Computer Science Department

Programs and Course Descriptions

Faculty

The Computer Science Program

General Description

The Computer Science Department offers a Master of Science (M.S.) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in computer science. In conjunction with faculty from the Mathematics Department, the department also offers a M.S. with a specialization in computational operations research. In addition, the department offers a M.S. and a Ph.D. with a specialization in computational science. The Department provides a strong research program with faculty actively engaged in research in the following areas: algorithms, computer systems and networking, high performance computing, modeling and simulation, programming languages and compilers, software verification, software engineering, graphics, and scientific computing.

Admission

William & Mary uses an online application system. Application materials consist of GRE scores taken within the past five years, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. Applicants are encouraged (but not required) to submit results from a suitable subject area. If English is not your first language, your Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores are required and must be sent directly to William & Mary by the Educational Testing Service or IELTS.

Admission requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. in computer science

Students seeking the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in computer science are expected to have a background that includes the following:

Mathematics: two calculus courses and one linear algebra course.
Computer Science: two introductory programming courses (CS1 and CS2 in the standard computer science curriculum) and one course in each of discrete mathematics, data structures, algorithms, and computer organization.

Applicants lacking this background may be admitted provisionally into the M.S. program. In that case, the department will establish a suitable set of qualifying courses at the time of admission. To achieve regular status, provisionally accepted students must earn at least a B in each qualifying course. There is no provisional admission into the Ph.D. program.

Admission requirements for the M.S. with a specialization in Computational Operations Research

Students seeking the M.S. degree with a specialization in computational operations research are expected to have a background in mathematics, science or engineering and the ability to program in a high-level language. Students with insufficient background in computer science may be required to enroll in CSCI 241 and CSCI 303. Applicants lacking an appropriate background may be admitted provisionally.

Admission requirements for the M.S. with a specialization in Computational Science

Students seeking the M.S. degree with a specialization in computational science are expected to have a background in mathematics, science or engineering that includes the following:

Mathematics: two calculus courses and one linear algebra course
Computer Science: two introductory programming courses (CS1 and CS2 in the standard computer science curriculum).

Students with insufficient background in data structures, algorithms, computer organization, and systems programming may be required to enroll in CSCI 241, CSCI 303, CSCI 304, and CSCI 415.

Programs and Course Descriptions

Programs

Courses

Computer Science

Course Descriptions

Wherever a William & Mary course is specified as a prerequisite, it is understood that appropriate experience or an equivalent course, taken at another institution, may be substituted for the specified prerequisite. Each such substitution must be approved by the instructor of the course for which a substitution is appropriate. Generally, graduate students should also consult with their advisors to verify that they meet all course prerequisites.

Note that 500-level courses are cross-listed as 400-level courses in the undergraduate catalog and will thus be open to undergraduates. In these cross-listed courses, there will be higher expectations and additional requirements for graduate students. Students should consult with the instructor of such a course for further information.

Unless otherwise noted, all courses are graded using standard grading [A, B, C, D, F] scheme (See Grading and Academic Progress in the section entitled Graduate Regulations) and may not be repeated for credit (See Repeated Courses requirements in the section entitled Graduate Regulations).