Master of Science

A candidate is required to complete a program of 45 units. At least 36 of these must be graded units, passed with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) or better. (Courses taken for a CR or S grade from Spring 2019-20 through Summer 2020-21 satisfy MS-CS requirements as if taken for a letter grade.) The 45 units may include no more than ten units of courses from those listed below in the Foundations Requirement. Thus, students needing to take more than two of the courses listed in Foundations complete more than 45 units of coursework in the program. Only well-prepared students may expect to finish the program in one year; most students complete the program in six quarters. Students hoping to complete the program with 45 units should already have a substantial background in computer science, including coursework or experience equivalent to all of Foundations and some prior coursework related to their specialization area.

This requirement is relevant to the following subplans:

• Artificial Intelligence

• Computational Biology

• Computer and Network Security

• Human-Computer Interaction

• Information Management and Analytics

• Software Theory

• Systems

• Theoretical Computer Science

• Visual Computing

Additional elective units must be technical courses, numbered above 101, related to the degree program and approved by the advisor and MS program administrator. All CS courses numbered above 111, except  CS161A, CS196, CS198, CS390A, CS390B, and CS390C, taken for three or more units, are pre-approved as elective courses. Additionally, up to a maximum of three units of one to two-unit seminars offered in the School of Engineering may be counted as electives. Units of elective credit are capped at 5 units per quarter per course (does not apply to CS399). Elective courses that satisfy a Breadth requirement must be taken for a letter grade. Otherwise, elective courses may be taken on a satisfactory/no credit basis provided that a minimum of 36 graded units is presented within the 45-unit program. (Courses taken for a CR or S grade from Spring 2019-20 through Summer 2020-21 satisfy MS-CS requirements as if taken for a letter grade.)

*CS 129 may not be counted toward the MS if CS 229 is being counted toward any BS or MS requirements.

Students must complete at least three courses, each chosen from a different Breadth area A, B, C, or D. Breadth courses may not be waived, must be taken for at least three units each, and must be completed for a letter grade. (Courses taken for a CR or S grade from spring 2019-20 through summer 2020-21 satisfy MS-CS requirements as if taken for a letter grade.) Each of the three Breadth courses must be from different Areas:

The joint MS in Computer Science/MBA degree links two of Stanford University’s world-class programs. This combined degree allows students to develop advanced technical and managerial skills for a broader perspective on existing technologies and new technology ventures.

Admission to the joint MSCS/MBA program requires that students apply and be accepted independently to the Computer Science Department in the School of Engineering and the Graduate School of Business. Students may apply concurrently or elect to begin their course of study in CS and apply to the GSB during their first year.

Additional information on the MS in Computer Science/MBA Joint Degree Program is available on the department’s website opens in a new tab. 

Law students interested in pursuing an MS in Computer Science must apply for admission to the Computer Science Department either (i) concurrently with applying to the Law School; or (ii) after being admitted to the Law School, but no later than the earlier of (a) the end of the second year of Law School or (b) the Computer Science Department’s admission deadline for the year following that second year of Law School.

In addition to being admitted separately to the Law School and the Computer Science Department, students must secure permission from both academic units to pursue degrees in those units as part of a joint degree program.

JD/MS students may elect to begin their course of study in either the Law School or the Computer Science Department. Faculty advisors from each academic unit participate in the planning and supervising of the student’s joint program. Students must be enrolled full-time in the Law School for the first year of law studies. Otherwise, enrollment may be in the graduate school or the Law School, and students may choose courses from either program regardless of where enrolled. Students must satisfy the requirements for the J.D. degree specified by the Law School and the MS degree specified in this Bulletin.

The Law School approves courses from the Department of Computer Science that may count toward the JD degree, and the Computer Science Department approves courses from the Law School that may count toward the MS degree in Computer Science. In either case, approval may consist of a list applicable to all joint-degree students or may be tailored to each individual student program. No more than 45 units of approved courses may be counted toward both degrees. No more than 36 units of courses that originate outside the Law School may count toward the Law degree. To the extent that courses under this joint degree program originate outside the Law School but count toward the Law degree, the Law School credits permitted under Section 17(1) of the Law School Regulations shall be reduced on a unit-per-unit basis but not below zero. The maximum number of Law School credits that may be counted toward the MS in Computer Science is the greater of (i) 12 units; or (ii) the maximum number of units from courses outside of the department that MS candidates in Computer Science are permitted to count toward the MS in the case of a particular student’s individual program. Tuition and financial aid arrangements are usually through the school where the student is enrolled.

Graduate student assistantships are available. Half-time assistants receive a tuition scholarship for 8, 9, or 10 units per quarter during the academic year and a salary.

Duties for half-time assistants during the academic year involve approximately 20 hours of work per week. Course assistants (CAs) help an instructor teach a course by conducting discussion sections, consulting with students, and grading examinations. Research Assistants (RAs) help faculty and senior staff members with research in computer science. Many MS students are hired to staff teaching and research assistantships. However, MS students should not plan on being appointed to an assistantship.

Students with fellowships may have the opportunity to supplement their stipends by serving as graduate student assistants.

