Updated Nov 28, 2007

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Computing program are expected to have:

• An undergraduate bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• Two semesters of computer programming, including data structures, or equivalent experience.
• For international students, a minimum TOEFL score of 250 on the computer-based examination, 600 on the paper-based one.
• Evidence of quality academic performance, including undergraduate GPA, GRE tests, and/or relevant work experience. (The GRE is not required for admission into the Computing program. However, it is not likely to recieve financial aid without a good GRE score.)

Students can be admitted to this program without these prerequisites, but they may be required either to take undergraduate courses or perform self-study to acquire the necessary background skills.

Admission Deadlines

Applications are accepted continuously. However, we recommend that applications for admission be complete a month before you intend to begin classes (four months for international students).

• Fall 2007 classes begin August 27
• Spring 2008 classes begin January 14
• Summer 2008 classes begin May 19 and June 30

Application Instructions

You apply to Master of Science in Computing program by completing an application to the Marquette University Graduate School. It is important that you follow these instructions carefully. The application instructions are different depending on your status as a new student, student transfering from EECE or MSCS graduate programs, or student transfering from another MU program.

• Get application material from the MU Graduate School
• Personal Information section. Complete in full
• Graduate School Plans section.
  Entry date: Indicate next semester. That is when you will enter this program
  Enrollment: Very important. Do you expect to be a Full-time (7 or more credits per semester) or a Part-time student?
  Program of Interest: COMP
  Specialization: Leave blank. You have already indicated that you are applying for the Master of Science in Computing (COMP).
  Degree Sought: "MS"
  Status: Check appropriate box
• Academic Information section. Complete in full. (If you are currently enrolled as a graduate student in either EECE of MSCS, all you should do in this section is say under Institution, "Currently enrolled in EECE", or "Currently enrolled in MSCS". There is no need to complete any other fields in this section.)
• Financial Aid section. Complete in full
  Only limited financial aid is available in this program, and nearly all of it is awarded by the participating units:
      "EECE" (Electrical and Computer Engineering) or
      "MSCS" (Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science)
  If you are applying for financial aid, in the space at the extreme right of this section, indicate by ONE of "EECE" or "MSCS", the unit to which your aid application should be directed. (Transferring to this program may cause any support you are currently receiving to be reevaluated. Consult with your advisor and your department's graduate committe.)
• Signature section.
  Sign and date your application. No application fee is necessary for current Marquette students.
• Page 2. Employment Information section. The application has a second page. Complete in full. Since this is a terminal professional program, we are especially interested in relevant work history. Use additional sheets if necessary. You do not have to list every job you ever held, but we DO encourage you to see as "relevant" work that is not necessarily computing. You may submit a professional resume instead of completing this section. (Students currently enrolled in EECE or MSCS graduate programs DO NOT NEED TO COMPLETE page 2. Draw a line diagonally across the page to show you saw it, but there is no advantage to completing it.)
• Page 2. Essay Question section.
  Required for this program. You might address relevant work experience or education, career goals, possible areas of interest, and why you seek admission to this program. Talk about your computer background and experience, especially if other materials might not make that clear. We will use your essay as one indication of your suitability for this program and of your communication skills. If you are admitted, your essay will help us assign you an appropriate advisor.
• Page 2. Additional Information section.
  Optional
• Classes completed. (Only students transfering from EECE or MSCS graduate programs are to complete this step.) On a seperate sheet of paper, list the classes you have completed in your current program, or are currently taking. List

1. Course number
2. Coure title
3. Semester and year
4. Instructor's name
5. Grade recieved (if complete)

Return the application material to

Graduate School
Marquette University
Holthusen Hall 305 PO Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-9702 USA

1. Completed application form and fee.
2. Official transcripts from all current and previous undergraduate and graduate work. For courses taken at Marquette, an unofficial transcript is sufficient.
3. Essay outlining relevant work experience or education, career goals, possible areas of interest, and why you seek admission to this program.
4. Three letters of reference from professors or professionals familiar familiar with your abilities, academic work, and/or professional background. (If you are transfering from another MU program, one of the reference letters should be from your current academic advisor or another representative of your current program.
5. For international applicants, a recent TOEFL score or other acceptable proof of English proficiency and a recent GRE score are strongly recommended.

Transfering from EECE or MSCS

You apply to Master of Science in Computing program by completing an application to the Marquette University Graduate School. We expect that most current EECE or MSCS students who apply to transfer to this program will be accepted. At any rate, you should consider carefully with your advisor whether you might be better served by remaining in the current program.

Students transfering to COMP from EECE or MSCS will have the 12-credit maximum limit waived, and will be allowed to tranfser any number of credits from their previous degree to COMP. The courses to be transferred must be specifically appropriate to the COMP degree, and such transfer will require approval of the Computing Graduate Committee. The courses to be transferred must have been taken as a degree student. Any courses taken as a Temporary or Non-Degree student will still be limited to the 12-credit maximum. If the student has completed or is completing one degree, and wishes to apply some of those courses to a second master's degree, such transfer will be limited to the maximum of 12 credits, as is the current policy. Students must complete the Transfer of Credit form (available from the Graduate School) to accomplish any transfer. The form only contains room for twelve credits. If you are transfering more than twelve credits you will need to use a second form to record the additional credits. "Marquette University Graduate School Master's Degree Transfer of Credit Request" Forms are available from the Graduate School, from EECE or MSCS departmental offices. Please return the completed forms to Dr. Harris (drop off at the MSCS office, or use campus mail).