Apply Now for Fall 2021
The priority application date is January 15, 2021.
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Application Instructions
The application process is entirely online. You upload all of these items to your application account. Please do not mail items to USF.
MS Computer Science Bridge Specific Instructions
Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor's degree is required, preferably with previous quantitative coursework experience. The program accepts three-year bachelor's degrees from international applicants.
Applicants are required to have completed at least one college-level introduction to computer science course that introduces variables, control structures, structured data types, and functions.
Required
Introduction to Programming
Preferred
Data Structures
Calculus
Research and Work Experience
Demonstrating you are a strong student through extensive academic and research experience can make up for missing background. Make sure you include transcripts for all other degrees and courses completed in your application, and describe any research projects you worked on in your CS background essay.
We will also consider work experience related to software development when evaluating your background. Please include this experience on your resume or curriculum vitae, and describe the programming projects you worked on (with the languages and tools you used) in your essay.
Statement of Purpose
For the statement of purpose, please provide a background essay that describes your educational background, relevant research and work experience, and why you are interested in pursuing graduate education in computer science. This statement is used in conjunction with your other application items to evaluate your eligibility for admission and scholarship. Topics in your essay may include:
- Software development projects in which you have been involved. Please describe the project, its purpose (commercial, academic, or just for fun), and your role and contributions
- Research projects in which you have been involved. Please describe the project, whether it resulted in any publications, and your role and contributions
- Significant skills and interests you have beyond computer science, especially those that demonstrate creativity and problem solving
- Experience in communicating technical material in English, such as teaching or making presentations
- Management or team leadership roles you have held
- Experience in public or community service projects
If you had low scores in the past, include an argument and alternative evidence that you will be able to maintain a 3.0 GPA or above in the program.
The essay should be one to three pages single-spaced in 12 point font with one-inch margins. Essays that do not conform to these specifications will not be read.
Tests and GPA Requirements
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general exam is required. International applicants must also provide a TOEFL or IELTS score. The USF school code for the TOEFL and the GRE is 4850. See below for more details.
The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) general exam is required for most applicants. We consider primarily the quantitative score. The average quantitative GRE score of our current cohort is 164. Applications with a quantitative score below 155 are not competitive.
GRE waiver: Applicants with five or more years of experience as a software engineer may request a GRE waiver. For this waiver, please start an online application and send an email to Gian Bruno, the Program Manager, at gbruno@usfca.edu with your resume and college-level transcripts.
An official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score is required of international applicants. The average TOEFL score of our current cohort is 86. The minimum required TOEFL score is 79. Use this calculator to convert between TOEFL and IELTS scores.
For details on the waiver policy for TOEFL or IELTS scores, see the International Graduate Students page.
There is no strict GPA (grade point average) requirement for admission to the graduate program. However, applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a scale of 4.0) will have more competitive applications and a higher chance of receiving a scholarship.
You may still apply if you have a low GPA. Please address your GPA in your essay and provide an argument that, if admitted, you will be able to maintain the minimum 3.0 GPA necessary for our graduate program.
Letters of Recommendation
A minimum of two recommendation letters are required for your application (four letters maximum). Follow the instructions in the online application to provide the contact information for your recommenders.
You may submit your application before your recommenders upload their letters.
Interview
Applicants may be invited for an interview via telephone or video-chat. Admission interviews should not be requested, as they will be determined by the admission committee.
FAQ
Do you consider online courses, MOOCs, or certificates taken at places like Coursera, Udacity, or EdX?
We prefer to see transcripts for required background courses from state-level universities or community colleges, but additional elective courses taken freely online at places like Coursera, Udacity, or EdX will help strengthen your application.
Do you consider experience with web languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, MySQL, or PHP?
Experience with web, script, and markup languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, MySQL, or PHP will help strengthen your application. However, they do not count as high-level or object-oriented programming languages for the required background.
Do you have conditional admission?
We do not have conditional admission at this time. Whether or not you have a formal CS background, you need to be prepared to take and pass the same set of core courses as everyone else if admitted.
Do you allow transfers from other programs?
No, applicants interested in switching programs must follow the same application procedure as everyone else. However, we will consider the courses you have already taken at another program in your application.
Can I transfer credit for courses taken at other programs?
No, as a general rule we do not offer transfer credits for graduate courses. This is a university-wide policy.
Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor's degree is required, preferably with previous quantitative coursework experience. The program accepts three-year bachelor's degrees from international applicants.
Applicants are required to have completed at least one college-level introduction to computer science course that introduces variables, control structures, structured data types, and functions.
Required
Introduction to Programming
Preferred
Data Structures
Calculus
Research and Work Experience
Demonstrating you are a strong student through extensive academic and research experience can make up for missing background. Make sure you include transcripts for all other degrees and courses completed in your application, and describe any research projects you worked on in your CS background essay.
We will also consider work experience related to software development when evaluating your background. Please include this experience on your resume or curriculum vitae, and describe the programming projects you worked on (with the languages and tools you used) in your essay.
Statement of Purpose
For the statement of purpose, please provide a background essay that describes your educational background, relevant research and work experience, and why you are interested in pursuing graduate education in computer science. This statement is used in conjunction with your other application items to evaluate your eligibility for admission and scholarship. Topics in your essay may include:
- Software development projects in which you have been involved. Please describe the project, its purpose (commercial, academic, or just for fun), and your role and contributions
- Research projects in which you have been involved. Please describe the project, whether it resulted in any publications, and your role and contributions
- Significant skills and interests you have beyond computer science, especially those that demonstrate creativity and problem solving
- Experience in communicating technical material in English, such as teaching or making presentations
- Management or team leadership roles you have held
- Experience in public or community service projects
If you had low scores in the past, include an argument and alternative evidence that you will be able to maintain a 3.0 GPA or above in the program.
The essay should be one to three pages single-spaced in 12 point font with one-inch margins. Essays that do not conform to these specifications will not be read.
Tests and GPA Requirements
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general exam is required. International applicants must also provide a TOEFL or IELTS score. The USF school code for the TOEFL and the GRE is 4850. See below for more details.
The GRE (Graduate Record Exam) general exam is required for most applicants. We consider primarily the quantitative score. The average quantitative GRE score of our current cohort is 164. Applications with a quantitative score below 155 are not competitive.
GRE waiver: Applicants with five or more years of experience as a software engineer may request a GRE waiver. For this waiver, please start an online application and send an email to Gian Bruno, the Program Manager, at gbruno@usfca.edu with your resume and college-level transcripts.
An official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score is required of international applicants. The average TOEFL score of our current cohort is 86. The minimum required TOEFL score is 79. Use this calculator to convert between TOEFL and IELTS scores.
For details on the waiver policy for TOEFL or IELTS scores, see the International Graduate Students page.
There is no strict GPA (grade point average) requirement for admission to the graduate program. However, applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a scale of 4.0) will have more competitive applications and a higher chance of receiving a scholarship.
You may still apply if you have a low GPA. Please address your GPA in your essay and provide an argument that, if admitted, you will be able to maintain the minimum 3.0 GPA necessary for our graduate program.
Letters of Recommendation
A minimum of two recommendation letters are required for your application (four letters maximum). Follow the instructions in the online application to provide the contact information for your recommenders.
You may submit your application before your recommenders upload their letters.
Interview
Applicants may be invited for an interview via telephone or video-chat. Admission interviews should not be requested, as they will be determined by the admission committee.
FAQ
Do you consider online courses, MOOCs, or certificates taken at places like Coursera, Udacity, or EdX?
We prefer to see transcripts for required background courses from state-level universities or community colleges, but additional elective courses taken freely online at places like Coursera, Udacity, or EdX will help strengthen your application.
Do you consider experience with web languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, MySQL, or PHP?
Experience with web, script, and markup languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, MySQL, or PHP will help strengthen your application. However, they do not count as high-level or object-oriented programming languages for the required background.
Do you have conditional admission?
We do not have conditional admission at this time. Whether or not you have a formal CS background, you need to be prepared to take and pass the same set of core courses as everyone else if admitted.
Do you allow transfers from other programs?
No, applicants interested in switching programs must follow the same application procedure as everyone else. However, we will consider the courses you have already taken at another program in your application.
Can I transfer credit for courses taken at other programs?
No, as a general rule we do not offer transfer credits for graduate courses. This is a university-wide policy.
International Students
Scholarship and Work Eligibility
Scholarship Eligibility
International students are eligible and automatically considered for all MSCS scholarships. See our Financing Your Education page for details.
