Timelines & Requirements (MSCD)

Admission requirements

Requirements to apply

• A bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or software engineering (or a closely related field) from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree.
• A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
• If you don’t have an undergraduate degree in computer science, computer engineering, or software engineering (or a closely related field), you can still be accepted, however you might be required to take foundational courses as part of your formal Plan of Study.
• International applicants must have a bachelor’s degree that is equivalent to a four-year undergraduate degree in the U.S.
• No GRE scores required

Application deadlines (domestic students)

• August 15 for admission for the following Fall semester
• November 15 for admission for the following Spring semester
• April 15 for admission for the following Summer semester

Application deadlines (international students)

Please submit your application by:

• April 15 for admission for the following Fall semester
• November 1 for admission for the following Spring semester
  
  

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Application materials checklist

• Completed online application
• 3 letters of recommendation
  The person writing the recommendation must complete the survey letter for you to upload directly to the application portal (instructions and template included in application portal). 
• Official transcripts 
  Official transcripts should show a conferred bachelor's degree. Transcripts with graduate credit can be submitted for credit-transfer consideration. 
  
  All official trancripts can be submitted to DSU-GraduateAdmissions@dsu.edu.
• Goal statement/purpose of study 
  • There is no required formatting for your goal statement/purpose of study in the application process, but be as straightforward about your goals and aspirations as possible. Try to organize your thoughts in an essay/narrative format. Our Admissions Committee wants to know:
    • Why this degree?
    • Why now?
    • What do you wish to do with the degree upon completion?
    • What skills do you possess that will help you succeed?
• Required computer science courses/knowledge areas
• Required scenario essay 
  Respond to the provided prompt in APA formatting, no time limit.

Additional application requirements for international applicants only

• Bank statement
  Can be submitted once accepted.
• Certificate of responsibility
  Can be submitted once accepted.
• Copy of passport
• English proficiency documentation
  For scoring requirements, visit here.
• Immunizations
  For those planning on attending on campus programs, can be submitted once accepted.

Assistantship application deadline for on-campus/full-time students

Competitive Assistantships are available for this program for full-time, on-campus students only. You can indicate on your application if you wish to be considered for an assistantship award. A separate Assistantship Application and Resume are required in the application portal if you wish to apply.

• April 15 – deadline for Fall assistantship applications
• November 15 – deadline for Spring assistantship applications

FAQS 

How much does the program cost? 
DSU bills tuition per credit hour and the cost varies between online coursework and on-campus coursework. You can review the breakdown of costs per credit here: DSU Tuition Costs. 

Does this program require the GRE to apply?  
No, DSU does not require a GRE score for graduate program applications.

The GRE is only required if you are applying for a graduate assistantship (outside of athletics). Preferred GRE scores should be around 320 or higher to be considered for an Assistantship. Online Students are not eligible for Assistantship Awards. 

Does DSU require English proficiency scores for international applicants? 
Yes, please visit International Admissions Requirements for more information on English Proficiency requirements and additional application materials required for International Applicants.

How long does the program usually take to complete? 
For part-time students, the program can take 2-3 years to complete (1 class at a time). For full-time students, the program can take 1-1.5 years to complete (2-3 classes at a time).

Are assistantship awards available? 
Yes, Competitive Assistantships are available for full-time on-campus graduate students that are accepted into this program. GRE scores are required for consideration. Online students are not eligible for Assistantship Awards.

Can the application fee be waived? 
The $35 application fee is required for all programs and cannot be waived per University Policy.

Have a question not answered here?
Contact GradOffice@dsu.edu for additional support.

Graduation requirements

Our MSCD program requires a total of 30 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate. This includes:

• Successful completion of all courses listed on your MSCD Plan of Study within the 5-year time limit.
• Achievement of a GPA of at least 3.0 (a "B" average), with no more than 6 credit hours of a "C" grade and no grade below a "C" in the courses on your Plan of Study
• Satisfaction of Regental standards for residency, which allow up to nine credits transferred from other universities.
• 24 credit hours of core courses (within either the technical track or the security and management track)
• 6 credit hours of specialization coursework
• A comprehensive exam

Please note that several courses will have a required lab component. These courses may require specialized hardware or software, which will be available in the course learning management system, D2L.

Program completion

You can choose to earn your MSCD as a full-time or part-time student. Full-time students can usually complete the program in two years. For part-time students, the completion time depends on the number of credit hours taken per semester.

Please note that you are required to complete the MSCD program within five years of the semester of your first course.

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