CS PHd/MS from non-cs major?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi, I'm a math major with cs minor from a lower tier ivy university. I'm kind of interested in pursuing CS MS or PHd degree after graduation. I realize that CS PHd is probably not possible since I'm not a cs major. But a MS program maybe can serve a bridge for the PHd? Anyone have any recommendation for how to apply to MS/PHd program as a non cs major.</p>

<p>I looked on some programs and realize that my cs minor will cover all but 1 in the list of course prerequesie for MS and PHd programs.</p>

2

<p>has this never been done?</p>

3

<p>It has been done frequently. The biggest question is what area of CS you want to study, and how well prepared you are to study it at the graduate level - in some areas I suspect that math majors would have an advantage over CS majors, while in other areas you would be completely overwhelmed.</p>

<p>I would not recommend starting with a masters unless you think you do not want a doctorate - standards are lower for masters candidates, but there are often fewer spots, fewer still that are funded.</p>

<p>Also, please remember that requirements listed on grad department websites are almost always minimums - admitted students will generally exceed most or all of them by a substantial margin.</p>

<p>For more info, read this:
<a href=“http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~harchol/gradschooltalk.pdf[/url]”>http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~harchol/gradschooltalk.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>Hi thanks for the response. PHd is my ultimate goal. I simply thought I would enroll in a masters program to flesh out my coursework in CS and to further myself as an applicant but I recongize you think this is a bad idea?</p>

<p>Ideally I would love to enroll in a CS phd program right out of undergraduate but my coursework in cs after graduation will only likely be the courses below:</p>

<p>Data Structures
Discrete Structures
Numerical Analysis
Computer Architecture
Operating systems
AI</p>

<p>My worry is that these courses will red flag me with admission since it’s not exhaustive of the cs major. How should I address this? I guess I can try to take more cs courses but I’m currently majoring in Math and am taking like 4 high level math courses every semester. Should I take a gap year and fill up on some courses at a local college? </p>

<p>I believe the other aspects of my app will be ok. gpa is around 3.8. I have always done really well on standardized tests and should have ok LORs. Some research experience. </p>

<p>I know that getting into berkeley, stanford mit, etc will be almost impossible so I’m targetting top 20 to top 30 schools. Schools like Columbia, nyu will be great for me. </p>

<p>I appreciate any comments or advices.</p>