Chairperson: Dennis Brylow, Ph.D.
Program Director: Niharika Jain, Ph.D.
Computer and Information Science website

Degree Offered

Master of Science

Program Description

The master of science in computer and information science is a professional degree designed to provide a pathway into the computer and information science profession or enhance the knowledge and skills of current professionals. This degree prepares students for new careers or strengthened skills in cybersecurity, data analytics, business and systems analysis, software engineering, project management, enterprise architecture, business process modeling and management, database design and administration, technology management and service management.

The program covers topics from computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information systems, information technology, cybersecurity and data science. By design, the computer and information science program allows the student to pursue studies in any combination of these disciplines. With full-time and part-time options, students may choose either on-campus or fully online delivery. The on-campus program includes flexibility for students with evening and blended options and features the identical curriculum and faculty as our online delivery format.

The program offers a career change opportunity for students with any undergraduate background and no formal background in computer science. Two optional specializations prepare students for successful careers in areas with high demand, namely cybersecurity and artificial intelligence and analytics. An integrated practicum specialization is also offered, with permission, to students who wish to work with a participating employer on professional development.

Learning Outcomes

The program's learning outcomes reflect professional leadership competencies. Upon earning the master's degree in computer and information science, students will be able to:

1. Analyze and interpret data to support decision-making and create meaningful insights.
2. Design and evaluate computing systems and networks considering performance, security, and organizational requirements.
3. Develop, test, and maintain software solutions following software engineering best practices and principles.
4. Apply ethical, social, and legal considerations in technology use.

Students are admitted to the program under the non-thesis option (Plan B). Students may apply for the thesis option (Plan A) on approval of a thesis outline by their adviser and the computer and information science (CISC) program's graduate committee.

The course of study is very flexible. Students complete a breadth requirement and additional courses suited to their backgrounds and career goals. The program director and faculty advisers work very closely with students to ensure that they achieve their educational goals through appropriate course selection.

Computer and information science students gain both breadth and an in-depth knowledge of their field.

Breadth Requirement

Computer and information science students experience the breadth of the field by completing one 3-credit course in each of the following four areas (12 total credits):

An individual plan is developed by the student and approved by the computer and information science program director. No course may be counted toward satisfying both breadth requirement and a specialization. Electives may include courses on this list (beyond satisfying the breadth requirement). Six elective credits may be selected from other Marquette graduate courses outside the department, with the approval of the CISC program director.

thesis OPTION (plan A)

Students must supply an approved thesis outline to enter Plan A, the thesis option.

In Plan A, students must complete a total of 33 credit hours; however, students enrolled in the computing career change opportunity specialization take one additional 7-credit course for a total of 40 credit hours.

Course work includes 12 credit hours of breadth requirement courses, plus 15 credits of additional course work (15 credits of elective courses; or 15 credits of specialization courses). At least 12 credit hours of this course work must be taken at the 6000 level. Students must also complete a master's thesis (COSC 6999 Master's Thesis) for 6 credit hours and pass the oral examination concentrated on the thesis. 

Non-Thesis Option (Plan B)

Students are automatically admitted into Plan B.

In Plan B, students must complete a total of 33 credit hours; however, students enrolled in the computing career change opportunity specialization take one additional 7-credit course for a total of 40 credit hours.

Course work includes 12 credit hours of breadth requirement courses, plus 21 credit hours of additional course work (21 credits of elective courses; or 15 credits of specialization courses and 6 credits of elective courses), for a total of 33 credit hours. At least 18 credit hours must be taken at the 6000 level.

Specializations

The master of science program in computer and information science offers four specializations: Information Assurance and Cyber Defense, AI and Analytics, the Computing Career Change Opportunity, and the Integrated Practicum (by permission only).

Information Assurance and Cyber Defense (IACD)

Students choosing the Information Assurance and Cyber Defense (IACD) specialization must complete the following courses for a total of 15 credit hours. No course may be counted toward satisfying both breadth requirement and a specialization. This specialization requires practical experience. In this specialization, the professional project provides 0 credit hours for the leadership of a project in cybersecurity. Permission to undertake the specific project must come from the CISC program director.

AI and  Analytics  (AIA)

Computing Career Change Opportunity

This specialization is a workforce development initiative designed to move students from an underemployed status into a STEM career in computer and information science. It supports a career change for students who do not have the prerequisite knowledge and skills in programming, data structures and algorithms.

The specialization requires completion of foundations course COSC 6500 Foundations of Computing, supplying the computer and information science program prerequisites in a 7-credit graduate course. Other than COSC 6500 Foundations of Computing, at least 18 credit hours must be taken at the 6000 level, for a minimum total of 25 credits of 6000-level courses or above.

INTEGRATED PRACTICUM

Within Plan B, this specialization provides a unique opportunity for professional development. Students must indicate a desire to participate in the integrated practicum on their application to the program. 

In the integrated practicum specialization, practical assignments in a working enterprise enhance the “learn from doing” opportunity beyond the typical assigned exercises, case studies, and student projects. The student adviser works with a participating employer and the student to ensure a tight integration between course work, career focus and work assignments. Work assignments are paired with courses to provide the simultaneous acquisition of foundational knowledge, professional skills and professional experience. The integration of course work and experience begins in the first term of the program and must continue through graduation.

This specialization requires completion of 6 credits of the integrated practicum (COSC 6965 Curriculum Integrated Practicum in Computing). Each 300-350 hours of integrated work experience earn one practicum credit. During the final practicum session, students may earn an additional practicum credit for a comprehensive paper demonstrating their competency in their primary career focus through accomplishments in their work assignments.

Additional considerations include:

• The student must maintain full-time graduate student status every term with the exception of the final term.
• Participation in this specialization is subject to the availability of work assignments and the qualifications of the student.
• The student must apply to the Master of Science in Computer and Information Science program and inform the director or their adviser of the intention to participate in the integrated practicum before their first term in the program.
• The student must apply to the participating employer and meet all of the requirements for an academically qualified position.
• If for any reason continuing work assignments are not available, the student can complete the degree program under Plan B's non-thesis course work option.

Accelerated Bachelor’s–Master’s Degree Program

The Department of Computer Science offers an accelerated degree program where eligible students may obtain both a bachelor's degree and the professional master of science degree in computer and information science in five years. Students are eligible to apply to this program as early as the final term of their sophomore year. Students wishing to participate in the five-year program must apply and be admitted to the program before their senior year.

Minimal criteria for application to the ADP include a GPA of at least 3.000 and the following course work: two terms of courses in programming; one course on data structures and algorithms.

Upon completion of the undergraduate degree, the ADP student must satisfy all of the requirements for the master of science degree in computer and information science and complete additional required graduate courses. The summer term may be taken immediately after the senior year or the following summer.

Within the undergraduate degree program, the student enrolls in the required programming and data structures courses and 12 graduate credits related to a computer and information science career. After completing the undergraduate program, there are three terms of graduate study. In these three terms, the student receives an additional 21 graduate credits, resulting in a total of 33 graduate credits.

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