Academic Programs Catalog

College of Engineering

Graduate Study

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers programs leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.  Advanced study is available in a variety of computer science research areas such as algorithms, computer security, databases, data mining, machine learning, natural language processing, networking, pattern recognition and image processing, and software engineering, as well as many interdisciplinary research areas such as bioinformatics, cognitive science, and digital evolution.

Students who are enrolled in master’s or doctoral degree programs in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering may elect an Interdepartmental Specialization in Cognitive Science. For additional information, refer to the statement on Interdepartmental Graduate Specializations in Cognitive Science in the College of Social Science section of this catalog. For additional information, contact the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.


Artificial Intelligence - Master of Science

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Engineering, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

For admission in the MS in Artificial Intelligence program, students must have a strong background in programming, mathematics and statistics. Students are expected to have a degree in a STEM discipline or a related field with experience in computer programming (CSE 231 and CSE 232) and algorithms (CSE 331), linear algebra (MTH 314), probability and statistics and multivariable calculus (MTH 234).

Requirements for Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence
Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours from the following:

1. The following required courses (12 credits):
CSE 807 Ethics of AI 3
CSE 840 Computational Foundations in Artificial Intelligence 3
CSE 841 Artificial Intelligence 3
MTH 800 Quantitative Foundations for Machine Learning 3
2. At least 3 of the following core courses:
CSE 802 Pattern Recognition and Analysis 3
CSE 803 Computer Vision 3
CSE 842 Natural Language Processing 3
CSE 847 Machine Learning 3
CSE 849 Deep Learning 3
CSE 851 Adversarial Machine Learning 3
MTH 801 Machine Learning Algorithms: Mathematical Analysis 3
3. At most 3 of the following elective courses (Student may choose to take additional core courses instead of elective courses):
CSE 404 Introduction Machine Learning 3
CSE 440 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence  3
CSE 848 Evolutionary Computing 3
CSE 850 Genetic Programming 3
CSE 881 Data Mining 3
CSE 830 Design and Theory of Algorithms 3
CSE 885 Artificial Neural Networks 3
STT 465 Bayesian Statistical Methods  3
STT 810 Mathematical Statistics for Data Scientists 3
STT 811 Applied Statistical Modeling for Data Scientists 3
STT 812 Statistical Learning and Data Analysis 3
STT 873 Statistical Learning and Data Mining  3
MTH 844 Projects in Industrial Mathematics 3
MTH 468 Predictive Analysis  3
MTH 483 Mathematical Machine Learning 3
CMSE 823 Numerical Linear Algebra/Numerical analysis 3
CMSE 831 Computational Optimization  3
ECE 855 Noncooperative game theory 3
4. At most 6 credits of capstone/thesis.
Students will register for independent study with a faculty member (CSE 890/899, CMSE 891/899, STT 890/899, MTH 890/899). To register for capstone/thesis, students must submit a proposal to the director of the program at least 30 days before the start of the semester and have it approved. 
5. If a student is interested in taking other courses (including special topics courses) in place of core or elective courses, they should get approval from the director at least 30 days before the start of the semester when the course is offered. 
6. Students cannot take more than 6 credits at 400-level. All 400-level courses must be approved by the director and are only intended for students who lack a background in the relevant area.

Computer Science - Master of Science

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Engineering, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Applicants for admission should possess a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field such as mathematics, physics, or electrical engineering.  All applicants are encouraged to submit their scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.  Additional information is available on the Department's Web site at http://cse.msu.edu.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Computer Science

The student must complete a total of 30 credits for the degree under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis) and meet the requirements specified below:

Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B: 

The student must complete a minimum of 18 credits in courses listed below with at least one course from each breadth area:

