Computer Science MS, PhD Degree Programs

Prepare for an Advanced Career in Computer Science

Graduate programs in the Michigan Tech Department of Computer Science pave the way to exciting, well-compensated career opportunities. You'll be well-prepared through Michigan Tech's high-quality educational experience, which blends fundamentals, cutting-edge technologies, and innovative research.

Computer Science faculty and students apply computational approaches to solve significant hardware, software, and data problems across a wide range of disciplines. Students have many rich opportunities to conduct leading-edge research in a friendly, collegial atmosphere. You will find us working on research in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, big data, internet of things, biometrics, computer and network security, human-computer interaction, and more.

Our students and graduates are in high demand by state, national, and international companies. And our alumni are active throughout the nation and worldwide, developing innovative technologies and solving hard multidisciplinary problems.

Are you ready for the future? We are. Join us!

What Sets Us Apart

Four faculty members and an alumnus have received prestigious NSF CAREER Awards.
Alumni hold faculty positions at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, University of Houston, and University of Rochester, among others.
Our graduates are employed in a range of industries, including Amazon, AMD, Ford, Google, Microsoft, Netflix, Intel, Qualcomm, Raytheon, Texas Instruments, and more.
Graduate students have received the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Award, the King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship, the Google Anita Borg Scholarship, and a NASA-Harriet G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship Award
Research projects in compilers, computer architecture, computer science education, and parallel computing have each received funding of over $1 million.
Special-Purpose Research and Learning Labs
- Artificial intelligence/robotics lab
- Cluster computing lab
- Compiler/architecture lab
- Graphics and Visualization lab
- Human-computer interaction lab
- Virtual Reality Lab
- Operating Systems/Security and Privacy

MS Degree Plans

MS, Computer Science: Thesis Option

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	20 Credits
Thesis research	6-10 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

The CS Department allows up to 6 of the 30 hours of credit required for graduation to be in CS5990. In addition to completing the 30 hours of credit in approved courses (including CS5990 and up to 3 hours of CS5999 credit though not more than 9 total hours may be taken in CS5990 and CS5999), a student following the thesis option is expected to:

Prepare a written plan describing the thesis research.
Defend the research plan in an oral seminar presentation or meet with the advisory committee to discuss the research plan.
Prepare a final thesis.
Defend the thesis in an oral seminar presentation.
Learn more about the Thesis Option

MS, Computer Science: Project Option

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in twelve months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

The project option allows up to 6 of the 30 hours of credit required for graduation to be in CS5990. In addition to completing the 30 hours of credit in approved courses (including CS5990 and up to 3 hours of CS5999 credit), a student following the project option is expected to: present written and oral project reports at the conclusion of the project. Thus, the student should:

Prepare a written project plan that describes any background work necessary for completion of the project.
Present the project plan to the advisory committee.
Prepare a final report at the conclusion of the project.
Defend the project report in a public oral seminar presentation.
Learn more about the Project Option.

MS, Computer Science: Coursework Option

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through coursework. A limited number of research credits may be used with the approval of the advisor, department, and Graduate School. See degree requirements for more information.

A graduate program may require an oral or written examination before conferring the degree and may require more than the minimum credits listed here:

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	18 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

The coursework option requires 30 hours of graded course work.
None of the 30 hours of credit required for graduation may be in CS5990 and no more than 3 hours of CS5999 credit may be applied to the 30-hour requirement.
Course work option students have the graduate director as their advisor.
Learn more about the Coursework Option.

Accelerated Master's, Computer Science

Undergraduate students can complete both their bachelor's and master's degrees on an accelerated timeline.

PhD Degree Plan

PhD Requirements: Computer Science

To complete a doctoral degree, students must complete the following milestones:

Complete all coursework and research credits (see credit requirements below)
Pass Qualifying Examination
Pass Research Proposal Examination
Prepare and Submit Approved Dissertation
Pass Final Oral Defense

The minimum credit requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Degrees	Credits
MS-PhD (minimum)	30 Credits
BS-PhD (minimum)	60 Credits

Individual programs may have higher standards and students are expected to know their program's requirements. See the Doctor of Philosophy Requirements website for more information about PhD milestones and related timelines.

For a full explanation of PhD requirements, please visit the Graduate School's Doctor of Philosophy Requirements page. Please consult the Graduate Handbook for additional information.

Coursework

A minimum of 60 credits of approved coursework and research (30 credits beyond a master's degree) is required. The PhD student must complete an approved PhD program in computer science, the PhD credit requirement, and the graduate-level breadth requirement.

