Computer Science and Engineering

Study mode:On campus Study type:Full-time Languages: English
Foreign:$ 50.1 k / Year(s) Deadline: Dec 15, 2024
StudyQA ranking:7641 Duration:2 years

Photos of university / #ucsandiego

Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) is concerned with fundamental aspects of computer science and computer engineering. Degrees are offered in Computer Science and Computer Engineering. Research emphases include Algorithms and Complexity; Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Bioinformatics; Computer Architecture and Compilers; Computer Graphics; Computer Vision; Databases and Information Management; Embedded Systems and Software; High-Performance Computing; Programming Systems; Security and Cryptography; Software Engineering; Systems and Networking; VLSI/CAD

M.S. Plan I - Thesis

Students must complete 12 units (three courses) from the breadth areas Theory, Systems and Applications as follows:

  • Computer Science majors must take one course from each of the three areas.  
  • Computer Engineering majors must take two courses from Systems plus one course from either Theory or Applications.   
  • Courses must be taken for a letter grade and completed with grade of B- or higher. 

The list of the current courses for each breadth area is as follows:

Theory

  • 200 (Complexity)
  • 201A (Advanced Complexity)
  • 202 (Algorithms)
  • 203A (Advanced Algorithms)
  • 205A (Logic in CS)
  • 207 (Cryptography)

Systems

  • 221 (Operating Systems)
  • 222A (Computer Communication Networks)
  • 231 (Compilers) 
  • 237A (Embedded Systems) or 237B (Embedded Software)
  • 240A (Architecture)
  • 241A (Computing Circuits) or 243A (VLSI CAD) or 244A (VLSI Test)
  • (Exception for 2015 Curriculum: Course # 873227, SEC E, Spring 2016)

Applications

  • 210 (Software Engineering) 
  • 216 (Human-Computer Interaction)
  • 230 (Programming Languages)
  • 232 (Databases)
  • 250A (Artificial Intelligence) or 250B (Machine Learning)
  • 252A (Vision I) or 252B (Vision II)
  • 260 (Parallel Computation)
  • 280A (Bioinformatics) 

DEPTH (12 units)

Students must complete three graduate courses (twelve units) from one of the depth areas listed below.  Courses must be taken for a letter grade.  Computer Science majors may choose any depth area.  Computer Engineering majors must choose courses from the Computer Engineering depth area. 

  • Artificial Intelligence CSE 250A-C, 253-258A, MAE 242
    • Exceptions for  2015 MS Curriculum
  • Bioinformatics (CSE 280A, 282, 283, MATH 283
  • Computer Engineering CSE 231, 237A-D, 240A-248, ECE 260A-C, ECE 284
  • Computer Systems CSE 221-228, 260-262
    • Exceptions for  2015 MS Curriculum
  • Database Systems CSE 232, 232B, CSE 233, third course by petition
    • Exceptions for  2015 MS Curriculum
  • Graphics and Vision CSE 252A, 252B, 252C, 272, 274, and COGS 260 **Image Recognition
  • Human-Computer Interaction CSE 170, 216, 218, 250A, COGS 220
    • Exception: COGS 260 (Steven Dow, Crowdsourcing Research)
    • CSE 219 (1 unit seminar) is recommended but does NOT fulfill the three course requirement.
  • Programming Languages, Compilers, and Software Engineering CSE 210, 218, 230, 231
  • Theoretical Computer Science CSE 200 -203, 205-208

M.S. Plan II- Comprehensive Exam, Standard Option 

Students must complete 12 units (three courses) from the breadth areas Theory, Systems and Applications as follows:

  • Computer Science majors must take one course from each of the three areas.  
  • Computer Engineering majors must take two courses from Systems plus one course from either Theory or Applications.   
  • Courses must be taken for a letter grade and completed with grade of B- or higher. 

The list of the current courses for each breadth area is as follows:

Theory

  • 200 (Complexity)
  • 201A (Advanced Complexity)
  • 202 (Algorithms)
  • 203A (Advanced Algorithms)
  • 205A (Logic in CS)
  • 207 (Cryptography)

Systems

  • 221 (Operating Systems)
  • 222A (Computer Communication Networks)
  • 231 (Compilers) 
  • 237A (Embedded Systems) or 237B (Embedded Software)
  • 240A (Architecture)
  • 241A (Computing Circuits) or 243A (VLSI CAD) or 244A (VLSI Test)
  • (Exception for 2015 Curriculum: Course # 873227, SEC E, Spring 2016)

Applications

  • 210 (Software Engineering) 
  • 216 (Human-Computer Interaction)
  • 230 (Programming Languages)
  • 232 (Databases)
  • 250A (Artificial Intelligence) or 250B (Machine Learning)
  • 252A (Vision I) or 252B (Vision II)
  • 260 (Parallel Computation)
  • 280A (Bioinformatics) 

DEPTH (12 units)

Students must complete three graduate courses (twelve units) from this list.  Courses must be taken for a letter grade.  Computer Science majors may choose any depth area.  Computer Engineering majors must choose courses from the Computer Engineering depth area. 