System Design and Analysis
CSE 812 Distributed Systems 3
CSE 820 Advanced Computer Architecture 3
CSE 822 Parallel Computing 3
CSE 824 Advanced Computer Networks and Communications 3
CSE 825 Computer and Network Security 3
CSE 834 Advanced Topics in Automated Vehicles 3
CSE 893 Selected Topics in System Design and Analysis 3
CSE 870 Advanced Software Engineering 3
Theory and Algorithms
CSE 814 Computer Aided Verification 3
CSE 830 Design and Theory of Algorithms 3
CSE 835 Algorithmic Graph Theory 3
CSE 836 Probabilistic Models and Algorithms in Computational Biology 3
CSE 860 Foundations of Computing 3
CSE 894 Selected Topics in Theory and Algorithms 3
Data Analysis and Applications
CSE 802 Pattern Recognition and Analysis 3
CSE 803 Computer Vision 3
CSE 840 Computational Foundations in Artificial Intelligence 3
CSE 841 Artificial Intelligence 3
CSE 842 Natural Language Processing 3
CSE 845 Multidisciplinary Research Methods for the Study of Evolution 3
CSE 847 Machine Learning 3
CSE 848 Evolutionary Computation 3
CSE 849 Deep Learning 3
CSE 850 Advanced Topics in Adversarial Machine Learning 3
CSE 851 Genetic Programming 3
CSE 881 Data Mining 3
CSE 895 Selected Topics in Data Analysis and Applications 3


Additional Requirements for Plan A:

The student must complete:

  1. A minimum of 21 credits in 800-900 level courses chosen in consultation with the student's advisor, excluding Computer Science and Engineering 801, 890, 898, and 899.
  2. At least 6, but not more than 8, credits of CSE 899 Master's Thesis Research.

Additional Requirements for Plan B:

  1. Complete a minimum of 24 credits in 800-900 level courses chosen in consultation with the student's advisor, excluding Computer Science 801, 890, 898, and 899.

Computer Science - Doctor of Philosophy

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Engineering, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

Applicants should be in the top 25 percent of their master's degree classes and should have a grade–point average of at least 3.50 on a scale of 4.0. 

Applicants are encouraged to submit their scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test.

Applicants who have a Bachelor of Science degree and who demonstrate exceptional potential for graduate study may be accepted for admission to the doctoral program.

Additional information is available on the Department's Web site at http://cse.msu.edu.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Computer Science

1. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits beyond the research requirements in CSE 999. Students must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00 in all courses counted towards the 30 credits. The student’s guidance committee reserves the right to require additional course work beyond the minimum. Students should contact the graduate director for approval of any courses outside the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. 
2. Students may receive credit for 24 credits of course work taken during a prior completed Master of Science degree or equivalent. In the case where the master’s degree was obtained from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Michigan State University, the Ph.D. students is only required to complete 24 to 36 credits of CSE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.
3. As part of the total credit requirements, students must complete a minimum of 18 credits in courses listed below with at least one course from each breadth area. If a student has completed a Master of Science degree and receives a waiver, then the corresponding breadth area requirement will also be waived.
System Design and Analysis
CSE 812 Distributed Systems 3
CSE 820 Advanced Computer Architecture 3
CSE 822 Parallel Computing 3
CSE 824 Advanced Computer Networks and Communications 3
CSE 825 Computer and Network Security 3
CSE 834 Advanced Topics in Automated Vehicles 3
CSE 870 Advanced Software Engineering 3
CSE 893 Selected Topics in System Design and Analysis 3
Theory and Algorithms
CSE 814 Computer Aided Verification 3
CSE 830 Design and Theory of Algorithms 3
CSE 835 Algorithmic Graph Theory 3
CSE 860 Foundations of Computing 3
CSE 894 Selected Topics in Theory and Algorithms 3
Data Analysis and Applications
CSE 802 Pattern Recognition and Analysis 3
CSE 803 Computer Vision 3
CSE 840 Computational Foundations in Artificial Intelligence 3
CSE 841 Artificial Intelligence 3
CSE 842 Natural Language Processing 3
CSE 845 Multidisciplinary Research Methods for the Study of Evolution 3
CSE 847 Machine Learning 3
CSE 848 Evolutionary Computing 3
CSE 849 Deep Learning 3
CSE 850 Advanced Topics in Adversarial Machine Learning 3
CSE 851 Genetic Programming 3
CSE 881 Data Mining 3
CSE 895 Selected Topics in Data Analysis and Applications 3
4. Complete a minimum of 24 credits in 800-900 level courses chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor, excluding Computer Science 801, 890, 898, and 899.
5. Pass a qualifying examination consisting of a written and an oral part, generally within two years of beginning the Ph.D. program.
6. Pass the comprehensive examination that includes a program statement presenting the student’s learning and professional background and goals, and provides a rationale for the students declared focus areas.
7. Complete 24 credits of CSE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research and successfully defend the dissertation. Present the results of the research in a public seminar during the final oral examination.