Master of Science in Computer Science (Thesis track or Project track)
Program Guide | Objectives | Admission | General Structure | Study plan for Thesis Track | Study plan for Project Track
Master of Science in Computer Science Guide
The Master of Science in Computer Science -thesis track- Program's Educational Objectives are:
- To provide specialized studies in computer science;
- To encourage fundamental and applied research in computer science.
- To bridge the gap between the university and its industrial and technological environment.
- To give its graduates a serious scientific and technical training letting them excel in their professional life.
The Master of Science in Computer Science -project track- Program's Educational Objectives are:
- To cater for the current and future needs of the Saudi market in terms of highly qualified computer science professionals. To this end, a strong emphasis will be put on these areas: databases, networks, graphics, and software engineering. These areas are the cornerstones of today’s information technology.;
- To give the graduates a better chance to consolidate their knowledge as well as acquire a sound methodological approach to help them in the analysis, design and implementation of complex systems;
- To bridge the gap between the academia and the industrial world and to develop a mutually-fruitful cooperation between these institutions. since the MS student projects are designed to be conducted concomitantly with local institutions.
In addition to the admission requirements mentioned in the unified regulations for postgraduate studies in Saudi universities and the organizational and executive rules and procedures for postgraduate studies at King Saud University, the department requires the following to join the program:
- The applicant must have a bachelor's degree in computer science obtained with a (regular) mode of study from King Saud University or its equivalent, with a grade of no less than (Above Average) and a GPA of no less than (3.25 out of 5) or its equivalent.
- It is permissible to accept non-specialists in computer science may be accepted from computer engineering, information systems, software engineering, information technology, non-educational computer majors, electrical engineering, mathematics, statistics and operations research, obtained with a (regular) mode of study from King Saud University or any other university recommended by the Ministry of Education with a grade of no less than (Above Average) and a GPA of no less than (3.25 out of 5) or its equivalent.
- The applicant must have a score of at least (4.5) in the IELTS test or its equivalent.
- The applicant must have a score of at least (70) in the quantitative section of the General Aptitude Test for Universities or at least (140) in the quantitative section of the GRE General test.
- The applicant obtained a minimum score of (65) in the Qiyas test.
- Degree Requirements for Master of Science in Computer Science Thesis Track
- Successful completion of a minimum of 26 credit hours of graduate courses.
- Completion and successful defence of a thesis.
- Degree Requirements for Master of Science in Computer Science Project Track
- The student has to complete a minimum of 43 credit hours of graduate courses.
- These credit hours has to include a research project.
Applications are made through the unified admission portal of the Deanship of Graduate Studies. To find out about the application dates, please visit the the application periods link.
All students have been accepted into the project track, and those wishing to transfer to the thesis track must meet the following transfer conditions:
- Completion of 15 academic hours of the program.
- Obtaining a cumulative GPA of at least 4.5.
- Submitting the request for transfer to the thesis track to the Research Studies and Master's Theses Course Committee. csTheses@KSU.EDU.SA
Structure for Thesis Option:
| Type of Courses | No. of Courses | No. of Units Required |
| Core courses | (5) | (14) Study units |
| Elective courses | (3) | (9) Study units |
| Thesis Proposal Preparation | (1) | (1) Study unit |
| Thesis | (2) | (6) Study units |
| Total | (10) | (30) Study units |
Structure for Non-Thesis option:
| Type of Courses | No. of Courses | No. of Units Required |
| Core courses | (5) | (14) Study units |
| Elective courses | (4) | (12) Study units |
| Research Project | (2) | (6) Study units |
| Total | (11) | (32) Study units |
- First Level:
| # | Course Code | Name | No. of Study Units | Activity | Assessment GPA: (incl./excl.) | Pre-requisite |
| 1 | CSC 512 | Algorithm Analysis and Design | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 2 | CSC 524 | Computer Networks | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 3 | CSC 562 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| Total | (9) study units | |||||
- Second Level:
| # | Course Code | Name | No. of Study Units | Activity | Assessment GPA: (incl./excl.) | Pre-requisite |
| 1 | CSC 581 | Advanced Database Systems | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 2 | CSC 571 | Seminar and Discussions | 2 (2+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 3 | CSC ... | Elective course (1) from list (A) | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| Total | (8) study units | |||||
- Third Level:
| # | Course Code | Name | No. of Study Units | Activity | Assessment GPA: (incl./excl.) | Pre-requisite |
| 1 | CSC ... | Elective course (2) from list (A) | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 2 | CSC ... | Elective course (3) from list (B) | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 3 | CSC 593 | Thesis Proposal Preparation | One study unit | Supervision | Pass/Fail | (15) study units |
| Total | (7) study units | |||||
- Fourth Level & following levels:
| # | Course Code | Name | No. of Study Units | Activity | Assessment GPA: (incl./excl.) | Pre-requisite |
| 1 | CSC 600 | Thesis | (6) study units | Supervision | Pass/Fail | CSC 593 |
| Total | (6) study units | |||||
- Elective Courses:
- List (A) of elective courses: student must select (2) courses from the following:
-
- List (B) of elective courses: the students select (1) course from the following:
- First Level:
| # | Course Code | Name | No. of Study Units | Activity | Assessment GPA: (incl./excl.) | Pre-requisite |
| 1 | CSC 512 | Algorithm Analysis and Design | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 2 | CSC 524 | Computer Networks | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 3 | CSC 562 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| Total | (9) study units | |||||
- Second Level:
| # | Course Code | Name | No. of Study Units | Activity | Assessment GPA: (incl./excl.) | Pre-requisite |
| 1 | CSC 581 | Advanced Database Systems | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 2 | CSC 571 | Seminar and Discussions | 2 (2+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 3 | CSC ... | Elective course (1) from list (A) | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| Total | (8) study units | |||||
- Third Level:
| # | Course Code | Name | No. of Study Units | Activity | Assessment GPA: (incl./excl.) | Pre-requisite |
| 1 | CSC ... | Elective course (2) from list (A) | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 2 | CSC ... | Elective course (3) from list (B) | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 3 | CSC 575 | Research Project (1) | 3 (0+6) | Lecture | Incl | CSC 571 |
| Total | (8) study units | |||||
- Fourth Level & following levels:
| # | Course Code | Name | No. of Study Units | Activity | Assessment GPA: (incl./excl.) | Pre-requisite |
| 1 | CSC ... | Elective course (4) from list (B) | 3 (3+0) | Lecture | Incl | |
| 2 | CSC 577 | Research Project (2) | 3 (0+6) | Lecture | Incl | CSC 575 |
| Total | (6) study units | |||||
- Elective Courses:
- List (A) of elective courses: student must select (2) courses from the following:
-
- List (B) of elective courses: the students select (1) course from the following:
