CS Department Email: cidse.advising@asu.edu
Master of Computer Science Programs
Master of Science Programs
Ph.D. Programs
Computer Science
Students can study topics such as:
- artificial intelligence
- bioinformatics
- cloud and distributed computing
- computer-aided geometric design
- computer design and architecture
- computer graphics
- computer networks
- cyber-physical and embedded systems
- cyber security
- database management and information retrieval
- database systems
- data mining and machine learning
- distributed computing and operating systems
- embedded systems
- health operations and informatics
- imaging, graphics and visualization
- information assurance and security
- intelligent information integration
- multimedia
- network algorithms
- personalized learning and educational games
- simulation modeling and systems
- social computing
- software engineering
- statistical modeling
- theory and algorithms
Application deadlines – in person
Fall Applications: December 1
Spring Applications: August 15
BIG DATA
The big data systems concentration under the Master of Computer Science (MCS) degree is designed for graduate students who want to pursue a thorough education in the area of big data systems.
The program is designed to provide students the knowledge, skills and expertise in designing scalable systems (parallel, distributed and real time) for acquiring, storing, processing and accessing large-scale heterogeneous multisource data and in using analytical tools to mine information from the data.
Graduates will be able to choose and deploy the appropriate data management processing and analysis systems with a suitable structured or unstructured data model that a particular task and domain application needs. There is a growing need for data scientists and engineers who can architect, implement and manage large data systems, and graduates of this program will have a competitive advantage in securing employment.
Application Deadlines
MCS
Fall: December 1
Spring: August 1
Cybersecurity
The MCS program with a concentration in cybersecurity is designed for graduate students who want to pursue a thorough education in the area of cybersecurity and information assurance. The goal of this concentration is to provide students the knowledge and skills in science and engineering for cybersecurity, including computer and network security, software security, data and information security, applied cryptography and computer forensics.
The concentration in cybersecurity is an advanced degree designed for students with an undergraduate education in computing and related disciplines and students employed in industry who can best profit from further breadth and background in computer science and information assurance. Graduates have a competitive advantage to secure employment.
According to the National Security Agency, information assurance is defined as the set of measures intended to protect and defend information and information systems by ensuring their availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality and nonrepudiation. This includes providing restoration of information systems by incorporating protection, detection and reaction capabilities.
Information assurance courseware at ASU has been certified by the Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation Program to satisfy the standards for Information Systems Security Professionals (NSTISSI 4011) and Senior Systems Managers (CNSSI 4012). For more information on the scholarship programs, students should see https://globalsecurity.asu.edu/center-cybersecurity-and-digital-forensics/scholarship.
Application deadlines – in person
Fall Applications: December 1
Spring Applications: August 1
Computer Science
Computer science graduate students can conduct cutting-edge research in a wide variety of research areas including:
- artificial intelligence
- bioinformatics
- cloud and distributed computing
- computer-aided geometric design
- computer design and architecture
- computer graphics
- computer networks
- cyber-physical and embedded systems
- cyber security
- database management and information retrieval
- database systems
- data mining and machine learning
- distributed computing and operating systems
- embedded systems
- health operations and informatics
- imaging, graphics and visualization
- information assurance and security
- intelligent information integration
- multimedia
- network algorithms
- personalized learning and educational games
- simulation modeling and systems
- social computing
- software engineering
- statistical modeling
- theory and algorithms
Application Deadlines
Fall Applications: December 1
Spring Applications: August 1
Big Data
The goal of this concentration is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and advanced research expertise in designing scalable (parallel, distributed and real-time) systems for acquiring, storing, processing and accessing large-scale heterogeneous multisource data and in using analytical tools to mine information from the data.
Graduates will be able to choose and deploy the appropriate data management processing and analysis systems with a suitable structured or unstructured data model that a particular task and domain application needs. This concentration program will provide a competitive advantage to secure employment as there is a growing need for data scientists and engineers who can architect, implement and manage large data systems.
Application Deadlines
Fall: December 1
Spring: August 1
Cybersecurity
The Master of Science (MS) program with a concentration in cybersecurity is designed for graduate students who want to pursue a thorough education in the area of cybersecurity and information assurance. The goal of this concentration is to provide students the knowledge and skills in science and engineering for cybersecurity, including computer and network security, software security, data and information security, applied cryptography and computer forensics.
The concentration in cybersecurity is an advanced degree designed for students with an undergraduate education in computing and related disciplines and students employed in industry who can best profit from further breadth and background in computer science and information assurance. Graduates have a competitive advantage to secure employment.
According to the National Security Agency, information assurance is defined as the set of measures intended to protect and defend information and information systems by ensuring their availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality and nonrepudiation. This includes providing restoration of information systems by incorporating protection, detection and reaction capabilities.
