Computer Science

In the computer science department at Dartmouth, graduate students interact closely with world-class researchers in a tight-knit, collegial environment that provides abundant opportunities for both intra- and interdisciplinary research. We actively collaborate with researchers in engineering, business, mathematics, the arts, biology, sociology, and medicine. Our department also boasts small class sizes, award-winning instructors, and a lively departmental spirit. All students have access to state-of-art facilities and opportunities to start research the first year. 

The Department offers two tracks in the M.S. program: a coursework track and a thesis track.

1. For the coursework track, the student must satisfactorily complete thirteen Computer Science courses taken for graduate credit. At least five of these courses must be numbered above 100. At least one of these thirteen must be an advanced topics graduate course in Computer Science (listed as COSC 149 (Topics in Algorithms and Complexity), COSC 169 (Topics in Computer Systems), and COSC 189 (Topics in Applied Computer Science)). Any courses taken outside of the Computer Science department must be approved by the departmental advisor to Master’s students. The student may use up to two research credit courses (Graduate Research, Thesis Research, Full-Time Thesis Research) to satisfy these requirements, but only if the student earns a P or an HP and the M.S. advisor approves the substitution. Per department policy, selected upper-level undergraduate courses may count for graduate credit for the M.S. degree.
2. For the thesis track, the student must satisfy these coursework and research requirements: 

• The student must satisfactorily complete nine Computer Science courses taken for graduate credit. At least three of these courses must be numbered above 100. At least one of these nine must be an advanced topics graduate course in Computer Science (listed as COSC 149, COSC 169, and COSC 189). Any courses taken outside of the Computer Science department must be approved by the departmental advisor to Master’s students. No research credit courses may be used to satisfy these requirements. Per department policy, selected upper-level undergraduate courses may count for graduate credit for the M.S. degree.
• By the end of the third term of enrollment, the student must petition to and be accepted for the thesis track by the departmental Master’s committee.
• The student must successfully complete at least six course equivalents of research from COSC 297, COSC 298, or COSC 299.
• By the end of the fourth term of study, the student must complete a thesis proposal, consisting of a written document and a public presentation. This thesis proposal will be judged by a faculty committee chosen by the student; the rules used for the composition of this committee are the same as for an M.S. defense committee as noted in requirement (e) below.
• The student must prepare a thesis acceptable to a faculty committee and give a public defense of this thesis. The thesis should represent mostly independent work, and be of sufficient quality to merit publication (with suitable revision) in a refereed venue. The committee shall be formed for the purpose of guiding the student’s research. The chair of this committee, who is the student’s primary research advisor, must be a tenure-track or research-track faculty member in the Computer Science department. In addition to the chair, the committee must include at least one other tenure-track or research-track Computer Science faculty member. The committee must comprise at least three faculty members, one of whom may be from outside the Computer Science department, though an outside member is not required. This committee must be approved by the departmental advisor to M.S. students and by the Dean of Graduate Studies. All members of the committee shall read and sign the thesis in its final form. We expect that the thesis, including a copy of the signature page, shall be published as a departmental Technical Report.

All students start out in the coursework track. Students may then apply to move to the thesis track (students may also petition to move back to the coursework track, although we expect that will be uncommon)

1. The online application form
2. Three (3) letters of recommendation
3. All applicants should upload a scanned copy of their transcripts. Applicants should not send an official transcript to the Graduate Office unless they are admitted and accept our offer of Admission.
4. All applicants may self report GRE and TOEFL scores. However, official scores from ETS should be sent to our office for all applicants.
5. The $60 application fee.

Like many graduate programs, we base our admission decisions primarily on the information requested above. We have no minimum test scores. We recognize that you may have talents and experience that do not shine through the forms and test scores.

Use the Application Essay section of the online application to give additional information. Do you have a specific reason for coming to Dartmouth? Specific goals for your study? Significant work experience? Why do you want to do advanced training in computer science? Include any publications you have authored (not to exceed 30 pages total).

In the Computer Science Supplement section of the online application, attach examples of your work. This is also the place where you can attach a resume.

There is no separate application for financial aid. Every applicant is considered for financial aid, unless you say that you do not need financial support. If you do not need support, please indicate this on the application form, and tell us how you expect to be supported.

At the discretion of the admissions committee, we may award 50% tuition for the first four terms, and 100% tuition for three more terms. Students also pay for the college health insurance plan, unless they have comparable insurance already. The insurance fee for 2015-2016 will be set in early 2015 (detailed information on current fees is available here). Students are responsible for covering their living expenses. Note: Once they have been admitted, international students must provide written certification of financial support for the MS program.

Dartmouth Graduate Studies Graduate Community Award

The Graduate Community Award is designed to recognize outstanding community service undertaken by graduate students on behalf of the entire Dartmouth graduate community. The Graduate Community Award will be awarded annually to the graduate student(s) who best exemplify a deep commitment to serving the Dartmouth community. Successful recipients may have contributed in diverse ways such as participating in student governance, serving on campus-wide committees and in the development and promotion of programs that enhance the academic and social options of the entire community. The individual should combine personal qualities of dedication to inclusiveness, integrity and enthusiasm with effective service on behalf of the Dartmouth community.

The recipient(s) will be selected by the Graduate Studies Office. Departments, individual faculty members or administrators, and graduate students are eligible to make a nomination in the form of a letter of nomination. Students currently enrolled in good standing in Dartmouth Master's and Doctoral programs are eligible for the award. All nomination letters must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Office (to the attention of Kerry Landers) no later than March 28. Each nominee will then be asked directly by the Graduate Office to submit a curriculum vita and a brief summary of their community service activities.

The recipient(s) of the award will receive a cash prize of $1,000.

Dartmouth Graduate Studies Graduate Alumni Research Award

Due to the generosity of a number of loyal graduates of Dartmouth's graduate programs, the Alumni Fund and the Office of Graduate Studies have received donations which have been placed into a special alumnae/i graduate fund. The Graduate Office has decided to make a certain proportion of these funds competitively available each year to our current graduate students to support their research. Here are the rules and regulations governing the dispersal of these alumnae/i funds: 

1.    Currently enrolled graduate students, engaged in thesis research at Dartmouth College can apply for an Alumni Research Award during the spring term of each calendar year (Deadline: May 5)
2.    The maximum amount of each award will be limited to $1,000.00, but no more than $500.00 of this can be used for travel. A detailed budget is required.
3.    Requests for travel to attend a scientific meeting or to purchase computers, peripherals, or other forms of laboratory equipment will not be considered. The award is designed to enhance your thesis research activity. Thus, your request must propose something that you might not readily accomplish otherwise. Some examples that come to mind are:
o    provide access to a library archive to examine an original manuscript,
o    provide access to a specialized item of equipment not readily available at Dartmouth,
o    provide payment for additional subjects, or perform field work at a distant site that might add an interesting perspective to data collected from your existing, local field site(s).
4.    The award is not intended to defray normal laboratory expenses for consumable supplies.
5.    Your application must include a letter of support from your advisor which must include a statement of funds available to you for your research.
6.    Recipients of Graduate Alumni Research Awards will be required to submit to the Graduate Office a one page synopsis of the activity they conducted with their award within 30 days of completion of their funded project.