Computer Science: MCS, MS, PhD
Department: Computer Science Department
College: College of Science
About This Degree
This department offers graduate students an extensive education in many areas in computer science. Its faculty members are engaged in research and cutting-edge advancements in computer science and they teach the graduate courses in the department giving graduate students individual attention. Students who graduate with advanced degrees in computer science have high job placement and, as computers are crucial to nearly every industry, continued growth in computer science careers is expected in the future. Additionally, the MS in computer science at USU is offered via distance education and available through evening classes allowing working professionals to obtain a master's degree.
There are six areas of research focus for graduate students and faculty within the department:
- Artificial Intelligence and Computer vision: Artificial intelligence deals with the development of systems (hardware and/or software) that in some way exhibit intelligent behavior. Computer vision studies how to make sense of and use images and video. Teaching and research at USU in this area focuses on robotics, image and video analysis, machine learning, and agents.
- Data Science: Data Science is an emerging field that seeks to visualize, analyze, and understand data, often big data. At USU researchers specialize in data quality, data visualization, data mining, and deep learning. USU offers an MS in Data Science as well.
- Security: Security is about all aspects of secure, private and reliable data, communications, and software. At USU teaching and research centers on making security and privacy more usable and cyber security.
- Algorithms: Algorithms are at the core of developing fast and efficient applications. USU researchers are at the cutting edge of algorithms in computational geometry, energy use, and bioinformatics.
- Software systems: This is a broad area of computer science that covers every aspect of software development, with the goal to create more sophisticated, reliable, and secure software. USU researchers specialize in distributed computing, software engineering, and databases.
- Computer education: Computer education covers ways to improve how we teach computer science and how to use computers in teaching. Researchers in this area at USU develop games, methodologies, and programs to improve education.
The Master of Computer Science (MCS) is a terminal degree with coursework requirements similar to the MS, but lacking the MS's requirement for original research.
Locations
- Beaver
- Bicknell
- Blanding
- Brigham City
- Castle Dale
- Cedar City
- Delta
- Ephraim
- Heber City
- Junction
- Kanab
- Kaysville
- Logan (Main Campus)
- Moab
- Montezuma Creek
- Monticello
- Monument Valley
- Nephi
- Orem
- Panguitch
- Park City
- Price (USU Eastern)
- Richfield
- Roosevelt (Uintah Basin)
- Salt Lake
- St George
- Tooele
- Tremonton
- Vernal (Uintah Basin)
- Wendover
Location Restrictions
To view all degrees and programs available at USU, visit Degree Finder. Please note, not all degrees and programs are available at every location. We recommend searching by location unless you intend on relocating. Contact a Statewide Campuses advisor to verify program availability in your area.
View Potential Careers
Careers in computer science can be categorized into the following four areas:
Software development (software systems)
- Business applications
- Game development
- Web programming
- Scientific computing
Finding and creating new uses for computers (AI, parallel computing, or bioinformatics)
- Searching for cancer and other disease treatments
- Automating medical images such as mammograms
- Autonomous vehicles for use in agriculture and more
Solving computer problems (AI, parallel computing, or bioinformatics)
- Research in computer theory
- Creating more effective algorithms
Managing computer systems (software systems or parallel computing specializations)
- This can be done for a wide variety of industries and companies
Additionally, PhD graduates are qualified to pursue academia or research positions with government or private labs.
Course Listing (University Catalog)
Quick Guide
How to Get Started
The College of Science may charge differential tuition for this program. Differential tuition is an added cost per credit for courses in the program. See the last page in the USU Tuition & Fee schedule for more information.