A student who wishes to pursue an MS in CS with distinction in research must first identify a faculty advisor who agrees to supervise and support the research work. The research advisor must be a member of the Academic Council and must hold an appointment in Computer Science. The student and principal advisor must also identify another faculty member who need not be in the Department of Computer Science to serve as a secondary advisor and reader for the research report. In addition, the student must complete the following requirements beyond those for the regular MS in CS degree:

1. Research Experience—The program must include significant research experience at the level of a half-time commitment over three academic quarters. In any given quarter, the half-time research commitment may be satisfied by a 50 percent appointment to a departmentally supported research assistantship, six units of independent study (CS 399), or a prorated combination of the two (such as a 25 percent research assistantship supplemented by three units of independent study). This research must be carried out under the direction of the primary or secondary advisor.

2. Supervised Writing and Research—In addition to the research experience outlined in the previous requirement, students must enroll in at least three units of independent research (CS 399) under the direction of their primary or secondary advisor. These units should be closely related to the research described in the first requirement but focused more on preparing the research report described in the next section. The writing and research units described in parts (1) and (2) may be counted toward the 45 units required for the degree.

3. All independent study units (CS 399) must be taken for letter grades, and a GPA of 3.0 (B) or better must be maintained.

4. Research Report—Students must complete a significant report describing their research and its conclusions. The research report represents work publishable in a journal or at a high-quality conference, although it is presumably longer and more expansive in scope than a typical conference paper. A copy of the research report must be submitted to the student services office in the department three weeks before the beginning of the examination period in the student’s final quarter. The primary and secondary advisors must approve the research report before the distinction-in-research designation can be conferred.

Graduate student assistantships are available. Half-time assistants receive a tuition scholarship for 8, 9, or 10 units per quarter during the academic year and, in addition, receive a salary.

Duties for half-time assistants during the academic year involve approximately 20 hours of work per week. Course assistants (CAs) help an instructor teach a course by conducting discussion sections, consulting with students, and grading examinations. Research assistants (RAs) help faculty and senior staff members with research in computer science. Many MS students are hired to staff teaching and research assistantships. However, MS students should not plan on being appointed to an assistantship.

Students with fellowships may have the opportunity to supplement their stipends by serving as graduate student assistants.

All courses for this requirement must be taken on a letter-grade basis and for three or more units.  (Courses taken for a CR or S grade from Spring 2019-20 through Summer 2020-21 satisfy MS-CS requirements as if taken for a letter grade.)

• A program of 21 units must be completed. When a subplan allows for independent study, a maximum of six units of independent study (CS 399) may be counted toward the subplan.

• Sections A + B are required. Section C is not required if sections A + B equal 21 units or more.

• Depth deviations are no longer advisor approved. You must fill out a petition form to the MSCS director. Petitions will only be approved in exceptional circumstances such as unforeseeable change in course availability.

A total of at least 21 units from categories A, B, and the following:

All courses for this requirement must be taken on a letter-grade basis and for three or more units.   (Courses taken for a CR or S grade from spring 2019-20 through summer 2020-21 satisfy MS-CS requirements as if taken for a letter grade.)

• A program of 21 units must be completed. When a subplan allows for independent study, a maximum of six units of independent study (CS 399) may be counted toward the subplan.

• Sections A + B + C + D are required. Section E is not required if sections A-D equal 21 units or more.

• Depth deviations are no longer advisor approved. You must fill out a petition form to the MSCS director. Petitions will only be approved in exceptional circumstances such as unforeseeable change in course availability.

 A total of at least 21 units from categories (A, B, C, D) and the following:

All courses for this requirement must be taken on a letter-grade basis and for three or more units.   (Courses taken for a CR or S grade from spring 2019-20 through summer 2020-21 satisfy MS-CS requirements as if taken for a letter grade.)

• A program of 21 units must be completed. When a subplan allows for independent study, a maximum of six units of independent study (CS 399) may be counted toward the subplan.

• Sections A + B are required. Section C is not required if sections A + B equal 21 units or more.

• Depth deviations are no longer advisor approved. You must fill out a petition form to the MSCS director. Petitions will only be approved in exceptional circumstances such as unforeseeable change in course availability.

A total of at least 21 units from categories A, B, and the following:

All courses for this requirement must be taken on a letter-grade basis and for three or more units.   (Courses taken for a CR or S grade from spring 2019-20 through summer 2020-21 satisfy MS-CS requirements as if taken for a letter grade.)

• A program of 21 units must be completed. When a subplan allows for independent study, a maximum of six units of independent study (CS 399) may be counted toward the subplan.

• Sections A + B + C are required. Section D is not required if sections A-C equal 21 units or more.

• Depth deviations are no longer advisor approved. You must fill out a petition form to the MSCS director. Petitions will only be approved in exceptional circumstances such as unforeseeable change in course availability.

Students who do not take CS347 can satisfy area D with a two-course combination of (1) COMM254 or COM224 and (2) an additional HCI elective from category (F) below.

 A total of at least 21 units from Category A, B, C, D, E, F and the following: