Question about a Masters in CS...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
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<p>So I was wondering if it was possible to pursue a Masters in Computer Science after majoring in something else for your bachelors. (I'll have some CS classes under my belt, but that's about it... something like 61A-61B, math55, and about 2-3 upper div CS classes...) If so, is anyone familiar with what exactly needs to be done? Advice? Info? Anything? Haha, I was just thinking about things I could do after graduating, and I thought I'd brainstorm here for some more input. Thanks in advance. :) </p>

<p>Sorry if any of these are stupid questions, but I have no idea how grad school works at this point. :p</p>

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<p>You know, the CS division has a web page that answers your question:</p>

<p>[Prerequisites</a> for Applying to UC Berkeley | EECS at UC Berkeley](<a href=“http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradadm/Prerequisites.htm]Prerequisites”>Graduate Research Program Admissions | EECS at UC Berkeley)</p>

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<p>What did you major in as an undergrad?</p>

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<p>i’m 2 years in as a cog sci major :p</p>

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<p>i wonder if they would look down at people who take some of the SUGGESTED courses at a community college. </p>

<p>@ucbalumnus: do you know how competative the program is?</p>

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<p>Good luck finding them. Many of the lower division courses for the CS major are hard to find at community colleges, according to [Welcome</a> to ASSIST](<a href=“http://www.assist.org%5DWelcome”>http://www.assist.org) . However, if you are in the nearby area, you may be able to piece together the lower division CS major courses:</p>

<p>(Math 1A, 1B, 54 can be found almost everywhere)
CIS 61 at Laney = CS 61A
COMSC 210 at DVC or CIS 25/27 at Laney = CS 61B
COMSC 260 at DVC = CS 61C
ENGIN 17 at Laney or Alameda = EE 42
Math 11 at Laney, Alameda, or BCC = Math 55 (similar to CS 70)</p>

<p>However, upper division courses are not available at community colleges.</p>

<p>Admissions is probably quite competitive.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I knew that UDs aren’t available at community colleges, but I was just wondering if they would look down on taking lower div classes at a community college (if one could find them anyway…)</p>

<p>Also from what it looks like, it seems like the masters program is geared more for students with a strong background in CS (i.e., B.S. in CS). Might as well go back to school and get another bachelors in CS and then get a masters.</p>

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<p>^ That’s only for Berkeley though, right? Other schools shouldn’t be nearly as tough… right?</p>

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<p>Probably not, but I am wondering if most masters in CS programs require you to have knowledge equivalent to a BS in CS. Most of them say it’s not required, but it sure seems like the knowledge and skills are.</p>

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<p>^ yeah, one of the things i’m trying to figure out is if 61a-61b, math55, and a few upper divs will cut it…</p>

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<p>Probably should add CS 61C, and your upper division courses should probably include CS 162 and CS 170 at least (and the web page above also suggests CS 150 and CS 164). If you are looking at the possibility of going into computer industry jobs, consider also EE 122, CS 169, CS 186, CS 161.</p>

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<p>So based on what you said, alumnus, can I assume that one cannot really do well in a CS Masters program (UCB or anywhere else) without having the knowledge presented in those courses?</p>

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<p>It does depend somewhat on what your emphasis in graduate school is. Covering a range of topics as suggested by the department, and adding the course(s) leading to the area of emphasis that you are interested in (e.g. CS 161 if you want to emphasize security, or CS 172/174 if you want to emphasize theory), may be the best plan.</p>