Program Availability
The online Master of Science in Computer Science is open to eligible students in the U.S. (including the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories). The program also is open to students in Canada (all provinces).
The program is closed to students residing in countries other than the U.S. and Canada except for U.S. military and State Department personnel and their family members with APO/FPO addresses.
Why Earn a Master’s Degree in Computer Science?
The online Master of Science (MS) in Computer Science is a flexible program that offers you the ability to select a concentration and build a course of study based on your prior education, individual needs, and interests.
Expand Career Opportunities and Earning Potential
Many tech employers prefer or require candidates with advanced degrees for senior or specialized positions. The master’s degree program in computer science at Indiana State helps you expand and refine your skill set within a concentrated area of interest while strengthening your understanding of core knowledge areas, including algorithms, data structures, programming languages, software engineering, and artificial intelligence.
Work at Your Own Pace
This program may be completed in three to five years of part-time study, making it ideally suited to working professionals who must balance their classes with work and other responsibilities. Students who pursue the degree full-time can complete the program in two years.
All courses are offered online in this 33-credit Computer Science MA program. On-campus visits are not required.
Learn From Our Talented Faculty
As a graduate student at Indiana State, you will benefit from faculty members who stay current on the latest developments in the computer science field and provide contemporary, relevant learning experiences. Indiana State's expert instructors actively contribute to research in topics such as bioinformatics, data science, machine learning, and theoretical computer science.
Our small online class sizes give you the chance to work one-on-one with your faculty. And you may have opportunities to participate in faculty-led research activities.
What You’ll Learn in the Computer Science MS Program
Working with an advisor, you will select one of the following concentrations.
- The Academic Concentration ensures a strong foundation in computer systems and algorithms. This provides excellent preparation for applying to competitive industry software engineering positions, or for applying to PhD programs. The skills and knowledge gained here can be applied across other areas of computer science.
- The Bioinformatics Concentration builds knowledge and skills in bioinformatics algorithms. It covers the most important software packages and pipelines, details how biological data is acquired, and answers other important bioinformatics questions. The concentration prepares you to make immediate contributions in this field at the intersection of biology, medicine, and computer science.
- The Data Science Concentration provides a strong foundation in the mathematics, algorithms, and software packages used to manage various types of data, analyze data, and communicate results. This includes exploratory data analysis, predictive modeling, descriptive modeling, and model evaluation. The concentration prepares students for positions in data science and related areas.
- The Professional Concentration provides a foundation in the computer science core and ensures students gain skills and knowledge in important application areas. This concentration is recommended for students coming to computer science from other disciplines and for those looking to gain in-demand skills in the discipline’s primary areas. Graduates are well prepared to take positions in a variety of important application areas.
Your coursework will vary depending on which concentration you select.
You will also complete electives as well as a culminating experience, which normally involves a significant project or experience that is supervised by faculty and is directly related to your concentration and interests.
Financial Assistance and Scholarships
Graduate students may be eligible for federal student loans if they are admitted into graduate degrees and meet other eligibility requirements. Certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid. Private alternative loans can help students pay college expenses that may not be covered by federal loan programs or other financial aid. For more information, visit the Office of Financial Aid.
In addition, students may be eligible for payment plans and veterans benefits.
Career Possibilities in Computer Science
There is great demand for advanced computer science graduates and many jobs command high salaries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects overall employment in computer and information technology occupations to grow 15% from 2021 to 2031.
Indiana State computer science graduates enjoy numerous career opportunities in public and private sectors including government, technology, education, finance, pharmaceuticals, insurance, management, and the airline industry, among others.
Admission Requirements and Application Instructions
Listed below are admission requirements, application instructions, and deadlines for the online Master of Science in Computer Science degree program. Returning ISU students must apply for re-admission if they have not attended ISU for more than two calendar years.
Applicants to the online Computer Science MA program must satisfy the following minimum requirements:
Admission Requirements
Applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree in computer science or related discipline from a regionally accredited institution. Those with a degree in a different area should contact the department for information about admission.
Applicant must have earned one of the following:
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7 in all undergraduate course work.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in the applicant’s major field of study.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all courses taken at the graduate level.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores, or scores from other standardized examinations, are not required, although the applicant may, at his or her discretion, submit test scores for consideration.
All applicants who submit a completed application will have a technical interview with a Computer Science faculty member via distance technology (Skype, Teams, or Zoom). For admission, the following are minimum standards.
- Ability to communicate clearly in English.
- Ability to do basic programming from scratch.
- Basic understanding of data structures and algorithms.
- Interest in continuing in Computer Science.
Additional information on minimum standards for admission can be provided in advance of the interview.
Application Instructions
The following are application instructions for the online Master of Science in Computer Science at Indiana State University.
How to Apply
Complete the online application for graduate admission to Indiana State University at apply.indstate.edu/apply.
Submit a nonrefundable $45 (U.S. citizens and domestic residents) or $65 (international applicants) application fee payable by Visa, MasterCard, or check or money order, made payable to Indiana State University (include SSN or student ID). No cash accepted. An application cannot be evaluated until the fee has been received. Indiana State students returning within two years from their last enrollment will be exempt from the $45.00 fee.
Send official transcripts for all institutions attended (undergraduate and graduate) directly from the school attended to Graduate Admissions. E-transcripts should be sent to admissions@indstate.edu. International applicants must submit academic records from every secondary and post-secondary institution attended, and may be required to submit additional documentation to ensure full evaluation.
Transcripts should be sent to Indiana State University, Graduate Admissions, Welcome Center, 318 North Sixth Street, Terre Haute, IN 47809-1904.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early to ensure admission. Applications received after these deadlines will be accepted and every attempt made to ensure consideration for the desired semester or term.
- Fall semester: June 1
- Spring semester: November 1
- Summer session: April 1
Next Steps
Once admitted, you will receive notification from the University and will be provided your University ID number, which is needed to activate your University username on the MyISU Portal. The Portal offers access to online registration, University records, and other important services, including e-mail and University announcements.
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