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School of Computing, Data Sciences & Physics
Computer Science

Graduate Program

Highlights

Our students and faculty publish their research at top conferences and journals.

Our research is funded by competitive external funding agencies.

An active intellectual life outside the classroom: Hackathons, contests, research, and conferences.

The Department of Computer Science at William & Mary offers a stimulating, collegial environment in which to pursue M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science. These degrees may concentrate on Computational Science. In cooperation with the Department of Mathematics, the Department also offers graduate degrees in Computational Operations Research.

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Defining qualities of the graduate program include the opportunity for easy interaction with faculty, and excellence in research and teaching. 

Ph.D. Program

The Ph.D. program prepares students for research careers in either academia or industry. The program generally can be completed in five years or less of graduate study: four semesters of classwork, followed by a dissertation. 

We offer two options for the Ph.D:

Though there is no "official" Ph.D. Degree in Computational Operations Research, both the Applied Science and Computer Science Ph.D. degrees can be tailored to concentrate in COR. Students admitted to the Master's program for COR must reapply to the Computer Science Ph.D. program.

M.S. Program for Students with a B.S./B.A./B.Eng. in a Computing-Related Discipline

The M.S. programs are appropriate for students who intend either to improve their professional skills or to prepare for doctoral studies in computer science. The requirements for an M.S. degree normally can be completed in two years or less, even without prior graduate-level coursework in computer science. 

We offer three different paths to a M.S. in Computer Science (links go to Catalog requirements):

Accelerated Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Pathway for W&M Undergraduate Students (BMAP).

The Department of Computer Science offers a Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Pathway (BMAP) designed to enable particularly well-prepared students to obtain an M.S. in Computer Science (non-thesis option) approximately one year after receiving their bachelor’s degrees. 

The program requires the following steps: 

  • Undergraduate students will first apply to the BMAP by applying to the Bachelor’s to Master’s Accelerated Pathway (BMAP) Application on the CDSP website. Application may occur once students achieve Junior standing (minimum of 54 completed credits) but must occur before the beginning of their final semester as an undergraduate student. Students must have an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of applying to the BMAP. 
  • Students must have successfully completed CSCI 140 or CSCI 141, CSCI 241, and CSCI 243 or MATH 214. Additionally, students are expected to have completed any two of CSCI 301, CSCI 303, CSCI 304, and CSCI 312. Students should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all of these listed courses. 
  • Once admitted to the BMAP, undergraduate students will be allowed to register for graduate level courses that count towards the master’s degree using the BMAP Double Count Form, including: 
  • up to 18 graduate-level credits may double count for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 
  • of the 18 graduate-level credits, no more than 12 graduate-level credits at the 500-level may double count towards both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Any 500-level course cross-level listed at the 400-level (except 543, 566, and 597) is eligible. The 500-level offering must be taken for graduate credit. 
  • up to six (6) graduate-level credits at the 600-level with senior standing may also double count towards both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 
  • In the Senior year, students will apply to the M.S. in Computer Science (non-thesis option) using the graduate admissions application. 
  • Admission to the BMAP does not guarantee admission to the M.S. program. 
  • Students who are accepted into the master’s program will complete the remaining requirements of the master’s degree in computer science. 

Plan of Study 

The total credit hour requirement for the M.S. in CS (non-Thesis option) is 32 credits, which must be accumulated by completing a program of courses approved by the Computer Science Department.  

  • 21 credits of approved CSCI graduate level coursework (up to 12 credits may be 5XX) 
  • At least 6 credits of approved CSCI 6XX coursework (may be taken while an undergraduate in the BMAP; may include CSCI 690 with approval) 

Note: Students may not use the following courses to satisfy degree requirements without prior written approval of the student’s advisor and the Graduate Admissions Committee: 

  • CSCI courses designated as Computational Operations Research courses (last digit in the course number is an 8) 
  • Courses taken in another department 

Bridge to M.S. Program for Students with Non-CS Bachelor Degrees

CS@W&M Bridge provides a direct path to a CS M.S. degree for students of any undergraduate discipline. The program will provide a tailored curriculum and the student will be assigned a dedicated advisor. The student will join a cohort with other CS@W&M Bridge students to learn with a supportive community of engaged peers.

Start with the fundamentals. Completing rigorous undergraduate CS courses will prepare the student for M.S. coursework. These courses can be completed in 2 semesters (including Summer).

Expand your knowledge. Continue to the M.S. as a full-time or part-time student. The M.S. can be completed in 2 years of full-time enrollment.

What students will experience:

  • Learn foundational technical skills and computing principles from renowned faculty at a world-class research CS Department.
  • Flexibility through a mix of online and in-person coursework.
  • Complete hands-on projects with real-world applications.
  • Learn to ask compelling questions, work productively in teams, and communicate your ideas effectively.
  • Full access to student and career services offered by W&M.

M.S. Pathways Admission. The W&M CSCI Pathways Program helps bridge students from other academic majors to the M.S. in CSCI program. Applicants should apply directly to the M.S. program and the faculty admissions committee will review their record. Students accepted into the Pathways Program will be given an individual plan for completing background courses and will be moved directly into the M.S. program after successful completion of those recommended background courses.

The web link to the online application and information about the process can be found at:

http://www.wm.edu/as/graduate/admission/index.php

Course Requirements before moving to M.S. courses. A degree in computer science is not required for admission to the M.S. program.  However, we do expect applicants to have background coursework in CS and Math. These are the background courses that are typically required before proceeding with M.S.-level courses; however, the exact individual requirements will be worked out with a faculty advisor and will take into account student’s academic and professional CS background:

To achieve regular status as an M.S. student, accepted students must earn at least a B in each qualifying course.

More details on our M.S. program can be found here:

2024-2025 Course Catalog

Financial Support

The department has both state-supported teaching assistantships and federally-supported research assistantships. It is unusual for an incoming student to be supported on a federal research grant, most first-year graduate students are teaching assistants.

Assistantships currently pay a monthly stipend, plus tuition. Assistantships can be for either the nine-month academic year, or for twelve months. Living expenses and other fees (books, etc.) are your responsibility.

All teaching assistants are expected to work about 20 hours per week. Duties fall into one or more of the following types:

  1. Helping maintain our Unix/Linux network. These students add new user accounts, install new workstations, install new software, etc. A strong background in C and Unix/Linux is expected.
  2. Teaching laboratory sections for both our introductory course for non-majors and the beginning programming course. In addition to a knowledge of the subject matter, good "people skills" are important.
  3. Grading various undergraduate courses.

None of these duties are assigned until the day before classes start and may vary from one semester to another. Some students, after they have been here at least a semester, may be hired onto a research grant.

Courses

Courses cover topics that range from data structures, software engineering, and algorithms to computer animation and game design. See the Graduate Catalog to explore the complete list of Computer Science courses.

Student Activities

Several W&M student organizations support computer science graduate students in their studies and careers. These include our local chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM), the largest organization of computing professionals, and the Society for Women in Computing, our local chapter of ACM-W.

Careers

Established in 1986, the graduate program features an outstanding placement record for its graduates.

Students earning an M.S. have found employment with computer system manufacturers, with software development companies, with technical consulting firms, and within the aerospace and defense industries; several have founded or joined start-up companies.

Students earning a Ph.D. have gone on either to tenure-track academic positions or to industrial research and development positions.

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