Master’s Degree#
The Master’s degree in computer science (MS CS) is a coursework-focused degree in which students are expected to gain mastery in advanced Computer Science topics. MS students must satisfy the Loyola University Graduate School credit requirements.
Timeline and Overview#
The MS in Computer Science, MS in Software Engineering and MS in Information Technology degrees comprise 30 credit hours, typically completed over the course of 1-2 years.
Foundation Courses#
The department offers foundation courses (numbered COMP 400 A-E) which provide a background in fundamental computer science topics for students whose background is in another discipline. Students with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering or a related field are not required to take the foundation courses. All other students are required to take the foundation courses unless they took one or more of them at an accredited institution.
Course Number |
Course Name |
Credits |
|---|---|---|
COMP 400A |
Object-Oriented Programming |
3 |
COMP 400B |
Data Structures I |
3 |
COMP 400C |
Data Structures II |
3 |
COMP 400D |
Computing Tools & Techniques |
1 |
COMP 400E |
Discrete Structures |
3 |
Course Requirements#
MS in Computer Science#
The Master’s in Computer Science is the most technical and most versatile MS program offered by the department. It offers three specializations (or tracks) that allow students to deeply explore a particular subdiscipline. There is also an option for no concentration, which allows students to select from a wider variety of courses without specializing in a particular area.
The MS Computer Science requires students to take all foundation courses (COMP 400A-E) at Loyola if they do not have the required background.
Foundation Courses
Code |
Title |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
COMP 400A |
Object-Oriented Programming |
3 |
COMP 400B |
Data Structures I |
3 |
COMP 400C |
Data Structures II |
3 |
COMP 400D |
Computing Tools and Techniques |
1 |
COMP 400E |
Discrete Structures |
3 |
Required Courses
Code |
Title |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
COMP 417 |
Social and Ethical Issues in Computing |
3 |
COMP 460 |
Algorithms & Complexity |
3 |
Track/Major Requirements (12 hours) – select one of the following four tracks:
No Concentration (Default)
Required course:
COMP 413 – Intermediate Object-Oriented Development
Select three of the following:
COMP 410 – Operating Systems
COMP 433 – Web Services Programming
COMP 436 – Markup Languages
COMP 439 – Distributed Systems
COMP 442 – Server-Side Software Development
COMP 443 – Computer Networks
COMP 453 – Database Programming
COMP 464 – High-Performance Computing
COMP 471 – Theory of Programming Languages
COMP 473 – Advanced Object Oriented Programming
COMP 474 – Software Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
Required course:
COMP 479 – Machine Learning
Select one of the following:
COMP 429 – Natural Language Processing
COMP 487 – Deep Learning
COMP 488 – Computer Science Topics
Select two of the following:
COMP 406 – Data Mining
COMP 429 – Natural Language Processing
COMP 458 – Big Data Analytics
COMP 487 – Deep Learning
COMP 488 – Computer Science Topics
Cybersecurity
Required courses:
COMP 401 – Computer Security
COMP 447 – Intrusion Detection and Computer Forensics
COMP 448 – Network Security
COMP 452 – Introduction to Computer Vulnerabilities
Computer Systems
Required course:
COMP 410 – Operating Systems
Select three of the following:
COMP 405 – Database Administration
COMP 413 – Intermediate Object-Oriented Development
COMP 439 – Distributed Systems
COMP 443 – Computer Networks
COMP 451 – Enterprise Networking
COMP 462 – Advanced Computer Architecture
COMP 464 – High-Performance Computing
COMP 472 – Compiler Construction
General Elective Courses – 12 hours
Total Hours: 30-43
MS in Software Engineering#
The MS in Software Engineering trains students to work as software developers. Students are required to take only foundation courses COMP 400A-D (not 400E).
