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   :maxdepth: 1
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   CS Dept. Homepage <https://www.luc.edu/cs/>
   Academic Programs <https://academics.cs.luc.edu>

#########################
Graduate Student Handbook
#########################

Welcome to the Graduate Handbook *informational* site for the Computer Science Department at Loyola University Chicago.

This site is aimed at helping *current* Graduate School applicants and those who are interested in the Graduate Programs offered by the `Computer Science Department`_ at `Loyola University Chicago <https://luc.edu>`_.

If you have questions about the information here, please contact the |gpd| at `gpd@cs.luc.edu <mailto:gpd@cs.luc.edu>`_ or at `(773) 508-8150 <tel:+7735088150>`_.

.. important::

   See the main `Computer Science Department`_ web site for general program information and how to *apply* for admission to our undergraduate and graduate programs, including our professional certificate programs.

*****************************************
Overview of Loyola MS Programs' Strengths
*****************************************

* Committed faculty teaching small classes, commonly 15-25 students
* Many project-based classes with big concepts for all, which students get to develop in their own way in their individual projects, with active individual support from the instructor
* Flexibility and breadth

.. important::
    About ½ of each program is electives which can vary from business-centric, data-centric, networking, and security, software engineering, to core Computer Science.

    Many students come in not knowing exactly what they are most interested in. Students can sample different areas, choose to change the degree program in the middle, and still have all their courses count toward the final degree.

* Enroll part-time or full-time, and back and forth, as you choose
* Strong advising/support throughout as students inquire about the program, apply, plan initial courses, and as experience evolves
* Lots of data on and opportunities for internships and jobs

.. note::
    Internships can count in the academic program. High regard for our program in industry smooths job transition

* Strong encouragement toward independent study with individual professors in a wide variety of areas
* Finish full-time in 16 months
  * Can finish in less time if you can get two courses of transfer credit
* Opportunity for discipline changes to be accepted and take prerequisites with us on a compressed schedule
* Options for a mix of face-to-face and online classes

.. important::
    Now the IT degree is available either campus-centric or entirely online

* International students with insufficient English can get conditional admission combining initial ESL with later MS study
* Starting in Fall 2019 you can build up to an MS by doing graduate certificates

Look in the courses document for the details of the individual `Masters Programs <https://academics.cs.luc.edu/graduate/graduate-degree-programs.html>`_.

*********
Resources
*********

Graduate Student Resources
==========================

* `Graduate Courses <https://academics.cs.luc.edu/courses/graduate-courses.html>`_
* `Graduate Degree Programs <https://academics.cs.luc.edu/graduate/graduate-degree-programs.html>`_
* `Research in CS at Loyola University Chicago <https://research.cs.luc.edu/>`_

Other Helpful Resources for Current Students
============================================

* `Tutoring Hours <http://luc.edu/cs/schedules/tutoringhours/>`_

To Report Issues
================

* https://github.com/LoyolaChicagoCS/WebIssues/issues

Topical Index
=============

* :ref:`genindex`

.. toctree::
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   :caption: Policies

   policy/admissions
   policy/financial
   policy/people
   policy/regulations

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   :caption: Services

   services/assistantships
   services/careerdevelopment
   services/loyolaservices

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   :caption: General Information

   general/acknowledgments
   general/visit


.. _Computer Science Department: https://luc.edu/cs/