Requirements
Course Requirements
Thesis Plan I
Each student is required to take 48 credits as follows:
1.) A core requirement must be met by taking CSE 200, Research and Teaching in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), and any two out of the following three courses: CSE 201, Analysis of Algorithms; CSE 210A, Programming Languages; and CSE 220, Computer Architecture. In addition, students must take 5 credits of CSE 299, Thesis Research. Each student must complete CSE 200 in their first year.
2.) One course each from three different breadth categories for a total of three courses (15 credits)—see the Breadth Requirements webpage.
3.) Up to 10 credits of CSE 299 may be counted toward the degree requirements; 5 credits are required.
4.) All remaining courses must be regular, 5-credit graduate courses (not seminars). Courses that do not count toward the 48 credits requirement include all courses numbered CSE 296, and all courses in the CSE 280 and CSE 297 series.
5.) Up to 10 credits from courses taught by departments other than CSE may be counted toward the degree requirements.
6.) Upper-division undergraduate UCSC CSE courses may be taken as a graduate student to strengthen a student's knowledge base. At most, 5 credits of UCSC upper-division undergraduate CSE courses may be counted toward the 48 credits requirement.
7.) With the exception of CSE 200, CSE 296, and all courses in the CSE 280 and CSE 299 series, all graduate courses and upper-division courses must be taken for a letter grade. Only courses with a letter grade of B- or higher can be counted toward the M.S. degree requirements.
Capstone Plan II
Each student is required to take 48 credits as follows:
1.) A core requirement must be met by taking CSE 200, Research and Teaching in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), and any two out of the following three courses: CSE 201, Analysis of Algorithms; CSE 210A, Programming Languages; and CSE 220, Computer Architecture. In addition, students must take 5 credits of CSE 297, Independent Study. Each student must complete CSE 200 in their first year.
2.) One course each from three different breadth categories for a total of three courses (15 credits)—see the Breadth Requirements webpage.
3.) All remaining courses must be regular, 5-credit graduate courses (not seminars). Courses that do not count toward the 48-credit requirement include all courses numbered CSE 296, and all courses in the CSE 280 and CSE 299 series. CSE 297 may be taken more than once; however, only 5 credits of CSE 297 will be counted toward the required 48 credits.
4.) Up to 10 credits from courses taught by departments other than CSE may be counted toward the degree requirements.
5.) Upper-division undergraduate UCSC CSE courses may be taken as a graduate student to strengthen a student's knowledge base. At most, 5 credits of UCSC upper-division undergraduate CSE courses may be counted toward the 48 credits requirement.
6.) With the exception of CSE 200 and all courses in the CSE 280 and CSE 297 series, all graduate courses and upper-division courses must be taken for letter grade. Only courses with a letter grade of B- or higher can be counted toward the M.S. degree requirements.
| CSE 200 | Research and Teaching in Computer Science and Engineering | 3 |
| CSE 201 | Analysis of Algorithms | 5 |
| CSE 210A | Programming Languages | 5 |
| CSE 220 | Computer Architecture | 5 |
Other Requirements
Students in Thesis Plan I must complete an M.S. thesis, while students in Capstone Plan II must complete an M.S. project.
Thesis Plan I
After the student has completed some coursework in the proposed area of research and become acquainted with the faculty conducting research in that area, a student electing Thesis Plan I submits a written proposal to a faculty member, usually by the third academic quarter. If the faculty member determines they are able to advise the student's thesis, they collaborate with the student to further develop the scope of the student's research and refine the proposal. By accepting the proposal, the faculty member becomes the student's faculty/thesis adviser. In consultation with the advisoer, the student forms a Master's Thesis Reading Committee with at least two additional faculty members, each of whom is provided a copy of the proposal. Exceptions to the committee structure may be granted by the graduate program director and/or by the graduate dean. Changes in the membership of the committee, once appointed, may only be made with the approval of the graduate dean.
Members of a Master's Thesis Reading Committee must meet the following criteria:
- The first member must be a ladder rank CSE faculty member.
- The second member must be a ladder rank UCSC Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE) faculty member (may be CSE as well).
- The third member must be a UCSC BSOE faculty member or a recognized expert in the student's research area as judged by the graduate program director and the Graduate Division dean.
Additional members may be added to the committee. Students should consult their advisers about the membership of their committee.
By the end of the second week of the quarter in which a student plans to graduate, the student must submit a formal nomination of their Master's Thesis Reading Committee to the Graduate Division for approval. The required form for nominating a Master's Thesis Reading Committee is located on the Graduate Division's website. Once the thesis is completed, the student presents an expository talk on the thesis research. A final draft of the thesis must be provided to the members of the Master's Thesis Reading Committee for review at least 30 days before the last day of the quarter in which the student plans to graduate. The final thesis must be accepted by the Master's Thesis Reading Committee before the M.S. degree is awarded.