Foundation Courses
Code |
Title |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
COMP 400A |
Object-Oriented Programming |
3 |
COMP 400B |
Data Structures I |
3 |
COMP 400C |
Data Structures II |
3 |
COMP 400D |
Computing Tools and Techniques |
1 |
Required Courses
Code |
Title |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
COMP 413 |
Intermediate Object-Oriented Development |
3 |
COMP 417 |
Social and Ethical Issues in Computing |
3 |
Restricted Electives (9 hours) – at least three courses, including at least one from Group 1
Group 1
COMP 424 – Client-Side Web Design
COMP 433 – Web Services Programming
COMP 434 – Enterprise Software Development
COMP 437 – Intro Concurrent Programming
COMP 439 – Distributed Systems
COMP 442 – Server-Side Software Development
COMP 460 – Algorithms & Complexity
COMP 471 – Theory of Programming Languages
COMP 473 – Advanced Object Oriented Programming
COMP 474 – Software Engineering
Group 2
COMP 410 – Operating Systems
COMP 412 – Open Source Computing
COMP 420 – Software Systems Analysis
COMP 436 – Markup Languages
COMP 441 – Human-Computer Interaction
COMP 453 – Database Programming
COMP 464 – High-Performance Computing
General Elective Courses – 15 hours
Total Hours: 30-40
MS in Information Technology#
Foundation Courses
Code |
Title |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
COMP 400A |
Object-Oriented Programming |
3 |
COMP 400B |
Data Structures I |
3 |
Required Courses
Code |
Title |
Hours |
|---|---|---|
COMP 417 |
Social and Ethical Issues in Computing |
3 |
Select Three Courses in a Track (9 hours)
Data Management (DM) Track
COMP 405 – Database Administration
COMP 406 – Data Mining
COMP 425 – Rapid Applications Development
COMP 453 – Database Programming
COMP 488 – Computer Science Topics
Technology Management (TM) Track
COMP 403 – Operations Management
COMP 404 – Organizational Development
COMP 420 – Software Systems Analysis
COMP 477 – IT Project Management
IT Security (IS) Track
COMP 401 – Computer Security
COMP 440 – Computer Forensics Investigations
COMP 447 – Intrusion Detection and Computer Forensics
COMP 448 – Network Security
COMP 449 – Wireless Networking and Security
COMP 452 – Introduction to Computer Vulnerabilities
Enterprise Networking (EN) Track
COMP 443 – Computer Networks
COMP 448 – Network Security
COMP 449 – Wireless Networking and Security
COMP 451 – Enterprise Networking
Select Six Graduate-Level COMP Electives – 18 hours
Total Hours: 30-36
Seminar Courses#
Students may count seminar courses (usually listed as COMP 488) toward their COMP elective requirements. Students must submit written notification to the graduate program director, including a copy of the course syllabus and a brief (no more than one-page) explanation of how the course fits within their program of study.
Prior Coursework and Transfer Credits#
With approval from the graduate program director, up to 6 credits taken prior to enrolling in the MS program may be counted toward the MS level coursework. Students who intend to use prior coursework to satisfy part of the MS level coursework must petition the graduate program director with a written document that details the specific transfer courses they wish to apply to the requirement. The written petition should include a syllabus from each course to be applied to the MS level requirements if the course was taken at a different institution along with a clear explanation of which course will apply to which MS requirement.
The program director may deny requests if (1) sufficient documentation of the course content is not provided or (2) the course is not a close enough match to the Loyola CS department’s MS level coursework.
Thesis Option#
Master’s students in Computer Science may elect the thesis option in which they conduct research under the supervision of a CS department faculty member. Under the thesis option, students may take a total of six credits of COMP 490 (independent project supervision) as a replacement of their elective credits. A Master’s degree that includes a thesis is generally viewed as a stronger degree, particularly for the purpose of applying to PhD programs or jobs immediately after graduation.
To formally register for the thesis option, students must do the following:
Identify a thesis advisor. You will meet with your thesis advisor and agree on a research plan.
Form a thesis committee. The thesis committee will evaluate your thesis document and thesis defense. Thesis committees typically consist of three members of the Computer Science faculty chosen in collaboration between the student and advisor. Once the thesis committee members have informally agreed to participate, they must be formally registered with the graduate school through the GSPS portal.
