MSACS Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

  • The MSACS program requires successful completion of at least 30 credits (10 graduate courses), excluding the research foundation course (required for all MSACS students) and any foundation courses that may be needed.  
  • Students are expected to complete the degree program within a two-year period. 
  • Students must earn a CGPA of at least 2.75 in order to graduate from the program.
  • Students who select the Other Electives specialization have the option to complete a thesis by taking CSCI6803 and CSCI6804 to earn a total of six credits subject to the approval of a faculty supervisor and the Program Coordinator.

A maximum of nine credits may be transferred from courses completed within the last five years at other accredited institutions and with a grade of B or better in accordance with the curricular requirements of the program and FDU policies. 

Career Outcomes 

The program’s comprehensive curriculum and practical experiences prepare students to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving technology sector. Graduates of the MSACS program are equipped to pursue a variety of roles in the tech industry, including: 

  • Software Engineer/Developer 
  • Data Scientist 
  • Systems Analyst 
  • Database Administrator 
  • Network and Cybersecurity Specialist 
  • Project Manager 
  • IT Consultant 

Curriculum

Master of Science in Applied Computer Science (MSACS) degree plan provides a recommended sequence of courses designed to ensure a logical progression through required course prerequisites. While these course sequences offer a structured path to program completion, students should note that the actual order of courses may vary depending on their start term. 

Research Foundation 

All MSACS students are required to take a non-academic research course in their first semester. 

  • EPS 5289 – Academic Writing Skills-Masters 

Foundation Courses 

Students without prior education equivalent to the following courses must complete these prerequisites: 

  • CSCI 5505 – Introduction to Computer Programming 
  • CSCI 5506 – Object Oriented Programming 
  • CSCI 5557 – Data Structures and Algorithms 
  • CSCI 5565 – Assembly Language 

Computer Science Core Courses 

  • CSCI 6623 – Database Systems 
  • CSCI 6620 – Software Engineering 
  • CSCI 6650 – Advanced Topics in Operating Systems
  • CSCI 6806 – Computer Science Graduate Capstone Project 
  • CSCI 6850 – Analysis and Design of Algorithms
  • CSCI 7645 – Systems Programming  

Specialization 

Choose either the first 4 courses or any 3 from the first 4 plus the internship (12 credits) 

Advanced Computer Programming Specialization  

  • CSCI 6617  –  Computer Game Programming 
  • CSCI 6809 –  Advanced Applications Development 
  • CSCI 6844 –  Programming for the Internet 
  • CSCI 7873  –  Shell Programming 
  • CSCI 8891  –  Internship/Work Experience 

Database Administration Specialization  

  • CSCI 6882 – Data Warehouse and Data Mining 
  • CSCI 7741  –  Disaster Recovery 
  • CSCI 7781  –  Advanced Database Systems 
  • CSCI 7783 –  Information Security 
  • CSCI 8891 –  Internship/Work Experience 

Other Electives Specialization (12 credits) 

Choose any 4 courses from the list below