Admission to the M.S. program requires a strong background in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or a related scientific or engineering field.
To apply to this program, please select Computer Science (MS) - Computer Engineering under Computing heading on the Program Selection page of applyweb. If you need additional application instructions and assistance, click the tab below.
NOTE: The M.S. in Computer Science (Computer Engineering Specialization) requirements are revised as of December 7, 2023. These requirements apply to students admitted after this date. Students who were admitted before this date have the opportunity to follow the old requirements or the new requirements.
Application Instruction Details
Graduate Degree Selection During Application
Prospective graduate students begin their application process by selecting a graduate degree program and submitting an application to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Office of Graduate Studies. The School of Computing offers several master's and doctoral-level graduate degrees, so choosing your desired graduate degree program may be confusing. The instructions and images below will help you select and apply to the correct degree program.
You will select your graduate degree program at the Program Selection step of the application process:
In the Search for Program field, enter the word "computer." The search results should return the graduate degree options available in the School of Computing:
Select your preferred School of Computing graduate programs under the heading Computing.
Note: The computer engineering graduate degree is also listed here at the bottom as Engineering (PhD) – Computer Engineering – Computer Science.
Degree Options
Requirements for the master's degree may be met through one of two options, which should be discussed with an advisor. The thesis option, Option A, is intended for students who wish to pursue a career in research or who are planning further graduate study. The coursework option, Option B, is generally recommended for students who plan on the M.S. being a terminal degree.
Option A
Total credit hours: 30 credit hours.
Course Requirements
Each student is expected to take 3 core courses and 3 breadth courses, with a total of 6 courses.
Core Courses
The courses listed below constitute basic required core courses that must be completed (students must select 3 courses from this list amounting to 9 credit hours):
- CSCE 434/834 VLSI Design
- CSCE 430/830 Computer Architecture
- CSCE 462/862 Communication Networks
- CSCE 439/839 Robotics: Algorithms and Applications
- CSCE 465/865 Wireless Communication Networks
- CSCE 477/877 Cryptography and Security
- CSCE 436/836 Embedded Systems
- CSCE 438/838 Internet of Things
- CSCE 492/892 Digital Communication Systems
- CSCE 496/896 Information Theory
The requirement for a specific core course is satisfied if its 400-level counterpart, or its equivalent (for transferred students), was taken prior to admission into this degree program. In that case, the 800-level course may not be taken for degree credit. However, if the 400-level counterpart, or its equivalent (for transferred students), was not taken prior to admission, then the 800-level course must be taken, and counts toward the credit-hour requirements of Option A.
Breadth Requirements
Each student is expected to take 3 core courses and 3 breadth courses, with a total of 6 courses.
Each student must take at least one course in each of the three tracks (9 credit hours):
- Track 1: Circuits and Cyber-Physical Interfaces
- Track 2: Systems
- Track 3: Communications, Networking, and Signal Processing
See the computer engineering concentration (tracks) listing for detailed information.
Depth Requirements
Of the 30 hours, no more than 12 credit hours can include independent study type courses (CSCE 892, CSCE 897, CSCE 898, CSCE 899, CSCE 990, and CSCE 996). When CSCE 892 and 990 are taken as regular courses, they are not counted toward the 12-hour limit.
Memorandum of Courses
The program of study is formally established by filing a "Memorandum of Courses" with the Office of Graduate Studies. The memorandum must be filed before the student has received grades in more than one-half of the prescribed program; in most cases, this is before the end of the student's second semester in the M.S. program. The memorandum must be signed by the advisor and submitted to the graduate secretary. It is then signed by the graduate chair, and finally by the dean of graduate studies. The memorandum cannot be filed until the student has cleared all the deficiency courses listed in their certificate of admission.
Thesis Requirements
The students who choose this option must complete a thesis under the supervision of a graduate faculty member in the School of Computing. The thesis (CSCE 899) may be taken for 6-9 credit hours. The student must submit a thesis based on the conducted research and pass an oral examination.
