MS Program Prerequisites
The graduate programs in Computer Science and Software Engineering build on an undergraduate degree in computing or a closely related field. Many students enter computing at the masters level and are welcome in the program. However, sufficient preparation for the graduate level courses is required.
Required Preparation
GRE: The graduate record exam (GRE) is required of all entering students except those who have graduated more than five years previously.
TOEFL: The Test of English as a Foreign Language is required of all students whose first language is not English. A student who received a prior degree at a US institution is not required to take the TOEFL.
Programming Proficiency: Students entering either of our graduate programs are required to have proficiency in a modern computer programming language such as Java, C++, or C. Because of the importance of the object paradigm in modern computing systems, Java, C++ or another object-oriented language is highly recommended. Programming proficiency must include the following:
- Fundamental data structures, such as arrays, lists, stacks, queues, and trees
- Elementary iterative and recursive algorithms, including searching and sorting techniques
Computing Systems: Undergraduate work in computer organization or computer architecture and operating systems is required. The relevant topics include the following:
- Information representation (at least text, integer and real numbers)
- Central processor organization and operation, including CPU scheduling
- Instruction sets
- Memory organization (purpose and hierarchy of disk, main memory, cache, and registers)
- Memory management (paging and segmentation)
- File systems
- Concepts of a process and a thread
Mathematical Preparation: An undergraduate course in discrete structures (sometimes called discrete mathematics) is necessary for many aspects of computing. Additional requirements include two semester of calculus and a semester of probability and statistics.
Options for Meeting the Prerequisites
Coursework: The preparation may be completed at any accredited college or university, including community colleges. Villanova offers the required undergraduate courses and also offers graduate level courses that provide some of the necessary preparation at a faster pace than the traditional undergraduate version. In particular, taking CSC 7000 satisfies the programming proficiency requirement and CSC 7100 satisfies the computing systems requirement. Each is a one semester course covering at least two semesters worth of undergraduate work.
Admission: It is important to note that merely passing the prerequisites is not a guarantee of admission to the program. There is generally competition for a limited number of spaces.
Challenging a Prerequisite: Candidates who feel they have acquired the necessary knowledge through nonacademic means (such as self-study, work experience, and in-service training) may wish to register for the challenge examination in an undergraduate course. They should contact the coordinator of the Credit-By-Exam Program at 610-519-4600. There is a significant fee for taking a challenge exam. NOTE:These examinations are typically given once per term. A candidate who misses the registration deadline for a challenge exam may have to take the course or wait until the next semester to take the exam.
Timing: Ordinarily, a candidate must meet prerequisites before entering the graduate program. However, if a candidate's file is otherwise outstanding, he or she may be admitted and permitted to make up the missing prerequisites while enrolled officially as a graduate student. This must be done, of course, before any graduate courses may be taken which require the undergraduate material.