  • Artificial Intelligence CSE 250A-C, 253-258A, MAE 242
    • Exceptions for  2015 MS Curriculum
  • Bioinformatics (CSE 280A, 282, 283, MATH 283
  • Computer Engineering CSE 231, 237A-D, 240A-248, ECE 260A-C, ECE 284
  • Computer Systems CSE 221-228, 260-262
    • Exceptions for  2015 MS Curriculum
  • Database Systems CSE 232, 232B, CSE 233, third course by petition
    • Exceptions for  2015 MS Curriculum
  • Graphics and Vision CSE 252A, 252B, 252C, 272, 274, and COGS 260 **Image Recognition
  • Human-Computer Interaction CSE 170, 216, 218, 250A, COGS 220
    • Exception: COGS 260 (Steven Dow, Crowdsourcing Research)
    • CSE 219 (1 unit seminar) is recommended but does NOT fulfill the three course requirement.
  • Programming Languages, Compilers, and Software Engineering CSE 210, 218, 230, 231
  • Theoretical Computer Science CSE 200 -203, 205-208

M.S. Plan II - Comprehensive Exam, Interdisciplinary Option

Students must complete 12 units (three courses) from the breadth areas Theory, Systems and Applications as follows:

  • Computer Science majors must take one course from each of the three areas.  
  • Computer Engineering majors must take two courses from Systems plus one course from either Theory or Applications.   
  • Courses must be taken for a letter grade and completed with grade of B- or higher. 

The list of the current courses for each breadth area is as follows:

Theory

  • 200 (Complexity)
  • 201A (Advanced Complexity)
  • 202 (Algorithms)
  • 203A (Advanced Algorithms)
  • 205A (Logic in CS)
  • 207 (Cryptography)

Systems

  • 221 (Operating Systems)
  • 222A (Computer Communication Networks)
  • 231 (Compilers) 
  • 237A (Embedded Systems) or 237B (Embedded Software)
  • 240A (Architecture)
  • 241A (Computing Circuits) or 243A (VLSI CAD) or 244A (VLSI Test)
  • (Exception for 2015 Curriculum: Course # 873227, SEC E, Spring 2016)

Applications

  • 210 (Software Engineering) 
  • 216 (Human-Computer Interaction)
  • 230 (Programming Languages)
  • 232 (Databases)
  • 250A (Artificial Intelligence) or 250B (Machine Learning)
  • 252A (Vision I) or 252B (Vision II)
  • 260 (Parallel Computation)
  • 280A (Bioinformatics) 

PRIMARY DEPTH  (12 units)

Students must complete three graduate courses (twelve units) from this list.  Courses must be taken for a letter grade.  Computer Science majors may choose any depth area.  Computer Engineering majors must choose courses from the Computer Engineering depth area. 

  • Artificial Intelligence CSE 250A-C, 253-258A, MAE 242
    • Exceptions for  2015 MS Curriculum
  • Bioinformatics (CSE 280A, 282, 283, MATH 283
  • Computer Engineering CSE 231, 237A-D, 240A-248, ECE 260A-C, ECE 284
  • Computer Systems CSE 221-228, 260-262
    • Exceptions for  2015 MS Curriculum
  • Database Systems CSE 232, 232B, CSE 233, third course by petition
    • Exceptions for  2015 MS Curriculum
  • Graphics and Vision CSE 252A, 252B, 252C, 272, 274, and COGS 260 **Image Recognition
  • Human-Computer Interaction CSE 170, 216, 218, 250A, COGS 220
    • Exception: COGS 260 (Steven Dow, Crowdsourcing Research)
    • CSE 219 (1 unit seminar) is recommended but does NOT fulfill the three course requirement.
  • Programming Languages, Compilers, and Software Engineering CSE 210, 218, 230, 231
  • Theoretical Computer Science CSE 200 -203, 205-208

