Computer Science Graduate Certificate (Onsite / Online)

A certificate provides working professionals with recognition of a coherent program of advanced study at the graduate level. The CS department at UMD offers several of these certificates. Each certificate program is compatible with our MS degree requirements, allowing certificate recipients to transition to a degree program without loss of credit.

Upon completion of this certificate program, students will gain:

Knowledge of advanced computer systems and software development.
Advanced knowledge of selected areas of modern computing, including but not limited to intelligent information systems, parallel and distributed computing systems, and software engineering.
An understanding of new advances in the discipline of computing such as software engineering and machine learning, mobile robotics, and cybersecurity.
A route to the MS program in Computer Science at UMass Dartmouth.

Requirements

Students are required to take two (2) courses from the list below:

CIS 522 - Algorithms & Complexity Credits: 3
CIS 560 - Theoretical Comp Science Credits: 3
CIS 570 - Adv Computer Systems Credits: 3
CIS 580 - Paradigmatic Sftware Dev Credits: 3

Other courses

Take any three (3) CIS 500/600 level courses.

Total credits for certificate - 15.

Note

The five courses that students take for the certificate are compatible with the requirements for the MS in Computer Science degree, allowing certificate recipients to transition to the degree program without loss of credit.

Acceptance to a Certificate Program (Onsite/Online)

Applicants must have earned a BS degree in an appropriate field. One applies for acceptance to a graduate certificate program through the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants follow the graduate degree admissions process for the MS in Computer Science program, but with a reduced formality. Thus, they submit a shortened application form, an essay, and official transcripts of all post-secondary work, as instructed herein. However, they are not required to submit GRE scores and recommendation letters.

A joint faculty committee will review applications for admission to the certificate program. One element in the review will be to assess whether a student meets the stated prerequisites and, in general, has the appropriate combination of background and experience to succeed in the certificate program. It is possible for a student to be admitted with a contingency that the student must take one or more undergraduate prerequisite courses.

Other Certificate Policies

Prospective students can take up to two courses (with the instructor’s permission) for the certificate before completing their official acceptance to the certificate program. Other graduate policies, such as those for longevity of credit, acceptable grades, and repeatability of courses, also apply to certificate students as they do to degree students.

See Computer Science Graduate Certificate for description and requirements.