Graduate

Please visit the Graduate Admissions website for the most up to date details and requirements for admission into our graduate programs.

Program Requirements

1. What master’s program does the CS department offer?
2. I took a course at another institution. How do I apply for a transfer of credit towards my Stevens degree?
3. I want to transfer into a program in your department. Tell me what courses I should take for that program.
4. What is required to write a master’s thesis?
5. Will Developmental English count toward my MS degree?

What master’s programs does the CS department offer?

The department offers four programs: Computer Science pathway, Computer Science, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity. The pathway program is intended for students who do not have a traditional undergraduate background in computer science. The pathways program requires successful completion of 36 credits, including foundational courses. The remaining programs require 30 credits each. For details of all the programs and their requirements, please see the latest academic catalog at https://www.stevens.edu/academics/academic-catalog

I took a course at another institution. How do I apply for a transfer of credit towards my Stevens degree?

The course may or may not be accepted toward your Stevens degree. Contact your advisor. He/she will direct you to the faculty member who teaches the Stevens course that most closely resembles the course you took. Fill out a transfer credit form and submit all possible documentation about that course (textbook, syllabus, assignments, exams, etc.) for that professor's consideration. He/she will determine if the course is equivalent to a Stevens course. If it is, you can apply the course toward your degree. A maximum of 3 outside courses can be applied toward a master’s degree; a maximum of 1 outside course can be applied toward a graduate certificate.

I want to transfer into a program in your department. Tell me what courses I should take for that program.

You must first request a change of program. Your request will be reviewed by the admissions committee for the new program. Expect that process to take at least two weeks and realize that you may not be admitted. If you are admitted into the new program you can then meet with your new advisor to form a study plan for the new program. The Computer Science department recommends that program transfer requests be submitted no later than December 1 (to begin the new program in the Spring) or April 1 (to begin in Summer or Fall). New students should not request a transfer immediately upon enrollment; new students should spend the first semester in their admitting program.

What is required to write a master’s thesis?

First, you must find an advisor, a full-time CS faculty member, who will agree to supervise your thesis over two semesters. You will enroll in CS 900 and your advisor will decide how many credits (between 5 and 10) you may earn for the thesis. At the conclusion of your thesis work you will be required to present your work to the department and must submit a written thesis to the library by the deadline.

Will Developmental English count toward my MS degree?

Developmental English courses (those with ELC numbers) do not count toward your MS degree. However, in your first semester (only) the course credits do count toward the 9 credits required to achieve a full-time course load. If you take English courses in later semesters you must submit a reduced load form.

Registering for classes

1. Where do I find deadlines for registering or dropping classes?
2. How do I register for a class for which I took the prerequisite courses but not at Stevens? The system will not let me register for this class.
3. How do I drop a course that I am registered for?
4. Can I substitute a different course for one required for a graduate certificate
5. Is there a limit on the number of WebCampus (WS) courses I may take?
6. How can I maintain full time status in my final semester?
7. How do I participate in curricular practical training (CPT)?

Where do I find deadlines for registering or dropping classes?

Please consult the Stevens Academic Calendar for all deadlines:

How do I register for a class for which I took the prerequisite courses but not at Stevens? The system will not let me register for this class.

Fill out the change of enrollment form and email it to the course instructor along with an explanation of why you think you have the background necessary to succeed in the course. If the instructor agrees that you are adequately prepared for the course, he/she will finish filling out the form, digitally sign it, then email it back to you. You can then present the signed form to the Registrar and you will be allowed into the course. Note that only the course instructor can waive the prerequisite, not your advisor.

How do I drop a course that I am registered for?

You must fill out the change-of-enrollment form, have the course instructor sign it, and then submit it to Ms. Cucchiara. Be sure to submit the form before the last day to add or drop classes

Can I substitute a different course for one required for a graduate certificate?

Your advisor may allow course substitution if the courses are very close in content. Otherwise, no.

Is there a limit on the number of WebCampus (WS) courses I may take?

There is no limit on the number of WebCampus courses that a US student may take. International students are required to take at least 6 credits of classroom courses per semester. Since most graduate courses are 3 credits, an international student registered for 9 credits may take at most one WebCampus course that semester; an international student registered for 12 credits may take at most two WebCampus courses that semester. There is no limit on the total number of WebCampus courses that may be applied to an international student's degree, only a per-semester limit implied by the 6-credit rule.

How can I maintain full time status in my final semester?

Full time status for an international student is defined to be 9 credits, except for the final semester. For example, if you have taken 9 credits in each of your first three semesters, then it is acceptable to take only 3 credits in your final semester.

How do I participate in curricular practical training (CPT)?

The Computer Science department offers two options for students to participate in CPT: through cooperative education (with registration of CS 706) or via our dedicated course, CS 703. Students who are admitted to the co-op program will have the opportunity to interview with employers who have been invited to advertise their open positions to Stevens students. The interview may or may not result in a job offer. A co-op position is a full-time, one-semester paid position at the sponsoring company. Despite working full time, the student's status as a full-time student is preserved. The second path to CPT is CS 703, a graded one-credit course. Enrollment in this course permits a student to have an off-campus job, provided that the job activity supports the student's educational program. Students enrolled in this course must submit several written reports and one oral report for grading. The advantage of CPT via co-op is that the student need not seek a job him/herself; the disadvantage is that there are eligibility requirements (such as GPA and courses taken) that the student may not meet. The advantage of CPT via CS 703 is that there are no GPA/background requirements; the disadvantage is that the student must locate his/her own job.

Maintaining good standing

When is a student placed on probation, and what is required of a student on probation?

A student whose GPA drops below 3.0 or who receives an F on a course is placed on probation. Students placed on probation must meet with their advisor and develop a "remediation plan," which includes a set of courses to pass, with a sufficient GPA, in the upcoming semester. Students who do not raise their GPA to or above 3.0 in the following semester may face dismissal.

Graduate Courses

For every graduate course the following table lists the outcomes and syllabus, the prerequisite, the course coordinator, and when the course is typically offered. Please also see our pdf handouts for [1]consolidated lists of course pre-requisites and [2]recommended courses by topic area.

Undergraduate students may take any 500-level course for which they satisfy the prerequisites. 600 level courses may be taken only by undergraduates with GPA 3.0 or greater and with the permission of the course instructor.

Graduate Courses (600-899)

Back to Top Required Documentation

For questions related to program requirements and application materials, please check with the Office of Graduate Admissions at gradadmissions@stevens.edu.

For more details on deadlines and how to apply please visit the Office of Graduate Admissions website.