Capstone Plan II
The M.S. project is an individual or a team-based project supervised by a faculty adviser and approved by a Master's Project Reading Committee composed of the faculty adviser and a faculty member from the Baskin School of Engineering.
Members of a Master's Project Reading Committee must meet the following criteria:
- The first member must be a ladder rank CSE faculty member.
- The second member must be a ladder rank UCSC School of Engineering (SOE) faculty (may be CSE as well).
Master's Project Reading Committees are nominated by completing a Master's Project form and are approved by the graduate director.
A team consists of up to five members. Projects can either be proposed by the team or the team may bid on projects proposed by faculty members. It is also possible to have industry-sponsored or government-sponsored projects, in which case the industry/government supervisor can be invited to be an optional third member on the Master's Project Reading Committee.
The final project must be accepted by the reading committee before the M.S. degree is conferred.
Transfer Credit
Up to three School of Engineering courses fulfilling the degree requirements of the M.S. degree may be taken before beginning the graduate program through the concurrent enrollment program.
Courses from other institutions may be substituted for equivalent courses at UCSC (with the approval of the graduate director) but may not count toward the 48-credit requirement. For example, an equivalent Computer Architecture course taken elsewhere may be used in lieu of CSE 220. However, the student will need to replace it with 5 credits of another graduate elective course. As another example, a student may substitute an equivalent graduate courses for CSE 260 and count that for a breadth requirement, but may not count that course toward the 48-credit requirement.
Petitions should be submitted along with the transcript from the other institution or UCSC Extension. For courses taken at other institutions, copies of the syllabi, exams, and other coursework should accompany the petition. Such petitions are not considered until the completion of at least one quarter at UC Santa Cruz.
At most, a total of three courses may be transferred from concurrent enrollment and other institutions.
Concentrations
M.S. students are offered the option to receive a concentration. Concentrations denote areas of specialized curriculum, training, and research within a given department or degree-granting program. The concentration is an informal indication of a student's area of expertise. No notation of it appears on the student’s transcript or diploma. However, the student will have the right to note the concentration in their curriculum vitae using the words “a degree in CSE with a concentration in XXX.” The department may refer to the student's degree with the concentration noted, and writers of letters of reference may note the concentration when referring to the student's degree.
There are four possible concentrations available to CSE M.S. students:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Hardware Systems
- Software Systems
- Theory
In order to receive a concentration annotation, an M.S. student must satisfy three requirements:
- Take two courses in the list of concentration-specific required courses.
- Take one course in the list of concentration-specific elective courses.
- Choose a faculty member in the concentration-specific list of affiliate faculty as project or thesis advisor.
The required and elective courses and the affiliated faculty for each concentration are available on our website.
Students normally request to receive a concentration annotation at the time they request to be assigned an advisor.
Academic Progress
Each year, the faculty reviews the progress of every student. Normative academic progress for master's students includes selecting a capstone plan (Thesis Plan I or Capstone Plan II) and identifying a faculty adviser by the end of the third quarter. Many students complete the program in four quarters, and all full-time students are expected to complete the degree within six quarters.
Students without adequate academic preparation may be required to take additional courses. Full-time students are normally expected to complete the degree requirements at the rate of at least two courses per quarter. Full-time CSE students must complete CSE 201, CSE 210A, and CSE 220 within two years and normally must complete all courses requirements within two years for the M.S.
Students receiving two or more unsatisfactory grades (U or a letter grade below B-) in School of Engineering courses are not making adequate progress and will be recommended for academic probation for the following three quarters of registered enrollment. Taking a leave of absence does not count as enrollment, and it does not extend the degree timeline. Part-time enrollment is counted as a half quarter of enrollment.
Students not making adequate progress toward completion of degree requirements (see the Graduate Student Handbook to review the policy on satisfactory academic progress) may be recommended for academic probation. Students who violate the terms of their academic probation are subject to dismissal from the program.
Should any CSE graduate student fail a School of Engineering course while on probation, the CSE Department may request the graduate dean dismiss that student from the graduate program. If after being removed from probation the student again fails a School of Engineering course, they will return immediately to academic probation.
Graduate students experiencing circumstances or difficulties that impact their academic performance should contact their faculty advisor and the graduate director immediately. Students may appeal their dismissal.
Applying for Graduation
All candidates for a degree must submit an Application for Master's Degree to the Graduate Advising Office by the date stated in the Academic and Administrative Calendar for the quarter you wish to receive the degree. Failure to declare candidacy by the deadline means that you cannot be considered a candidate until the next term.
A student is required to be registered or on Filing Fee Status, whichever is applicable, during the quarter in which the degree is conferred. Students should consult the department adviser to determine which option fits their situation. For more information about applying for graduation, visit the Baskin School of Engineering Graduate Studies website.