EXIT Requirements

In addition to the 10 classes listed on your Advancement to Candidacy Form, all students must complete one of the following Exit Requirements for the MSCS Program:

A. Comprehensive Examination

The Comprehensive Examination requires that a student pass three examinations selected by following the Comprehensive Exam Guidelines.

To be eligible for the Comprehensive Examination option a student must:

1. have advanced to candidacy,
2. have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or above in the MSCS coursework,
3. be currently enrolled in at least one course at CSULB, and
4. register for the Comprehensive Examination following the published registration requirements and deadlines.

B. Project with Oral Presentation

The Project Option requires 3 units of CECS 697, an oral defense, and submission of a formal written report of the project to be approved by a committee of 3 faculty members that includes the supervising faculty of the project.

To be eligible for the Project option a student must:

1. have advanced to candidacy,
2. have maintained a GPA of 3.3 or above in the MSCS coursework,
3. have been nominated by a faculty member to undertake a project under that faculty member’s supervision, and
4. have had a project proposal approved by the CECS Graduate Curriculum Committee.

C. Thesis with Oral Defense

The Thesis Option requires a total of 6 units: At least 3 of the units must be taken from CECS 698, the remaining units may be taken from either CECS 697 or CECS 698.

To be eligible for the Thesis option a student must:

1. have advanced to candidacy,
2. have maintained a GPA of 3.3 or above in the MSCS coursework,
3. have been nominated by a faculty member to undertake a project under that faculty member’s supervision, and
4. have had a thesis proposal approved by the CECS Graduate Curriculum Committee.