of enrollment (see the deadlines
below). All outstanding applicants are automatically considered for graduate assistantships teaching and research), and fellowships.
A complete application consists of the following:
- MSU Graduate Application: Please complete the on-line Application for Graduate Studies. You will be required to pay an application fee. Complete the MSU Graduate Application before you fill out the Engineering Supplemental Application. Note that this application requires 2 personal statements. Current MSU graduate students do not need to fill out this MSU Graduate Application and should start with the next step, the Engineering Supplemental Application.
- Engineering Supplemental Application: Please complete the on-line Engineering Supplemental Application, which is found on the College of Engineering Graduate Information Management System (GIMS). GIMS allows you to inquire
about the status of your application at any time.
Note: You must submit a Statement of Purpose for graduate study and a Resume via this on-line application. - Three letters of recommendation: You will need to provide contact information in both applications for three references. Ideally, at least two letters should be from college faculty who know you well. You will enter information about each of your references on both the MSU Graduate School Web site and the College of Engineering Web site. The MSU College of Engineering will send an e-mail to each of your references requesting a letter of recommendation. The College of Engineering will provide them with information on how to submit the letter electronically. Although electronic submission is the standard method for providing reference letter and is strongly preferred, a hard copy may be submitted to the address below if a reference is unable to submit the letter online.
Note: We no longer process paper applications. In filling out the two on-line
applications listed above, it is imperative you provide a correct and working email address. Almost all of
our correspondence is conducted via email.
Additional application materials:
- Two official transcripts of all college work (undergraduate and graduate). Applicants should have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
- TOEFL scores (for international applicants whose native language is not English). Applicants must take the internet-based test, not the paper-based test, unless there is extreme difficulty in doing so. If you request a waiver of the internet-based test, send email requesting this waiver to graddir@cse.msu.edu .
- GRE General Test.
- Samples of published papers or course project reports (optional). Ph.D. applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a non-returnable sample of their technical papers (in English).
Admission decisions are based on the overall academic record, grades, test scores (GRE,
TOEFL), letters of recommendation, work experience, and other information provided in the application material. The
scores mentioned above are generally considered minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission if met.
All additional application materials mentioned above (i.e. transcripts, test scores, writing samples) should be sent to:
Graduate Admission Processing
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
3115 Engineering Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-0590
U.S.A.
4. Application Deadlines
| SPRING | September 15th - Application acceptance closing date |
| FALL | January 15th - Application acceptance closing date |
Incomplete applications will NOT be reviewed.
Note: We will accept complete applications after these deadlines, but there is no guarantee a late applications will be processed.
5. Decision Dates
The Graduate Information Management System (GIMS) allows you to inquire about the status of your application at any time. For fall semester admission, admission offers will be sent out by the end of March. For spring semester admission, offers will be sent out by the end of October
6. Request for Information Form
If you are not ready to apply to our program but are thinking about applying, please fill in the following request for information form. The information you enter will be used to give you better information about our program and to help direct you to the appropriate faculty and/or research labs.
7. Advice to Graduate program Applicants Without a Degree in Computer Science
The breadth of academic programs at Michigan State University involving computing and information is rapidly expanding
to include a variety of interdisciplinary areas and emerging fields. As a result, the Department encourages students to apply to the graduate
program even if they do not have a B.S. or M.S. degree in computer science.
Naturally, to be successful in a Computer Science graduate degree program, an appropriate background level must be achieved. The following
guidelines indicate what background is considered adequate. To be more specific, undergraduate courses corresponding to the topics listed are
given below along with the course descriptions.
- Courses in mathematics including calculus up through multivariable calculus, linear (matrix) algebra, and probability and statistics.
- A course in discrete mathematics and discrete structures (CSE 260)
- A course in computer organization and architecture (CSE 320)
- Courses in data structures and algorithms, object-oriented programming and software design (CSE 331 and CSE 335).
Prior to applying to MSU, you should evaluate the above list of recommendations with your own background. If you
are missing background in one or more areas, consider taking the relevant coursework (at MSU or elsewhere) prior to, or concurrent with,
submitting an application. In your application, discuss how your existing background and any current coursework meets the above recommendations.
Exceptional students will be considered for admission with support even during the time that they are enrolled in courses intended to help them
achieve the necessary background.
Course: CSE 260 Discrete Structures in Computer Science
Prerequisite:(MTH 133 or MTH 126 or MTH 153H or LBS 119)
Description:Propositional and first order logic. Equivalence and methods of proof. Basics of counting. Set operations, relations,
functions. Grammars and finite state automata. Discrete probability. Applications to computer science and engineering.
Course: CSE 320 Computer Organization and Architecture
Prerequisite:(CSE 232 and CSE 260)
Description:Boolean algebra and digital logic. Combinational and sequential circuits. Representations of data and instructions.
Architecture and major components of computer systems. Assembly language programming and interfacing to high level languages. Assembler and linker processing.
Course: CSE 331 Algorithms and Data Structures
Prerequisite:(CSE 232 and CSE 260)
Description:Linear data structures, trees, graphs and algorithms which operate on them. Fundamental algorithms for searching, sorting,
string matching, graph problems. Design and analysis of algorithms.
Course: CSE 335 Object-oriented Software Design
Prerequisite:(CSE 232 and CSE 260)
Description:Development of large software products, libraries, and product families. Object-oriented programming using inheritance
and polymorphism. Design methods. Specification and the use of contracts to design reliable software. Configuration management and life-cycle issues.
This page was modified November 9, 2007