Credits

To complete the PhD credit requirement a student must complete a total of 30 credits of coursework, and/or CS6990 Dissertation Research beyond the MS program requirement. These courses must be approved by the Advisory Committee. The PhD students must earn a grade of B or better in all courses. Use Academic Audit to review degree requirements. A VPN connection is required to access the system.

Examination and Related Forms

Pass the PhD Qualifying Exam

The PhD qualifying exam consists of the PhD Breadth Requirement and the PhD Research Qualifying Evaluation (RQE). (See section 3.4.2 of the Graduate Handbook.)
Pass the PhD Breadth Requirement.
- Complete CS5311 and CS5321.
- Complete three courses from three separate areas out of areas B, C, D, E. (See Section 3.3.1 of the Graduate Handbook for a list of eligible courses.)
- Complete two specialty courses approved by the advisory committee.
- Achieve an average GPA of 3.5 across the seven breadth courses.
- If a student wishes to count non-Michigan Tech courses toward the requirement, complete the PhD Breadth Requirement Waiver form.
- A student with a BS or MS in computer science or a closely related field must complete the breadth requirement within 3 or 2 years, respectively, from the start of their enrollment in the Department of Computer Science PhD program. A student without a degree in a field closely related to computer science will be given an additional six months to complete the breadth requirement.

- Submit the report on the PhD Breadth Requirement form.
Pass the RQE
- You must have an advisor before taking this exam.
- Complete a research report.
- Make a public oral presentation of your research results.
- A student with a MS in computer science or a closely related field must pass the RQE within three years from the start of enrollment in the Computer Science PhD program. A student with a BS in computer science or a closely related field must pass the RQE within two years from the start of enrollment in the Computer Science PhD program. A student without a degree in a field closely related to computer science must pass the RQE within four years. Funded students are expected to complete the RQE earlier than these deadlines. See the graduate handbook for more.
- Submit the Report on Research Qualifying Exam.

Dissertation Research Proposal Defense

This is an oral presentation of the student's dissertation proposal and an oral examination on the proposed research by the advisory committee.
The proposal defense must be passed within two years of passing the PhD qualifying exam. Students that are funded by the department are expected to complete the proposal within 1 year of completing the RQE.
Submit the PhD Proposal Defense Report and the Proposal Assessment form.

Dissertation Defense

Conduct a research review three months before the defense.
Make your public presentation and defense of the dissertation research.
Submit the Grad School's Report on Oral Exam form and the Dissertation Assessment Form.
Submit the Grad School's Degree Completion form.

Additional Requirements

Official final transcripts showing proof of your previous degrees, if not from Michigan Tech.
Complete a Patent, Research and Proprietary Rights form.

The PhD student must complete:

An approved MS program in computer science,
A PhD credit requirement, and
A graduate-level breadth requirement.
Learn more about PhD degree plans.

Admissions Options

When applying for a PhD in Computer Science, you may be admitted directly or through MS admission, with contingent acceptance to the PhD program in the future.

Direct admission: As an applicant, you are a good fit for our PhD program, and you will be accepted as a fully-funded PhD student. Excellent academic records, high GRE scores, and research publications in prestigious venues will increase your chances for direct admission.
MS admission, with contingent acceptance for a PhD: You will be initially admitted to our MS program as a self-funded student. This means you are well-positioned to transition into our PhD program, but your final admission is contingent upon finishing your MS with an excellent record.

If you feel that you may not have the competitive credentials for initial PhD acceptance, we invite you to apply directly for a master's in computer science.

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

2 Letters of Recommendation
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate overall GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale
GRE
- Not required for Master's applicants
- Required for PhD International Students only, waived if undergraduate or Master's degree is from a U.S. institution
4-year Bachelor's degree required - Must have a degree in Computer Science or a similar field. Students with degrees in other fields may be required to take preparatory courses.

International Students

TOEFL scores as of January 21, 2026: Recommended Score of 4.5
- For tests taken before January 21, 2026: Recommended Score of 90 iBT
IELTS: Recommended Score of 6.5 overall

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 4.5 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made between March 15 to April 1

Recommended Deadlines

Fall Semester: January 15

Spring Semester: August 1

Summer: Please contact the Graduate Program Director

For full financial consideration for Fall: February 1

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accelerated Master's Requirements

Our Accelerated Master's Program is available for current Michigan Tech students.

Program Specific

2 Letters of Recommendation
GPA of 3.0 or greater
No GRE required

Eligible Undergraduate Majors

Computer Science
Software Engineering
Computer Engineering

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.

