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Master of Applied Computing

Application to the School of Computing’s Computer Science Master of Applied Computing program requires official GRE scores for both US and international applicants. This requirement cannot be waived.

Additionally, students applying to the Computer Science Master of Applied Computing should know that School of Computing funding is reserved for PhD study. Because of this, applicants admitted to the Computer Science Master of Applied Computing should expect to pay full tuition. For a database of external funding opportunities, click here.

The Master of Applied Computing (MAC) program is designed for students without a computer science background who wish to obtain that background as well as a sequence of graduate-level courses in a specific interest area and combine those studies into a single degree. We intend for this program to expand access to graduate degrees in computing and to allow students to be classified as degree-seeking and qualify to receive financial aid and/or employer tuition benefits throughout the entire program.

The MAC program combines the 12 credit hours of computer science background of our MSCS Ready program with 30 credit hours of advanced coursework for a total program requirement of 42 credit hours. The MAC program is coursework only. MAC students who later become interested in thesis research should talk with the MAC Program Coordinator about a change of degree program into the M.S. in Computer Science.

The program is designed for entry in a Fall semester, and completion as a full-time student will normally require two academic years and the intervening summer. Part-time students should plan to complete the degree within six calendar years.

Background Requirements for Admission

Students with a baccalaureate degree in any field may apply. However, students who want to follow the Visual Computing track should have a good background in mathematics including linear algebra. Students who want to follow the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning track or the Data Science track should have a course in statistics in their background or take the STAT 8010 course at Clemson in their first semester. Questions related to application and selection can be sent to mscs@clemson.edu.

Coursework Requirements

Students must pick one of six tracks within the degree. Each track is 15 credit hours, and individual track requirements are given below. Students who are interested in more flexibility in course selection should talk with the MAC Program Coordinator about a change of degree program into the M.S. in Computer Science.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning track

  • At least three courses selected from:
    • CPSC 6300, Applied Data Science
    • CPSC 6420, Artificial Intelligence
    • CPSC 6430, Machine Learning: Implementation and Evaluation
    • CPSC 8420, Advanced Machine Learning
    • CPSC 8430, Deep Learning
    • CPSC 8650, Data Mining
  • Additional courses needed to meet the five-course track can be selected from:
    • AUE 8240, Autonomous Driving Technologies
    • ECE 6420, Knowledge Engineering
    • ECE 8560, Pattern Recognition
    • ECE 8720, Artificial Neural Networks
    • MATH 8710, Machine Learning I
    • MATH 8720, Machine Learning II

Cybersecurity track

  • At least four courses from:
    • CPSC 6180, Usable Privacy and Security
    • CPSC 6200, Computer Security Principles
    • CPSC 6240, System Administration and Security
    • CPSC 8570, Security in Advanced Networking Technologies
    • CPSC 8580, Security in Emerging Computing and Networking Systems
    • CPSC 8830, Malware Reverse Engineering
    • CPSC 8860, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
  • Additional courses needed to meet the five-course track can be selected from:
    • ECE 6490, Computer Network Security
    • PADM 8540, Cybersecurity

Data Science track

  • CPSC 6300, Applied Data Science
  • CPSC 8650, Data Mining
  • Additional courses needed to meet the five-course track can be selected from:
    • CPSC 6030, Applied Data Science
    • CPSC 6420, Artificial Intelligence
    • CPSC 6430, Machine Learning: Implementation and Evaluation
    • CPSC 6620, Database Management Systems
    • CPSC 8030, Scientific Visualization
    • CPSC 8420, Advanced Machine Learning
    • CPSC 8430, Deep Learning
    • CPSC 8470, Introduction to Information Retrieval
    • CPSC 8480, Network Science
    • STAT 6020, Introduction to Statistical Computing
    • STAT 8010, Statistical Methods I
    • STAT 8020, Statistical Methods II

Human Computer Interaction track

  • CPSC 6140, Human and Computer Interaction
  • At least two HCC courses
  • Additional courses needed to meet the five-course track can be selected from:
    • CPSC 6120, Eye Tracking Methodology and Applications
    • CPSC 6150, Mobile Device Software Development
    • CPSC 6180, Usable Privacy and Security
    • IE 6880, Human Factors Engineering, or IE 8000, Human Factors Engineering
    • IE 8010, Design and Analysis of Human-Machine Systems
    • IE 8020, Design of Human-Computer Systems
    • PSYC 8350, Advanced Human Factors Psychology

Software Engineering track

  • CPSC 8710, Foundations of Software Engineering
  • At least two courses from:
    • CPSC 8700, Software Design
    • CPSC 8720, Software Specification and Design Techniques
    • CPSC 8730, Software Verification, Validation and Measurement
    • CPSC 8750, Software Architecture
  • Additional courses needed to meet the five-course track can be selected from:
    • CPSC 6140, Human and Computer Interaction
    • CPSC 6150, Mobile Device Software Development
    • CPSC 6720, Software Development Methodology
    • HCC 6400, Measurement and Evaluation of Human-Centered Computing Systems
    • HCC 8310, Fundamentals of Human-Centered Computing
    • HCC 8500, The Science of Teamwork and Technology

Visual Computing track

  • CPSC 6040, Computer Graphics Images
  • CPSC 6050, Computer Graphics
  • Additional courses needed to meet the five-course track can be selected from:
    • CPSC 6030, Data Visualization
    • CPSC 6110, Virtual Reality Systems
    • CPSC 6160, 2-D Game Engine Construction
    • CPSC 6170, 3D Game Programming: Algorithms and Techniques
    • CPSC 6190, Physical Modeling and Animation
    • CPSC 8030, Scientific Visualization
    • CPSC 8050, Advanced Computer Graphics
    • CPSC 8110, Technical Character Animation
    • CPSC 8190, Physically Based Visual Effects

For the course description of each course, please see the "Courses of Instruction" tab in the current Clemson graduate catalog. For syllabi, please see the university's syllabus repository.

Credit hours:

  • 12 of the 42 total credit hours for the degree must be the MSCS Ready modules.
  • At least 21 of the 42 total credit hours must be at the 8000-level.
  • At least 27 of the 42 credit hours must be taken as CPSC and HCC courses.

Courses outside the School of Computing: Courses offered by other departments must be preapproved by the MAC Program Coordinator to be applied to the MAC degree. The courses appearing in the lists above are already preapproved. Please note that courses offered by other departments may have field of study restrictions and/or prerequisites that individual instructors may not wish to override. Therefore, we cannot guarantee enrollment in the courses offered by other departments to our MAC students. Please note that each track can be fulfilled by taking CPSC and HCC courses only.

Transfer Credits: Students may include up to 9 credits of approved computing courses transferred from another university. Transfer courses will be listed as CPSC 6999 or 8999 on the GS2.

Course Exclusions: Of the 42 credits of approved courses required for graduation, students may not include credits for CPSC 6890, 74xx, 8880, 8910 95x0, 9810, 9910; DPA 6000-6030, 6810-6830, 8600, 8800, 8910; or, HCC 8880, 9500, 9910. Additionally, only six credits of CPSC 6820 or CPSC/DPA/HCC 8810 can be included.

Assessment

Each student must submit three course-related assignments and accompanying self-reflection prior to your advisory committee being approved. Please see the MAC Assessment page for details

Advising

For advising, please make an appointment with Prof Carrie Russell here - Book time with Carrie L Russell