Computer Science & Engineering

Graduate Programs

Students may earn a Master of Science degree in Computer Science or a Master of Science degree in Computer Science with Specialization in Information Technology through cooperation with the Information Technology faculty.

Student Outcomes

At the time of graduation, for a Master’s in Computer Science, our students should have:

[Adv. CS] advanced knowledge of computer science in the areas of theoretical computer science, programming languages, and systems;
[Written Comm.] the ability to communicate computing concepts through written reports;
[Oral Comm.] the ability to communicate computing concepts through oral presentations; and
[Research] the ability to conduct research on a theoretical or applied problem in computer science.

MS in Computer Science

General Description

The Masters of Science program in Computer Science is based on course work as well as research (either thesis or independent study option). The student must meet the general requirements of the Graduate Program.

There is no foreign language requirement for the Master of Science degree in Computer Science or the Master of Science degree in Computer Science with Specialization in Information Technology.

In addition, the student must fulfill the following requirements, depending on the research option:

Program Requirements

MS in Computer Science with Information Technology Specialization

Program Requirements

Students earning a Master of Science degree in Computer Science can choose the Specialization in Information Technology.

Please visit the NMT Course Catalog (PDF) for the latest program requirement information.

PhD in Computer Science

Students of exceptional ability as demonstrated in previous coursework are encouraged to pursue a doctor of philosophy degree; individuals with substantial experience in industrial research and development may also apply to the doctoral program. The current research programs of the department include artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data and cloud computing, computer security, privacy, computer networking, sensor networks, parallel computation, distributed computing, mobile computing, software engineering, databases, knowledge-based systems, visualization, computational theory, and computer science education.

Program Description

The department also encourages interdisciplinary work with other departments at Tech and offers specialization in other areas through the New Mexico Cooperative Ph.D. Program in Computer Science (which includes Tech, the University of New Mexico, and New Mexico State University) and in cooperation with researchers at Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories.

As computer science is a diverse and rapidly changing discipline, the program of study of a Ph.D. student will depend on the area of specialization and on prior experience and education. All Ph.D. students will be required to demonstrate master’s-level knowledge of the core areas of computer science, as well as a thorough understanding of the intended area of specialization. The core areas include programming languages, algorithms, systems, and computational theory. In addition, all Ph.D. students are required to take 3 credit hours of CSE 585 (Graduate Seminar). The specific course requirements are determined with the consultation and approval of the student’s advisory committee and the chair of the department.

To earn a Ph.D. degree, students must complete at least 60 post-baccalaureate credit hours. This includes at least 24 credit hours of dissertation research and at least 9 credit hours of coursework including CSE 585.

Before the degree is approved and granted, at least one paper on the subject matter from the dissertation must be accepted for publication to a reputable journal or conference proceedings acceptable to the doctoral committee of the student.

Coursework Before Candidacy Exam

Candidacy Exam

In order to advance to Ph.D. candidacy, the student must pass a candidacy examination (Ph.D. proposal defense) in his/her specific area of specialization. The student’s advisory committee will conduct the proposal defense.

Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation demonstrates the candidate’s capacity for independent research. The student may register for dissertation hours only after successfully completing the candidacy exam. A minimum of 24 credit hours must be devoted to the dissertation. The student is encouraged to explore the various current research projects in his or her field of interest before choosing dissertation subject.

The dissertation must be defended before the Tech faculty under the supervision of the student’s advisory committee. Manuscript requirements are in the catalog. An external examiner will be included on the defense committee. The candidate must be registered during the semester in which the completed dissertation is submitted to the Graduate Office.

Doctoral candidates are required to present at least one departmental or general seminar on the dissertation during their tenure as a graduate student.

Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity

The Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate offers graduate students and post‐ baccalaureate professionals an opportunity to build and strengthen their capabilities in cybersecurity for academic and professional work. The 12 credit hours of coursework required for the certificate include the foundational overview of cybersecurity and in addition allow the student to focus on cybersecurity courses that are of particular interest.

The Following Courses are Required