On-Campus MAS-CS Program Degree Requirements

Students are allowed a maximum of seven years to complete the MAS-CS degree program.

Course Requirements

It is expected that full-time MAS-CS students will take the six required courses during the first two semesters of enrollment and four electives during their second year.

The MAS-CS degree program requires the completion of ten course units comprising:

6 Required Courses

MAS-CS students must complete all six of the following courses:

• CIT 5910 Introduction to Software Development
• CIT 5920 Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science
• CIT 5930 Introduction to Computer Systems
• CIT 5940 Data Structures & Software Design
• CIT 5950 Computer Systems Programming
• CIT 5960 Algorithms & Computation

CIT 5910, 5920, and 5930 are offered in the Fall semester only. They are the prerequisites for CIT 5940, 5950, and 5960, respectively, which are offered in the Spring semester only.

Courses can be waived or replaced only with the permission of the instructor. As of Fall 2016, students must pass a proficiency exam in order to waive a course. All MAS-CS courses must be completed (or waivers obtained) during the first semester that the course is offered during the student’s time in the program. Students may not waive or replace more than two required MAS-CS courses. Courses that are waived need to be replaced with a suitable alternative.  While students are allowed to waive at most 2 courses a semester, no student can take a course and then waive the course that this course is a prereq for. Therefore, if you take 5910, you will take 5940. If you take 5920, you will take 5960. If you take 5930, you are expected to take 5950.

4 Elective Courses

• MAS-CS students must also complete four graduate-level (5000 or higher) electives. At least three must be a CIS course; one may be an approved non-CIS course

Click here for all CIS graduate course options.

One course from the list of pre-approved non CIS graduate courses, found here, may be used as an elective. Graduate courses offered in other departments may count as an elective with the prior approval of the MAS-CS program director; in general, such courses must have a strong technical component in order to be approved.

Cumulative GPA

A minimum GPA of 2.7 for master’s students must be maintained in order to be considered in good academic standing. If this minimum is not maintained, academic probation or dismissal from the program will be invoked. A 2.7 final GPA must be achieved to graduate in all situations.

The Academic Standing Requirements can be found here.

Continuing in the Master of Science in Engineering in Computer and Information Science (CIS/MSE) Program

MAS-CS students may apply to continue in the Master of Science in Engineering in Computer and Information (CIS/MSE) program. Students pursuing this dual degree route need to satisfy a minimum GPA requirement, have earned a high grade in at least one CIS elective, and have completed the majority of the MAS-CS requirements at the time of applying. In addition to the ten courses required for the MAS-CS program, students continuing in the CIS/MSE program need to take six additional CIS graduate courses for a total of sixteen credits; satisfactory completion results in the awarding of the MAS-CS and CIS/ MSE degrees. Click here to access the CIS/MSE requirements. Click here to access the Dual Degree application.

Penn Engineering Dual Degree/Transfer for Current Master’s Engineering Students

The next available application will be for the Fall 2026 and the application deadline is June 1, 2026.

NOTE: this applies to Penn Engineering master’s students who’s primary program has an expected graduation date Spring 2027.

Please Note:

• • Students interested in pursuing a dual or transfer master degrees in Penn Engineering should first talk with their current program.
  • Minimum GPA of 3.50
  • A student is only allowed to submit one dual or transfer master’s degree application during their master’s studies at Penn Engineering.
  • Dual Degree, students must complete a minimum of sixteen (16) course unit including up to four (4) course units that satisfy both degree requirements.
  • Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance.
  • The admission process is competitive.
  • Those enrolled in Accelerated Master’s are not eligible for a dual-degree.
  • Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline noted above will not be reviewed.
  • Such requests are evaluated with the same criteria used in evaluating candidates applying directly to our graduate programs; i.e. candidates should have the appropriate background, academic credentials, test scores, etc.
• Information, requirements, and application process to the Penn Engineering Dual Master’s Degree/& Transfer Program click here

Accelerated Master’s Degree Program for Undergraduates 

Accelerated Masters information for current students can be accessed here.