Information assurance courseware at ASU has been certified by the Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation Program to satisfy the standards for Information Systems Security Professionals (NSTISSI 4011) and Senior Systems Managers (CNSSI 4012). For more information on the scholarship programs, students should see https://globalsecurity.asu.edu/center-cybersecurity-and-digital-forensics/scholarship.
Arts, Media, and Engineering
The Master of Science (MS) program in computer science with a concentration in art, media and engineering emphasizes research on the integration of the human physical experience with computation and digital media.
Art, media and engineering researchers produce experiential media systems and models that assist the disadvantaged, empower creativity, enhance scientific discovery, evolve human ability, facilitate learning, and improve quality of life. Within these application areas, researchers explore experiential construction, interaction and feedback, knowledge creation, sensing, perception and modeling.
The purpose of the art, media and engineering concentration under the master’s degree in computer science is to train hybrid engineering-arts graduates who get their inspiration from the arts and their methodology from computer science and engineering. Students specialize in transdisciplinary media development. More information about the art, media and engineering concentration can be found at https://artsmediaengineering.asu.edu.
Computer Science
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in computer science prepares students to undertake fundamental and applied research in computer science. Graduates are prepared for careers in academia, government and industry.
Computer science graduate students can conduct cutting-edge research in a wide variety of research areas including:
- artificial intelligence
- bioinformatics
- cloud and distributed computing
- computer-aided geometric design
- computer design and architecture
- computer graphics
- computer networks
- cyber-physical and embedded systems
- cyber security
- database management and information retrieval
- database systems
- data mining and machine learning
- distributed computing and operating systems
- embedded systems
- health operations and informatics
- imaging, graphics and visualization
- information assurance and security
- intelligent information integration
- multimedia
- network algorithms
- personalized learning and educational games
- simulation modeling and systems
- social computing
- software engineering
- statistical modeling
- theory and algorithms
Application Deadlines
Fall Applications: December 1
Spring Applications: August 1
Cybersecurity
The PhD program in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity is designed for graduate students who want to pursue a thorough education in the area of cybersecurity and information assurance. The goal of this concentration is to provide students the knowledge and skills in science and engineering for cybersecurity, including:
- applied cryptography
- computer and network security
- computer forensics
- data and information security
- software security
Graduates will have a competitive advantage to secure employment. According to the National Security Agency, information assurance is defined as the set of measures intended to protect and defend information and information systems by ensuring their availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality and nonrepudiation. This includes providing restoration of information systems by incorporating protection, detection and reaction capabilities.
ASU has been certified as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance – Research by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Information assurance courseware at ASU has been certified by the Information Assurance Courseware Evaluation Program to satisfy the standards for Information Systems Security Professionals (NSTISSI 4011) and Senior Systems Managers (CNSSI 4012). For more information on the scholarship programs, students should see https://globalsecurity.asu.edu/center-cybersecurity-and-digital-forensics/scholarship.
Arts, Media, and Engineering
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs in computer science with a concentration in art, media, and engineering emphasizes research on the integration of the human physical experience with computation and digital media.
Art, media and engineering researchers produce experiential media systems and models that assist the disadvantaged, empower creativity, enhance scientific discovery, evolve human ability, facilitate learning, and improve quality of life. Within these application areas, researchers explore experiential construction, interaction and feedback, knowledge creation, sensing, perception and modeling.
The purpose of the art, media and engineering concentration under the master’s degree in computer science is to train hybrid engineering-arts graduates who get their inspiration from the arts and their methodology from computer science and engineering. Students specialize in transdisciplinary media development. More information about the art, media and engineering concentration can be found at https://artsmediaengineering.asu.edu.
PhD
Fall: December 31
Spring: August 1
Application Deadline for the MS Computer Science and Master of Computer Science Programs
(please check the link provided above to check if the deadlines have changed since the time we have published this information).
| Program | Fall Deadline | Spring Deadline |
| Computer Science | December 1 (MS or MCS)
or December 31 (Ph.D.) |
August 1 (MS, MCS, and Ph.D.) |
Admission requirements for International Applicants applying to the Master of Computer Science and MS Computer Science programs
- Academic credentials
- Official GRE General test scores taken within the last five years.
- Official TOEFL score, taken within the last two years.
- Three letters of recommendation^
- Statement of purpose
GPA Requirement
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (3.25 recommended) in the last 60 credit hours (last two years) of a four-year undergraduate degree.
GRE Average:
| Computer Science MS | 146 verbal, 159 quantitative, and 4.0 analytical writing |
| Computer Science MCS | 146 verbal, 159 quantitative, and 4.0 analytical writing |