Participants at Grace Hopper

Computer Science MS (Regular Track)
MS

With incredible demand for advanced computing skills across virtually every industry, now is an exciting time to earn a computer science master’s degree, whether you intend to pursue research or are seeking advancement, higher pay or new opportunities. UWM is one of Wisconsin’s two R1 research universities—an ideal place to bolster your computer science knowledge and skills.

This track is designed for people planning to pursue research or a future PhD. With a faculty mentor, you will prepare and defend a thesis or do an advanced project, which demonstrates that you can identify a problem and design, implement, evaluate, and explain a solution, including how it relates to prior work.

Qualified UWM undergraduate students can apply to begin this program during their senior year.

Departmental Support

Students in the regular track are eligible for, but not guaranteed departmental support. To apply for a teaching assistantship, complete the teaching assistant application. You can follow-up with the department chair to see about your application status. Your application is strengthened if you have a recommendation from a local professor with whom you have already worked.

Research assistantships are available only from individual faculty members who have openings. They typically only hire students who have demonstrated strength in the faculty member’s area of research.

Program Type

Master’s

Program Format

On Campus

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Boost Your Career

A computer science master’s degree will broaden your knowledge and open the doors to senior positions and career changes. Those holding master’s degree are in high demand and the pay is excellent.

Sample positions, median salaries and projected growth from 2019-2029:*

  • Information security analyst. Salary: $103,590. Growth: 31%
  • Software developers, quality assurance analysts, testers. Salary: $110,140. Growth: 22%
  • Computer and information research scientist. Salary: $126,830. Growth: 15%
  • Computer and information systems manager. Salary: $151,150. Growth: 10%
  • Computer systems analyst. $93,730. Growth: 7%

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Satya Nadella and Dean Brett Peters
Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella (left) earned his master’s degree from UWM. Shown here with Dean Brett Peters.

What to Expect

This program provides a broad background in critical and emerging aspects of computer science. You can select your own program of study from the courses we offer with your advisor.

Full-time or part-time

Most students choose to attend full time, in-person, but the program also welcomes part-time students. You can complete your 30-credit degree in as few as 24 months.

Deadlines to Enroll:

  • Fall: March 15
  • Spring: September 15
    • Spring admission is for those students who do not have unmet undergraduate requirements in computing.

Either Thesis or Non-Thesis (capstone)

International Students

If you are on a student visa in our masters program, you are normally eligible for “Curricular Practical Training” after two full semesters (Fall and Spring).  You can apply for an internship at a US company (100% time during summer or 50% during a later semester) and concurrently take 1 credit toward your graduate program under the supervision of a professor.

More Information

Contact the College of Engineering & Applied Science Graduate Programs Office or the Computer Science Graduate Program Representative.

UWM is a top tier R1 research university, and you’ll have the opportunity work with faculty engaged in leading-edge research in areas such as:

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Computational robotics
  • Extensible languages
  • Intelligent dialog systems
  • Machine Learning
  • Object-oriented programming

Research Labs & Institutes

Big Data Analytics and Visualization Lab

This lab is focused on developments of new computational approaches and software tools for various types of massive data processing, data mining and visualization using both knowledge-based and data-driven techniques.

BioRobotics Lab

This lab works with previously gathered data in order to create a design whose aim is to assist disabled individuals.

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab

This lab strives to enhance people’s health and well-being by designing software that will help identify health problems early, suggest a plan of action, and provide evidence that justifies that plan.

Connected Systems Institute

CSI works with students, faculty and private sector partners to help ensure that industry has the talent it needs to benefit fully from Industrial Internet of Things connectivity.

Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute

This collaboration between UWM, Marquette University and a Fortune 500 company in downtown Milwaukee is helping researchers and students benefit from using big data.

Faculty

John Boyland
Boyland, John
  • Professor, Computer Science
Christine Cheng
Cheng, Christine
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
Mahsa Dabagh
Dabagh, Mahsa
  • Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Affiliate Assistant Professor, Computer Science
Thomas Haigh
Haigh, Thomas
  • Professor, History - General
  • Affiliate Professor, Computer Science
Rohit Kate
Kate, Rohit
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
Chiu Law
Law, Chiu
  • Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
Jake Luo
Luo, Jake
  • Associate Professor, Health Informatics & Administration
  • Affiliate Professor, Computer Science
  • Graduate Program Director, Health Care Informatics
Amol Mali
Mali, Amol
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
faculty photo susan mcroy
McRoy, Susan
  • Professor, Computer Science
  • Department Chair, Computer Science
Ayesha Nipu
Nipu, Ayesha Siddika
  • Teaching Faculty II, Computer Science
Sadia Nowrin
Nowrin, Sadia
  • Teaching Faculty II, Computer Science
Shana Ponelis
Ponelis, Shana
  • Associate Professor, Information Studies Administration
  • Affiliate Professor, Computer Science
Mohammad Rahman
Rahman, Mohammad Habib
  • Richard and Joanne Grigg Professor, Mechanical Engineering
  • Department Chair, Mechanical Engineering
  • Affiliate Professor, Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering
  • Switzer Research Distinguished Fellow
Rock, Jayson
Rock, Jayson
  • Teaching Faculty 3, Computer Science
  • Web Development Certificate Coordinator
Rohit Singh
Singh, Rohit
  • Teaching Faculty II, Computer Science
Bob Sorenson
Sorenson, Robert
  • Teaching Faculty 3, Computer Science
Jerald Thomas
Thomas, Jerald
  • Assistant Professor, Computer Science
faculty image weizhong wang
Wang, Weizhong
  • Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science
faculty member zeyun Yu
Yu, Zeyun
  • Professor, Computer Science
  • Professor, Biomedical Engineering
  • Director, Big Data Analytics and Visualization Lab
Zhen Zeng
Zeng, Zhen
  • Assistant Professor, Computer Science
Jun Zhang
Zhang, Jun
  • Professor, Electrical Engineering
  • Professor, Computer Science
Tian Zhao
Zhao, Tian
  • Associate Professor, Computer Science

Advising

Therese Crary
Crary, Therese
  • Advisor, Graduate Programs
  • Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Health Informatics
Bob Packard
Packard, Robert
  • Advisor, Graduate Programs
  • Civil/Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering

CLICK FOR FAQS

Undergraduate Requirements Assessment Form: Regular Track (PDF)

Program of Study Form: Thesis-Regular Track (PDF)

Program of Study Form: Non-Thesis, Regular Track (PDF)

Academic Catalog
All Academic Resources
Schedule of Classes
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Contact
Computer Science

Contact Info: ceas-cs@uwm.edu

Street Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
3200 North Cramer Street
Milwaukee, WI 53211

Mailing Address
College of Engineering & Applied Science
P.O. Box 784
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0784