
Admission Criteria
The CS MS program is research-based. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information in their application forms. The admission decision is based on a holistic evaluation of your application package, including academic performance, research interests, statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation.
Academic Readiness Requirements
Admission requires an undergraduate degree with coursework that are required for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at Cal State San Marcos (refer to the CSUSM Course Catalog for course descriptions), or their equivalents. Here is a list of courses needed to make up undergraduate deficiencies:
- CS 311 Data Structures (You must have passed this class before starting the Master's degree)
- CS 331 Computer Architecture
- CS 351 Programming Languages
- CS 433 Operating Systems
- CS 370 Introduction to Software Engineering
- MATH 270 Basic Discrete Mathematics
If you are missing three or fewer of the required courses, you may be admitted with Conditionally Classified status. Once you complete the remaining courses, your status will change to Classified. However, the units earned to meet these requirements cannot be counted toward the Master of Science in Computer Science at Cal State San Marcos.
If you are missing more than three courses, you will not be eligible for admission to the program
Missing course work can be taken through Open University or at another college. Suggested track to complete missing coursework. Assist.org provides assistance to evaluate coursework from other colleges within California.
GPA Requirements
Admission requires a 3.0 GPA in the undergraduate program.
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose outlining their academic and career goals, research interests, relevant experiences, and reasons for pursuing a Master's in Computer Science at the California State University San Marcos.
Applicants must submit a response to the following question as part of their master’s
application:
What are your research interests? Identify one or two topics within your subdiscipline
that interest you. Be as specific as possible about your research focus. Since you
will collaborate with faculty on research, your interests should align with those
of the faculty at CSUSM.
The admission committee will evaluate evidence of research interests or experience in computer science. This may include participation in research projects, publications, conference attendance, or completing a thesis during your undergraduate studies.
Letters of Recommendation
These letters should provide insights into the applicant's academic abilities, research potential, work ethic, and character.
English Proficiency Requirements
An international Applicant is a student who wishes to study at our university on an F-1 (student) visa, who has received a post-secondary degree from a regionally accredited college or university within the United States or outside the United States that meets our accreditation standards. For International Students or Domestic Students with International Coursework, you must provide scores for English Proficiency Test, unless they possess a bachelor's degree from a post-secondary institution where English was the principal language of instruction.
- TOEFL score of 80 iBT or above OR
- IELTS overall band score of 6.0 with a writing score no lower than 6.0 and no section score below 5.5 OR
- Duolingo score of 110 or above
The general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is NOT required but encouraged. The institution code is 4155. The Department Code is 0402.