M.S. in Computer Engineering

Program Director

Wenbin Luo, Ph.D.

The Master of Science in Computer Engineering program focuses on the state-of-the-art advancement in the field of computer engineering. This program prepares students for highly sought after jobs in fields such as data mining, computer security, parallel programming, deep learning, computer networking, robotics, software design, advanced computer architectures, and digital systems design. Our graduates are employed by a variety of companies, including the following: Texas Instruments (TI), National Instruments (NI), Intel, Microsoft, IBM, Rackspace, USAA, Southwest Research Institute, Boeing, Accenture, and Samsung, to name a few. Some of our graduates went on to pursue their Ph.D. degrees at Stanford University, University of Texas at Austin, and Northwestern University etc. Career opportunities for graduates with Master of Science degrees in Computer Engineering are abundant.

What is computer engineering?

Computer engineers design and implement computer systems – both hardware and software. Computer engineering is a combination of electrical engineering (hardware) and computer science (software and systems), and computer engineers work on a wide range of interesting computing problems that have a huge impact on the society, including computer security, parallel programming, machine learning, and reliable software & hardware system design.

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants must have a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or a closely related discipline such as physics or mathematics. The graduate program director will evaluate applicants from other disciplines on an individual basis.
  • Have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 (A = 4.00) for their bachelor's degree.
  • We do not require GRE scores from the applicants.
  • International students must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores. Students who do not meet minimum language proficiency requirements may apply to the St. Mary’s Intensive English Program (IEP) and be considered for admission upon successful completion of the IEP. See below for the score requirements for each test.
  • Submit a completed application form, a resume, a written statement of purpose indicating the applicant's interests and objectives, two letters of recommendation concerning the applicant's potential for succeeding in the graduate program, and official transcripts of all college level work.

Applicants who fail to meet any of the above requirements may be admitted on a conditional status. The Graduate Program Director will evaluate these cases on an individual basis.

International Students

  • International students must submit the TOEFL scores and show a minimum of 80 in the Internet-based test or 213 in the computer-based test or 550 in the paper-based test.
  • As an alternative to the TOEFL, International Student can take the IELTS test and show a minimum score of 6.5 or better. A score of 6.0 is acceptable with the provision that the student takes EN6301 during the first semester at St. Mary’s University. No student will be admitted with score lower than 6.0 in the IELTS test.
  • A third option for an international student is a Duolingo English test score of 105 or above.

Prerequisites

Courses
EG 2141
EG 2152
EG 2341Fundamentals of Logic Design3
EG 2352
EG 1302
EG 2342
MT 2412Calculus I4
MT 2413Calculus II4
MT 3323Discrete Math Structures3

Degree Requirements

Non-Thesis/Project Option

Engineering Courses Required
EG 6328Software Engineering3
EG 6356Computer Networking3
EG 6370Parallel Processing3
EG 6374Computer Architecture3
EG 8396Capstone Project3
Engineering Electives
Select 15 hours from the following:15
Software Project Planning and Management
Data Mining
Software Quality Assurance
Wireless Security
Special Topics
Neural Networks
Microprocessors
Microcomputer Interfacing
Digital Systems Design Using VHDL
Network Programming
Cryptography Principles and Practices
Fault Tolerant Computing
Requirements Engineering
Software Security
Internship
Internship
Internship
Total Semester Hours30

Thesis Option

Engineering Courses Required
EG 6328Software Engineering3
EG 6356Computer Networking3
EG 6370Parallel Processing3
EG 6374Computer Architecture3
EG 8390Thesis I3
EG 8391Thesis II3
Engineering Electives
Select 12 hours from the following:12
Software Project Planning and Management
Data Mining
Software Quality Assurance
Wireless Security
Special Topics
Neural Networks
Microprocessors
Microcomputer Interfacing
Digital Systems Design Using VHDL
Network Programming
Cryptography Principles and Practices
Fault Tolerant Computing
Requirements Engineering
Software Security
Internship
Internship
Internship
Total Semester Hours30