Taking the Leap to Graduate School?

Learn more about the Graduate Master's Computer Science Program at Michigan's flagship technological university.

Funding Opportunities

Financial Support

The graduate program endeavors to support all students who need financial support using a combination of external and internal funding. The funding opportunities are varied across disciplinary boundaries. The graduate school endeavors to find funding opportunities for each incoming student appropriate to that student’s background, however, funding is not guaranteed.

Decisions on financial support and contract offers for the upcoming academic year are typically made in the spring semester.

Applicants for GRA (Graduate Research Assistant) positions should submit a current vita emphasizing their research qualifications.

Conferences and Travel Support

It is important for students to attend conferences in their area of research. Often, travel support is available through various research grants, but students should not depend upon this. Limited travel funds are available from the Graduate Student Government (GSG). Contact gradadms@mtu.edu with your questions regarding funding opportunities.

Fellowships and Scholarships

Resources

The Department of Computer Science

In Michigan Tech’s Department of Computer Science, we pioneer the future. Our students learn to think deeply at the computational level, where the technological evolution is happening. Our peer mentoring programs, access to friendly faculty, and research collaborations across our R1 institution give Computing Huskies the support of a vibrant campus and industry network. Claim your place at the head of the pack and be part of the transformation as artificial intelligence and other advancements just over the edge of the computing horizon change the world.

In Tech's computer science department, you can:

Pilot human-robotics interactions and walk Balto, the robot dog greeter in our robotics lab.
Mentor fellow Huskies—or get the help you need in our one-of-a-kind Student Academic Mentors (SAM) program.
Tap into leading-edge research and continuous development opportunities in Michigan Tech’s Center for Artificial Intelligence.
Hang out in the Rekhi Round Lounge or our faculty-student lounge and get to know your fellow Huskies from across campus.
Do game-centric research for early Alzheimer’s detection and other life-changing projects in Tech’s new H-STEM Complex, which is devoted to cross-disciplinary health research.
Pursue a minor in computer science, cybersecurity, or data acquisition and controls to level up what you bring to the table.

Tomorrow won’t wait. Neither will we.

Computing is for everyone, everywhere. Artificial intelligence, robotics, data science, and other forms of digital connectivity are ingrained in nearly every aspect of life. Cybersecurity has never been more important. These transformational technologies require intrepid problem-solvers, bold leaders, and fearless visionaries. You can be one of them.

Founded in 2019, Michigan Tech's College of Computing is one of the first colleges in the nation and one of the few institutions of its kind to focus solely on computing. Digital transformation has morphed every discipline into a computing discipline, reinventing industries like manufacturing, criminal justice, marketing, and healthcare. At Tech, we are making sure employers have the computing talent they need to thrive—and that our students are equipped for fulfilling careers now and for all the tomorrows to come.

The world needs Computing[MTU]. The world needs you.

Supercharge your future.

Study, do research, and build a future-forward career at a flagship R1 public research university powered by STEM. Get the theoretical knowledge and practical experience you need to succeed in a high-tech world.

Our students work alongside faculty on meaningful research, like helping to detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier and making machine learning more user-friendly. They connect at the intersection of engineering and computing in our mechatronics playground. They teach middle schoolers coding and cybersecurity basics, assist older generations with digital literacy essentials, and help each other persist through academic and life challenges through SAM, our unique peer mentoring program. Computing Huskies also partner with national entities like the US Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency as well as local businesses to analyze security and safeguard sensitive data. And, from robotics to the MTU RedTeam, Huskies train, run, and win national competitions.

Find your jam at Tech—whether it's competing in Esports, joining an Enterprise team, or working with a group of Huskies to build a robot in three days. Here, you’ll find opportunities to connect with what clicks. And when it’s time to blow off steam, the Keweenaw Peninsula’s trails, forests, and Lake Superior beaches await, along with Michigan Tech’s Mont Ripley Ski Hill.

When it comes to preparing for life after graduation, our Career Fair offers more than a one-day event—it’s a series of workshops and meetups, leading to co-ops, internships, and full-time, well-paying positions. If you want to be ready for what tomorrow needs, your future starts now, in the Michigan Tech College of Computing.

"I chose MTU for my graduate degree because of the great relationships I made with the professors in my undergrad. People actually care about you at MTU and you are not just a number. The welcoming environment at Computing[MTU] brings with it opportunities and a bright future."Elijah Cobb, PhD student, Computer Science