Examining Committee
The examining committee consists of three faculty members approved by the graduate chair. The names of the committee members are suggested by the student in consultation with the student's advisor. The examining committee members must either be on the Graduate Faculty, or be non-Graduate Faculty approved to perform specified Graduate Faculty duties. The chair or at least one of the co-chairs of the examining committee must be a School of Computing faculty. A majority of the examining committee must be a School of Computing faculty.
Thesis Report
It is expected that the work done in a thesis has some original research contribution. It is expected that the work done in a thesis has some original research contribution and is of good quality. The student is required to write the thesis in a standard style (Use the “Guidebook for Preparing your Thesis or Dissertation” available from the Office of Graduate Studies.) LaTeX templates are also available on the school computers.
Following the review by the advisor, copies of the thesis report are given to the examining committee members. The student must provide a copy to each committee member at least two weeks before the final oral examination. Students working on a thesis must also submit a copy to the Graduate Studies Office at least two weeks prior to the date of the oral examination.
The student is expected to make the changes recommended by the examining committee and prepare a final copy of the thesis/report. The student should upload an electronic version of the thesis/report to UNL Digital Commons. The student is required to make a hard-bound copy of the thesis/report to the advisor, unless the advisor chooses not to require one. It is also customary to offer each examining committee member a copy of the final report.
Visit graduate.unl.edu/academics/program-steps/masters-degree-steps-to-completion/ for the Office of Graduate Studies' instructions on the final thesis preparation and uploading.
Final Oral Examination
A final oral examination is required for all Option A students. The student must file a "Final Examination Report for Master's Degree” form at least four weeks before the required oral examination in their last semester of study. The oral examination will be scheduled for two hours and consists of a defense of the thesis. The presentation is open to the public and the student is required to give an abstract (electronic copy) to the office to be used for advertising. After the public presentation and a question-and-answer period, the remainder of the examination is conducted privately by the examining committee. The examination is based on the thesis and other course work.
The examining committee may require the student to do additional work and the advisor is generally responsible for making sure that the work is completed. The advisor decides on the grade of the M.S. thesis.
Colloquium Attendance
Additionally, the student must attend at least 15 colloquia, doctoral oral presentations, and/or master's thesis presentations during the M.S. program. For accelerated MS students, this requirement is 8.
Summary of Requirements:
- Total credit hours: 30
- CSCE 899 (M.S. thesis): 6-9 credit hours
- Core courses (9 credits mandatory)
- Breadth (9 credits mandatory) and Depth Requirements as described above
- Graduate-only courses: 15 credit hours (including CSCE 899 credit hours and at least 9 graduate-only courses credit hours)
- 15 (or 8 for accelerated M.S. students) colloquia, doctoral dissertation or master's thesis oral presentations
A typical plan for this option consists of 9 credit hours of regular courses for each of the first two semesters, a combination of regular courses, independent study (or research other than thesis) and thesis for 9 credit hours in the third semester and 3 credit hours of thesis in the final semester; however, the student should determine an exact program in consultation with the examining committee.
The following are two examples that a typical student in Option A may follow:
Example 1: Student has to take all core courses: Thesis-6 credits (CSCE 899) + breadth-9 credits (CSCE 892, CSCE 878, CSCE 865) + core-9 credits (CSCE 830, CSCE 834 or EE 870, CSCE 862) depth-6 credits (CSCE 952, CSCE 953) + 0 credit in other courses.
Example 2: Student has all core courses taken in 400 level: Thesis-9 credits (CSCE 899) + breadth-9 credits (CSCE 892, CSCE 878, CSCE 865) + depth-6 credits (CSCE 952, CSCE 953) + 6 credit in other courses (CSCE 877, CSCE 878).
Option B
Total credit hours: 30 credit hours.
Course Requirements
Each student is expected to take 3 core courses and 3 breadth courses, with a total of 6 courses.
Core Courses
The courses listed below constitute basic required core courses that must be completed (students must select 3 courses from this list amounting to 9 credit hours).
