CECS Graduate Programs

Tailored to the schedules of working professionals, the CSULB Master of Science in Computer Science program offers the most relevant and up-to-date curriculum to meet the demands of the rapidly changing world of computing.

Courses represent a broad spectrum of technology interests, including:

• Software engineering
• Networks
• Web design
• Game programming
• Modeling and simulation
• Computer architecture
• Artificial intelligence
• Computer graphics, and more

Choose from two options:

Computer Engineering: advanced study in the theory, analysis, design, and application of computer hardware and software. 

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Computer Science: advanced study in software development and engineering, networking, operating systems, distributed computing, artificial intelligence, and analysis of algorithms. Students can pursue concentrations in Advanced Systems or Software Development.

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Complete your graduate degree with a comprehensive exam or thesis research project. Recent thesis projects have covered:

• Virtual agents
• Data mining
• Software quality assurance
• Evolutionary algorithms
• Neural networks, and
• Distributed web computing.

To be considered for admission, graduate applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, been in good standing at the last institution attended, and have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.7 for the last 60 semester units (90 quarter units) attempted. View admission deadlines

Students wishing to pursue advanced study may be interested in the College of Engineering’s Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree. Graduate study leading to the MSE can be tailored to the goals of a student with a background in chemical engineering by taking advanced course work to develop expertise in one of four areas:

• Environmental: Chemistry and civil engineering
• Controls: Electrical engineering
• Microelectronics: Computer engineering
• Thermal, fluids, and materials: Mechanical engineering

With most courses offered in the evening, the program is tailored to working professionals.

Contact program advisor
View course catalog

An online program is available through a partnership between the College of Engineering and College of Continuing & Professional Education. Apply now for the 2018 sessions.

To be considered for admission, a graduate applicant must:

• Have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Have been in good standing at the last institution attended
• Possess a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.7 for the last 60 semester units (90 quarter units) attempted, and
• Optionally, submit a general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score. (Highly recommended for International Students and students with a GPA below 3.0).

Students may be admitted on a conditional basis, subject to the requirement that they remedy any deficiencies subsequent to admission. Letters of recommendation are not required. There is no separate application for the department.

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Apply online at Cal State Apply

The CSULB Center for International Education provides details on admissions procedures, deadlines, and English language requirements.

Find out more

A student without an undergraduate degree in computer science or computer engineering should expect to take all prerequisites for the respective option. Prerequisite courses don’t count toward the 30 units required for the master’s degree.

Computer Engineering Option

• CECS 274 - Programming and Problem Solving II
• CECS 301 - Computer Logic Design II
• CECS 325 - Computer Organization and Assembly Language
• CECS 326 - Operating Systems
• CECS 346 - Microprocessors and Controllers I
• CECS 347 - Microprocessors and Controllers II
• CECS 360 - Integrated Circuit Design Software
• CECS 440 - Computer Architecture
• CECS 443 - Software Engineering
• MATH 370A - Applied Math 1

Computer Science Option

• CECS 228 - Discrete Structures with Computer Science Applications
• CECS 274 - Programming and Problem Solving II
• CECS 323 - Database Fundamentals
• CECS 325 - Computer Organization and Assembly Language
• CECS 326 - Operating Systems
• CECS 328 - Discrete Structures with Computer Science Applications II
• CECS 424 - Organization of Programming Languages
• CECS 440 - Computer Architecture
• CECS 443 - Software Engineering
• MATH 380 - Probability and Statistics

To ensure receiving credit toward the degree program, students must consult with the program graduate advisor prior to enrolling in any elective.

• CECS 405 Special Topics in Computer Science
• CECS 406 Special Topics in Computer Science (Lecture/lab)
• CECS 419/519 Theory of Computation
• CECS 423 Database Applications
• CECS 424 Organization of Programming Languages
• CECS 428 Analysis of Algorithms
• CECS 429 Information Retrieval
• CECS 444 Compiler Construction
• CECS 445 Software Design and Architecture
• CECS 447 Microprocessors and Controllers III
• CECS 448 User Interface Design
• CECS 449 Computer Graphics
• CECS 451 Artificial Intelligence
• CECS 453 Mobile Application Development
• CECS 455 Introduction to Game Programming
• CECS 460 System on Chip Design I (CS only)
• CECS 461/561 Hardware/Software Co-design
• CECS 463 System on Chip (SOC) Applications
• CECS 470 World-Wide Web Development
• CECS 472 Computer Network Programming
• CECS 474 Computer Network Interoperability
• CECS 475 Object-Oriented Programming and C++
• CECS 476 System and Network Administration
• CECS 478/578 Introduction to Computer Security
• CECS 491 Software Development Project
• CECS 492 Computer Networking Project Course
• CECS 521 Database Architecture
• CECS 524 Advanced Topics in Programming Languages
• CECS 526 Advanced Operating Systems
• CECS 530 Advanced Computer Architecture
• CECS 531 Advanced Computer Architecture II
• CECS 543 Advanced Software Engineering
• CECS 544 Software Testing and Verification
• CECS 545 Software Architecture
• CECS 546 Fault Tolerant Computing Systems
• CECS 549 Advanced Computer Graphics
• CECS 550 Pattern Recognition using Artificial Intelligence
• CECS 551 Advanced Artificial Intelligence
• CECS 552 Computer Simulation and Modeling
• CECS 553 Machine Vision
• CECS 570 Concurrent Parallel Programming
• CECS 572 Advanced Computer Networking
• CECS 574 Topics in Distributed Computer Systems
• CECS 575 Object-Oriented Analysis and Design
• CECS 590 Special Topics in Computer Science
• CECS 694 Seminar in Computer Science
• CECS 697 Directed Research
• CECS 698 Thesis or Industrial Project

1. Candidates for the Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) degree at California State University, Long Beach must successfully complete either (a) a comprehensive examination or (b) a thesis with oral defense. This document spells out the policies that are in effect regarding the comprehensive examination. (Effective Fall 2014)

2. Graduate students may satisfy the written comprehensive examination requirement by achieving a PASS score on each of the sections making up the written comprehensive examination.

