USF offers a special MSCS program that provides a unique opportunity
for students with three-year undergraduate degrees to pursue a masters
degree in The United States. Students with undergraduate degrees in
technical disciplines such as Indian bachelors of computer
applications (BCA) and bachelors of science (BSc) take an intensive
year of preparatory "foundation" courses at USF in addition to the
regular masters degree courses for the MS Computer Science. Including
the foundation year, the MSCS program for those with three-year
undergraduate degrees takes a total of three years. New students are
accepted each Fall. Students take 5 extra courses in the first year
and then take 8 MSCS courses over the next 2 years (CS342 from the
foundation year reduces their graduate requirements by one course).
USF's MSCS program is an extremely practical and rigorous program
taught by a highly motivated faculty with Ph.D.s from top US
institutions. They are dedicated to providing each student with an
excellent education. Applicants must have demonstrated a commitment
to academic achievement with high marks and have a strong desire to
become a top software developer. The TOEFL and GRE exams are
required. The cost of the program is US$19,100 for the foundation
year and an additional US$30,880 for MSCS. On campus jobs are
plentiful and can cover much of your living expenses. In addition,
students can elect to take Practicum courses
(after first 9 months of study) in order to work in the Silicon
Valley during school. Note that, according to Information Week
magazine, application developers in San Francisco made between
US$80,000 and US$115,000 per year in 2005. Students may do
Optional Practical Training (OPT) for one year after the MSCS
using the student visa, but must obtain a work visa to remain in the
U.S. after that period.
The following table describes the foundation year for entering students
wishing to obtain an MSCS degree:
Fall
------
MA201 Discrete math
CS245 Data structures
CS220 Parallel computing & C programming
Spring
------
CS342 Software engineering (counts towards MS degree)
CS326 Operating systems
Required courses after "foundation" year, taken as part of MS
------
CS414 Compilers
CS315 Computer architecture
Last modified Thursday November 15, 2007
Department of Computer Science, University of San Francisco
Please e-mail webmaster at cs dot usfca dot edu with comments or problems
