Master of Science in Computer Science

Computer Science is an exciting, challenging, and growing field that impacts everyday life in countless ways. Computer scientists are involved in creating technology and systems that are used in a wide range of industries, including medicine, communications, entertainment, manufacturing, business and science. The Department of Computer Science at Lyle offers students the ability to study a broad range of topics such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, software design and many more. We offer doctoral, master's and bachelor's degrees.

Students will gain real-world experience with the theory and practice of Computer Science as they explore algorithms, programming languages and operating systems. Students interested in research can seek out opportunities with faculty members, develop independent projects and pursue research-driven, relevant coursework. Career paths in the field range from web development to cybersecurity and information technology, with jobs available in data science, software engineering, application development and numerous other areas.

The M.S. in Computer Science degree plan allows students to concentrate in the following five areas: algorithms, architecture, data science, security or software.

A bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering or a closely related discipline. Applicants with undergraduate degrees in disciplines other than computer science may be admitted to the program and may be required to take articulation coursework and/or satisfy the competency requirement (see below).

A minimum GPA of 3.000 on a 4.000 scale in the student’s junior and senior years.

A reasonable level of mathematical maturity.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – The minimum TOEFL score required is 80.

International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) – The minimum IELTS required score is an overall band score of 6.5 on the Academic version. IELTS General Training results are not acceptable. There is no IELTS institution code for Southern Methodist University.

Duolingo English Test (Online examination) - The minimum required Duolingo score is 110. There is no institutional code for Duolingo, but applicants will need to select "Lyle School of Engineering" as the institution. Duolingo scores are reported within 48 hours.

All international students use the following dates: May 15 for fall admission, and September 1 for spring admission.