3. A candidate must have Advanced to Candidacy before registering for the written comprehensive examination.

4. The written comprehensive examination shall be offered once each fall and spring semester. It is normally scheduled approximately two/three weeks prior to the last day of instruction. The exam is not administered in the summer. The duration of the written comprehensive examination shall be two hours for each section making up the written comprehensive examination as listed in 6.0 below.

5. The written comprehensive examination will be administered and evaluated by a committee of faculty selected by the Graduate Curriculum Committee.

6. The comprehensive examination consists of three sections covering undergraduate and graduate material. The sections are as follows:

6.1.      MSCS Option in Computer Science

6.1.1. Any THREE of the following subjects such that NO MORE THAN ONE subject chosen is in each of the following four groups:

(i) Theory: Analysis of Algorithms

(ii) Systems: Operating Systems,Fundamentals of Computer Architecture.

(iii) Software: Software Engineering. Object Oriented Programming, Database and

(iv)Networking and Security: Computer Networking, Computer Security, Distributed Computing, Fault Tolerant Computing.

6.2.      MSCS Option in Computer Engineering

6.2.1.   Computer Organization and Architecture

6.2.2.   System on Chip Designs

6.2.3.   A subject to be selected by each student from the list of approved "Application" courses. A reading list prepared by faculty will be available for all subjects.

Faculty evaluating the comprehensive examination shall assign either a PASS or FAIL grade to each of the sections described above.

A student is required to pass all three sections of the written comprehensive examination to graduate.

8.1 A student must attempt all sections of the comprehensive examination not yet passed.

8.2 A student who fails the comprehensive examination needs to repeat only the failed sections of the examination.

8.3 A student shall be allowed a maximum total of two attempts on the comprehensive examination (effective Fall 2011).

Appealing results on the comprehensive examination:

9.1 Candidates who appeal must submit a written statement to the MSCS Graduate Advisor within five working days after receipt of the written notification of failure from the department.

9.2 This written appeal must document the alleged prejudicial, capricious, and/or arbitrary action including the names of individuals who are thought to have been involved.

9.3 A special appeals committee composed of two faculty members who were involved in the comprehensive examination evaluation and three faculty who were not involved will hear the grievance. The two faculty members who evaluated the examination will not have voting status on the appeals committee

9.4 The appeals committee will read and evaluate the written appeal, interview the candidate, and interview separately the individuals named in the written appeal, and make a judgement. The judgement may be to deny the appeal or to grant the appeal with direction that either the comprehensive examination be re-evaluated by a new committee or that the candidate be allowed to take another comprehensive examination at a regularly scheduled time without penalty.

9.5 The decision of the faculty appeals committee shall be final. There is no appeal to a higher (i.e. college) committee. However, if the judgement of the appeals committee is not satisfactory to the candidate on the basis of issues of due process, the candidate may appeal to the CSULB Graduate Council.

Students applying for Advancement to Candidacy must have:

• Completed all undergraduate deficiencies with grades of "C" or better
• Attained an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
• Completed at least 9 units of required courses applicable to the degree with a GPA of at least 3.0 for completed units
• Fulfilled Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR); and
• Secured CECS department graduate advisor's approval of program of studies.

To file for Advancement to Candidacy:

• Open Advancement to Candidacy form.
• Save pdf before completing form. 
• Print completed form.
• Print unofficial transcript from MyCSULB.
• Submit form with unofficial transcript to Graduate Advisor for approval.
• Use Change of Program form for any deviation of coursework

Registration in Continuous Enrollment/Graduate Studies 700 (GS-700), offered by the CSULB College of Continuing & Professional Education, is restricted to graduate students who have completed all other course work, been advanced to candidacy, have department and school approval, and require additional utilization of university facilities to complete their thesis or comprehensive examination. Students shall receive zero credit for enrollment in this course. 

• Transfer units: Students may transfer up to 6 of the 30 units required for the MSCS degree, subject to approval of the CECS graduate advisor. Units earned through the College of Continuing & Professional Education are considered transfer units. No transfer units may be used to fulfill the 21-unit graduate credit requirement.
• 7-year limit: All requirements of the MSCS degree must be completed within seven years from the date the first course of the student's approved program was completed.
• Probation: Graduate students are placed on academic probation if they fail to maintain an overall grade-point average of at least 3.0 in all upper division and graduate level courses taken since admission to the degree program. Students who remain on academic probation for more than two consecutive semesters are subject to academic disqualification.
• Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement Exam: Student must demonstrate competency in writing skills as a requirement for graduation, by passing the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement Exam (GWAR).