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The computer science M.S. program at Syracuse University has two special characteristics: flexibility in its program structure and emphasis on mathematical content. A candidate for MSCS degree is required to take ten graduate-level courses (30 credits), including four required (core) courses.

In each of the core courses, the student must achieve a course grade of B- or better.

In each of the core courses, a student is assigned an additional grade based solely on his/her performance in the final comprehensive examination of the course. The candidate is required to achieve an average grade of B- (2.667) or better in these four final exam grades.

The remaining six courses are chosen by the candidate from a wide range of graduate-level courses in computer science and computer engineering offered each semester to form a coherent program of study.

Also, the conditions for successful completion of MSCS degree are:

  • At most, two courses at the 500 level may be included in the program of study.
  • The program of study of ten courses must be ‘coherent,’ i.e., graduate courses taken outside of computer science area must meet relevancy criteria.
  • Within this program, the student may elect to prepare and defend a master’s thesis, in accord with the rules of the Graduate School, for up to six of the required 30 credits.

View program details in the University Course Catalog


Employment Outcomes

Based on exit surveys from 2017, 2018 and 2019 Syracuse University Computer Science and Cybersecurity M.S. graduates.

  • Companies that hire our graduates: 2U, ADP, Air Force Research Lab, Amazon, American Express, BAE Systems, Bank of America, Blackhawk Networks, BlackRock, Boeing, Cerner Corporation, Comcast,Ernst & Young, eBay Inc, Ford, EPE Innovations, Ernst & Young, Ford, Goldman Sachs, Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C., High 5 Games, Houzz, IBM, IMVU, INFICON, Intercontinental Exchange, Investing Channel, Jeppesen, Lowenstein Sandler, LLC, McKinsey & Company, NCC Group, NSI-MI, Parsons Corporation, Petuum, Playmaker Health, PwC, Rockwell Collins, Samsung, Securonix, SRC Inc, Symantec, Syrasoft, Telenav Inc,  ViaSat Inc., Walmart Labs, WXYZ, Yahoo, Yelp, Zify
  • In Summer 2018, students interned at: AIP Publishing, Airlines Reporting Corporation, Alibaba, Amazon, AmorePacific USA, Autodesk, Barclays, Boeing, Cisco, Ctrip, Dassault Systemes, Dynagarde LLC, Elutions, Emptor, face ++, FedEx Services, FINRA, Gadget Software, Google, GreenView EMS, Hithink, JD group, JingDong, Kirkwork, LogMeIn, Marketers Anonymous, MatrixCare, MediTechSafe, MicroStrategy, Mitel Networks, Morgan Stanley, Nalu Medical, NetEase Games, Novumind, OpenSlate, PayPal, Quanterion, Quantifly, Run Technology Group Ltd, Salt Labs, Siemens Healthineers, Slalom, Sodexo, Stanley Black & Decker, Sumeru Inc, TempoQuest, The Marketing Cartel, TIAA, Tracelink, Traceroll, UC San Diego Health, Unimar, Upstate Medical University, VMware
  • Job location: 98% in the US, 2% outside of the US
  • Job location within US: 20% San Francisco Bay Area, 18% Metropolitan New York City, 8% Syracuse/Central New York, 5% Metropolitan Baltimore/Washington, DC, 5% Texas (Austin/Dallas/Houston), 5% Washington (Seattle), 3% Metropolitan Los Angeles, 33% Other
  • Job titles: Senior Programmer, Advisory Programmer & Data Analyst, Computer Scientist, Data scientist, Digital Analyst, Entrepreneurial Software Engineer, Full-Stack Software Engineer, Quality Systems Analyst, Security Analyst, Security Engineer, Senior Software Engineer, Software Developer, Software Dev Eng, Software Engineer Autonomous Cars, Software Engineer-Android, Systems Engineer, Technology Consultant
  • Base salary range: $60,000 – $120,000 or more
  • Median base salary range: $105,000 – $114,000

Alumni Profile

Gauri Amberkar G’19, Mumbai, India

Before coming to Syracuse University, Gauri Amberkar G’19 was a java developer at Tata Consultancy Services where she worked on database and report development with banking and financial clients. Her desire to advance her knowledge of the latest technologies—and her career—brought her to SU.

Gauri loves to code. Her favorite classes featured coding assignments and projects. Her program’s emphasis on practical applications was one of the most beneficial aspects for Gauri. After her first year, she secured a summer internship at Airlines Reporting Corporation in Arlington, Virginia. Upon graduation, Gauri accepted a position with Amazon as a software development engineer.

On a personal note, even though Central New York’s heavy snowfall initially took Gauri by surprise, snow tubing became one of her favorite activities. And, despite being busy with her studies and job search, she participated in most of SU’s Orange After Dark events, worked out in the on-campus gyms, and spent time with her close friends.


Chandana Sathyanarayana Rao, Bangalore, India

Chandana came to Syracuse University to pursue an MS degree in CS and a career as a software developer. As she planned her graduate program, she wanted to be “at peace” about her next career move by the time she graduated. And so, she decided to start her job search early: she participated in the Graduate School Professional Development Workshops, consulted with the career advisors regularly and, with the support and encouragement from her department, attended the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) during her second year in the program.

Academically, Chandana enjoyed the MSCS program for its focus on practical applications of advanced theoretical concepts. For example, she designed and developed a code analysis tool as a part of the coursework requirements in Software Modeling and Analysis. Gaining a Master’s degree from SU and connecting with other women technologists at GHC were life-changing experiences for Chandana.

By the end of her third semester in the MSCS program, she received three job offers of which she accepted a Software Development Engineer position at Amazon. Upon graduation, she is looking forward to traveling around the East Coast, picking up again her favorite hobby of photography and, in the summer, moving to Seattle, WA, to start her new job.