Requirements

  • Online Application: UCSD Graduate Division online application
    • Applicants should review the application information and procedures prior to submitting their applications.
  • Official Transcripts
    • Transcripts should be uploaded on-line to the UCSD Online Graduate application (https://gradapply.ucsd.edu/). Please do not mail any documents to the department. If offered admission, students will mail the official transcripts to the Graduate Division.
    • If a student is offered admission to the program: Official transcripts of record from each university-level institution attended must be provided. A summary of credit transferred from an institution previously attended and recorded on the transcript issued by the school granting the degree will not suffice. Applicants should request that official transcripts of all previous academic work, including certification of degrees received or documentation of status upon leaving each institution, be mailed to the Graduate Division. Only official records bearing the signature of the registrar and the seal of the issuing institution will be accepted.
    • Applicants who attended any campus of the University of California, including UCSD, must provide official transcripts of the UC course work. Transcripts from UCSD may be ordered by an applicant from the Office of the Registrar. There is no charge for UCSD transcripts of record sent to departments in support of an application for graduate study.
    • International applicants: At the time of application, please upload all transcript documents to the online application. Please do not mail any documents to the department. If offered admission, students will mail the official transcripts to the Graduate Division.
      • If a student is offered admission to the program: True copies, facsimiles, or photostatic copies of foreign academic records will be accepted if, after the copies have been made, they have been personally signed and stamped by an educational official who certifies that they are exact copies of the original document. Properly certified and signed copies should be sent instead of irreplaceable original documents. Academic records must be in the language of the institution and should be accompanied by an official English translation. Foreign academic records must show all courses attended each year, examinations passed, seminars completed, and grades or marks received at all institutions where formal records are maintained.
  • Statement of Purpose
    • The statement of purpose must be submitted on-line through the UCSD Application for Graduate Admission (https://gradapply.ucsd.edu/).
    • An applicant's statement of purpose is very important and is given careful consideration in the selection process. There is no specific word limit, but be concise and specific in preparing your statement, giving information that demonstrates your level of preparation and potential for success in graduate school. Applicants should address past accomplishments within the realm of computer science and engineering, why they are qualified for the program, and goals they wish to pursue while in graduate school.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
    • Three letters of recommendation are required.
    • It is important that letters of recommendation be completed by individuals who are in a position to analyze your abilities and academic promise. Our preference is that the referee hold an academic position, but we certainly understand that many of our applicants have been out of school for a number of years, and a letter from a professional referee is acceptable.
    • It is preferred that letters of recommendation are submitted online.
    • For additional information about the procedures and policies for letters of recommendation, please review the UCSD Graduate Division guidelines at Procedures for Letters of Recommendations
  • GRE Score Report
    • The General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations is required of all applicants. The computer science Subject Test is recommended, but not required.  Other optional relevant subject tests are math or one of the physical or natural sciences.  A high score on a subject GRE exam is a positive mark in an applicant's favor, particularly when an applicant does not have a bachelor's degree in computer science or in a closely related field. However, there is no penalty for not taking a subject GRE exam.
    • Applicants should request that ETS submit the scores directly to the UCSD institution code R4836.
    • The GRE score results, test date, and registration #  must be entered in the online application by the application deadline.  Applicants are advised to schedule their GRE test far enough in advance to meet the deadline.
  • TOEFL Score Report (international applicants only)
    • The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for international applicants whose native language is not English and who have not studied full-time at a university-level institution in an English-speaking country for one uninterrupted academic year.
    • Applicants should request that ETS submit the scores directly to the UCSD institution code R4836.
  • Resume/CV:
    • A resume or curriculum vita should be uploaded to the online application under the Resume/CV section.
    • Please do NOT mail documents to the department. 

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

  • ✔️ Flexible study schedule
  • ✔️ Experienced teachers
  • ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

  • Global Education
  • Different Fellowships and Traineeships
Similar programs:
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Foreign:$ 33.8 k
Deadline: Nov 1, 2025 StudyQA ranking: 4839
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 92.6 k Foreign:$ 92.6 k
3 place StudyQA ranking: 5282
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 55 k Foreign:$ 55 k
26 place StudyQA ranking: 3690
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Foreign:$ 35.1 k / 2 Year(s)
Deadline: Jan 1, 2025 26 place StudyQA ranking: 6537
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 61.7 k Foreign:$ 61.7 k
Deadline: Dec 4, 2024 2 place StudyQA ranking: 7130
Study mode:On campus Languages: English
Local:$ 93.3 k / 2 Year(s) Foreign:$ 93.3 k / 2 Year(s)
Deadline: Dec 4, 2024 2 place StudyQA ranking: 4824