- CSCE 434/834 VLSI Design
- CSCE 430/830 Computer Architecture
- CSCE 462/862 Communication Networks
- CSCE 439/839 Robotics: Algorithms and Applications
- CSCE 465/865 Wireless Communication Networks
- CSCE 477/877 Cryptography and Security
- CSCE 436/836 Embedded Systems
- CSCE 438/838 Internet of Things
- CSCE 492/892 Digital Communication Systems
- CSCE 496/896 Information Theory
The requirement for a specific core course is satisfied if its 400-level counterpart, or its equivalent (for transferred students), was taken prior to admission into this degree program. In that case, the 800-level course may not be taken for degree credit. However, if the 400-level counterpart, or its equivalent (for transferred students), was not taken prior to admission, then the 800-level course must be taken, and counts toward the credit-hour requirements of Option B.
Breadth Requirements
Each student is expected to take 3 core courses and 3 breadth courses, with a total of 6 courses.
Each student must take at least one course in each of the three tracks (9 credit hours):
- Track 1: Circuits and Cyber-Physical Interfaces
- Track 2: Systems
- Track 3: Communications, Networking, and Signal Processing
See the computer engineering concentration (tracks) listing for detailed information.
Depth Requirements
The program will require 15 credits of graduate-only courses.
The courses must not include independent study type courses (CSCE 892, CSCE 897, CSCE 898, CSCE 899, CSCE 990, and CSCE 996). However, CSCE 892 and CSCE 990 may be taken as a part of the program when they are offered as regular courses.
Memorandum of Courses
The program of study is formally established by filing a "Memorandum of Courses" with the Office of Graduate Studies. The memorandum must be filed before the student has received grades in more than one-half of the prescribed program, in most cases this is before the end of the student's second semester in the M.S. program. The memorandum must be signed by the advisor and submitted to the graduate secretary. It is then signed by the graduate chair, and finally by the dean of graduate studies. The memorandum cannot be filed until the student has cleared all the deficiency courses listed in his or her certificate of admission.
Research Experience
There is no research (thesis) requirement. However, if a student does want some research experience, the student must find an advisor and can take 3 to 6 hours of independent study type courses.
Colloquium Attendance
Additionally, the student must attend at least 15 colloquia, doctoral oral presentations, and/or master's thesis presentations during the M.S. program.
Summary of Requirements:
- Total credit hours: 30
- Core courses (9 credits mandatory)
- Breadth (9 credit mandatory) and Depth Requirements as described above
- Graduate-only courses: 15 credit hours (including CSCE 899 credit hours and at least 9 graduate-only courses credit hours)
- 15 colloquia, doctoral dissertation or master's thesis oral presentations
Final Written Examination
The student must file a “Final Examination Report for Master's Degree” along with a Breadth GPA Report at least four weeks before the end of their last semester of study.
Comprehensive Examination requirement: Students enrolled in the Master’s degree Option B are required to fill the Breadth GPA Report as part of the Comprehensive Examination requirements. This requires students to have a minimum of 3.0 GPA for a total of all Breadth and Core courses (courses in the final semester are not included in this). A student is required to fill out the form on this link with the list of Breadth and Core courses with the calculated GPA within 24 months of completion of degree requirements.
A typical plan for this option consists of 9 credit hours of regular courses for each of the first three semesters, and 3 credit hours of courses in the final semester. A student may choose to take 3 credit hours in the summer and complete the program in one and a half years.
The following is two example list of courses that a typical student in Option B may take:
Example 1: Student has to take all core courses: breadth-9 credits (CSCE 892, CSCE 878, CSCE 865) + core-9 credits (CSCE 830, CSCE 834 or EE 870, CSCE 862) depth-6 credits (CSCE 952, CSCE 953) + 6 credits in other courses (CSCE 877, CSCE 878).
Example 2: Student has all core courses taken in 400 level: breadth-9 credits (CSCE 892, CSCE 878, CSCE 865) + depth-6 credits (CSCE 952, CSCE 953) + 15 credits in other courses (CSCE 877, CSCE 878, CSCE 892, CSCE 839, CSCE 873).