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Why Pursue a Master's Degree in Computer Science

The master’s degree program offers optional concentrations in Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, and Data Science. Thesis and non-thesis options are offered and allow students to gain valuable experiences in cutting-edge research. Program graduates are working in various industrial positions at companies such as AT&T, USAA, Microsoft, Oracle, and Intel. Other program graduates have been admitted to PhD programs at UTSA and other universities including UT Austin and Texas A&M.

Research

The research in the Department of Computer Science is supported by more than $10M in active research grants and contracts from various external funding agencies.  Graduate students conduct innovative research in cooperation with and under the supervision of department faculty. Activities of research assistants include:

  • Implementing prototype systems
  • Developing and proving new theories
  • Conducting experiments
  • Attending international conferences
  • Publishing results in scientific journals

Faculty Research

The Department of Computer Science has 21 faculty members conducting research in a variety of areas including:

  • Algorithms
  • Bioinformatics
  • Computer and information security
  • Computer architecture
  • Computer networks
  • Databases
  • High performance computing
  • Parallel and distributed systems
  • Programming languages and compilers
  • Software engineering

Admission & Application Requirements

Applications are submitted through the UTSA Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UTSA Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UTSA by the appropriate application deadline.

Computer Science (MS)
  Required Degree Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution.
  Minimum GPA 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours
  Coursework 18 credit hours in an area related to this graduate degree and at least 12 hours must be at the upper-division level.
  Transcripts* Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English
  Credential Evaluation Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) directly from the graduate admission application platform
  TOEFL/IELTS Score 550 TOEFL Paper / 79 TOEFL Internet / 6.5 IELTS scores for International applicants (exempt countries).
  Purpose Statement Required
  Resume Required
  Letters of Recommendation 2 demonstrating your academic and personal attributes for success in this program (you will request these through the Graduate Admissions Application; let your recommenders know of your deadline to ensure submissions are on time)
*Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University.
Apply using 2021-22 Graduate Application Apply using 2022-23 Graduate Application

Admission Deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.

Computer Science (MS)
Completed applications will be reviewed for admission on a rolling basis. Decisions generally will be made and sent to applicants within 4 to 6 weeks of receiving the application.
  Fall Spring Summer
Priority March 1 September 1 Not Available
International April 1 September 15 Not Available
Domestic April 1 September 15 Not Available

Funding Opportunities

Learn more

Career Options

UTSA prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below is data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.


This program is housed on UTSA’s Main Campus. Graduate courses are in late afternoons and evenings, accommodating part-time students very well.

Graduate Advisor of Record

Sumit Jha, PhD

Sumit.Jha@utsa.edu