Receiving a scholarship from USF does not influence the ability to obtain a visa. We encourage you to apply for a visa as soon as you receive your I-20. Students may need to try several times before successfully obtaining a visa, so we encourage students to try multiple times if necessary.
Work Eligibility
The majority of international students are able to work on-campus, and are eligible to work off-campus via the MSCS practicum option after one academic year. Please contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) for details.
Scholarship and Work Eligibility
Scholarship Eligibility
International students are eligible and automatically considered for all MSCS scholarships. See our Financing Your Education page for details.
Receiving a scholarship from USF does not influence the ability to obtain a visa. We encourage you to apply for a visa as soon as you receive your I-20. Students may need to try several times before successfully obtaining a visa, so we encourage students to try multiple times if necessary.
Work Eligibility
The majority of international students are able to work on-campus, and are eligible to work off-campus via the MSCS practicum option after one academic year. Please contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) for details.
Review Process
Start, Review, and Notification
Start
Your application will not be reviewed until it is marked as completed. You must upload all required documents before submitting your application. Once you submit your application, it will be considered incomplete until we receive your letters of recommendation and your application materials are verified.
Review
When an application is marked as complete, it will be sent to the MSCS Admission Review Committee. The review process takes approximately three to six weeks after the application is completed. For fall admission, completed applications are reviewed starting in early January.
Some applicants may be invited for an interview via telephone or video-chat.
Applications are accepted and reviewed after the deadline until the program is full, and we maintain a wait list until mid-summer. Please note that international applicants should apply early so that there is ample time for the visa application process.
Notification
Applicants are notified by email when an admission decision has been made and posted to the applicant's online account.
Start, Review, and Notification
Start
Your application will not be reviewed until it is marked as completed. You must upload all required documents before submitting your application. Once you submit your application, it will be considered incomplete until we receive your letters of recommendation and your application materials are verified.
Review
When an application is marked as complete, it will be sent to the MSCS Admission Review Committee. The review process takes approximately three to six weeks after the application is completed. For fall admission, completed applications are reviewed starting in early January.
Some applicants may be invited for an interview via telephone or video-chat.
Applications are accepted and reviewed after the deadline until the program is full, and we maintain a wait list until mid-summer. Please note that international applicants should apply early so that there is ample time for the visa application process.
Notification
Applicants are notified by email when an admission decision has been made and posted to the applicant's online account.
Admitted Students
Deposit
If you are admitted, an admission deposit of $700 is required to reserve your space in the program. The deposit is applied toward your first-semester tuition.
The program has limited space. If you do not deposit by the deposit deadline, your space in the program is offered to someone on the waiting list.
Acceptance, Registration, and Orientation
Acceptance Letter
If accepted into the program, applicants will receive an acceptance letter via email and an admission package in the mail. Your admission packet will include information on the required deposit, registration, and orientation. If you are awarded a scholarship, details will be included in the acceptance letter.
Registration
Students register for courses online during orientation. Tuition payment is made immediately after registration. Visit our Student Enrollment Services Office for more information. You must pay for courses or sign up for a payment plan by the payment deadline. See the Payment Options page for more information.
Orientation
All computer science graduate students must attend a one-day MSCS program orientation before classes begin. Details will be provided in your admission packet. All new students are also encouraged to go to the Graduate Student Welcome Reception for all graduate students. International students must attend the International Student Orientation as well.
Deposit
If you are admitted, an admission deposit of $700 is required to reserve your space in the program. The deposit is applied toward your first-semester tuition.
The program has limited space. If you do not deposit by the deposit deadline, your space in the program is offered to someone on the waiting list.
Acceptance, Registration, and Orientation
Acceptance Letter
If accepted into the program, applicants will receive an acceptance letter via email and an admission package in the mail. Your admission packet will include information on the required deposit, registration, and orientation. If you are awarded a scholarship, details will be included in the acceptance letter.
Registration
Students register for courses online during orientation. Tuition payment is made immediately after registration. Visit our Student Enrollment Services Office for more information. You must pay for courses or sign up for a payment plan by the payment deadline. See the Payment Options page for more information.
Orientation
All computer science graduate students must attend a one-day MSCS program orientation before classes begin. Details will be provided in your admission packet. All new students are also encouraged to go to the Graduate Student Welcome Reception for all graduate students. International students must attend the International Student Orientation as well.