Write the thesis document. The thesis document is typically a reformatted version of a conference paper. Once the thesis document has been written, it should be circulated to the committee no less than two weeks before the scheduled defense to give committee members an opportunity to read the document. The Graduate School has strict formatting guidelines for thesis documents, and the document must be reviewed and approved by The Graduate School. The Computer Science department maintains an approved Latex format that complies with The Graduate School’s requirements that can be requested from the MS Graduate Program Director.
Convene the committee for the final defense. The student is responsible for coordinating a 1-2 hour meeting during which all members of the thesis committee can attend in person. The student should give a presentation of the thesis with details about the project. Committee members will vote to determine if the student passes the defense and will register their decision with The Graduate School using GSPS.
Thesis Defense Format#
The thesis defense is a two-part exam that follows a similar format to a PhD final thesis defense. The exam consists of (1) writing a thesis document and (2) making a presentation to the thesis committee. The thesis document should be circulated to the committee at least two weeks prior to the exam presentation date to give the committee adequate time to read and make comments. On the date of the presentation, each committee member will return the thesis document to the student with comments.
Following the thesis presentation, the committee will deliberate in private to discuss the quality of the student’s work. After deliberation, the committee will render a decision about whether the student passed or failed the preliminary examination.
Checklist for the Thesis Defense
Send calendar invitations to faculty and PhD students
Arrange for food
Arrange for an option to join the presentation remotely. Be sure that audio works.
Graduation Procedures and Checklist#
In the final semester (graduation term), the following must be completed:
Must be enrolled in at least three credits
Apply to graduate in the Student Center
Notify CS Department Manager of plans to graduate via email (include name, degree, faculty advisor’s name, and approximate date of defense).
Thoroughly read the Graduate School’s Formatting Manual for Theses and Dissertations and complete all the respective tasks.
Final thesis format must be approved by the Graduate School in the semester you are graduating. The Graduate School circulates an email with deadlines each semester. Be sure to have your thesis formatting approved by the deadline!
Confirm all final grades are entered, with exception to the current semester (no incomplete, unreported, or progress grades).
Schedule and complete a pre-check appointment with the Graduate School to answer formatting questions.
Confirm defense time with committee members (Note: defense date and time can change as long as it is within the same semester, but committee members must stay the same).
Request final oral examination warrant at least four weeks prior to defense date by turning in the final oral examination warrant request form to the CS Department Manager.
Send thesis to committee members at least two weeks prior to defense date.
Make sure your “diploma” and “mailing” addresses are up to date in Student Center to receive diploma.
If a student needs proof of degree sooner than the degree conferral date, they should make sure all grades are submitted prior to making this request and reach out to the CS Department Manager.
After the degree conferral date is posted on a student’s transcript, students may request a Degree Completion Letter in order to prove their degree prior to receiving their diploma.
Leaves of Absence#
Students may request a leave of absence to pause enrollment. International students typically must leave the country during a leave of absence. Per the Graduate School’s Academic Standards and Regulations, leaves of absence are limited to one full academic year. Applications for leaves of absence can be made through the GSPS portal.
Participation in Commencement#
Loyola University Chicago holds commencement ceremonies in May only. A student is eligible to participate in Loyola University Chicago’s May commencement celebration if the student (1) has successfully defended and submitted their materials to the Graduate School or (2) has submitted their thesis for format check by the deadline for August conferral and has scheduled their defense prior to July 1. December graduates are invited to participate in the May commencement of the following calendar year.
Graduation Application#
The Graduate School reviews applications for graduation (conferral of degree) three times a year, during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Graduate applications are completed on LOCUS. Below are the application deadlines for degree conferral that correspond to each term:
Review Term |
Deadline |
Degree Conferral |
|---|---|---|
Fall |
August 1 |
December |
Spring |
December 1 |
May |
Summer |
February 1 |
August |
For more information on graduation applications, refer to the Graduate School website.