Background Requirements

It is expected that a student receiving a graduate degree has mastered certain background material that is usually obtained during the course of study for a Bachelors degree in Computer Science. It is expected that the student take appropriate coursework to remove any deficiencies in these areas. Such coursework is treated as necessary but extra work that cannot be used to satisfy other requirements (e.g., required number of course credits). These courses may not be taken pass/fail, they must be taken for a grade. See our Admissions Guidelines for more details on background requirements.

A student not meeting the background requirements may be admitted with provisional status. Time spent on provisional status does not count against the milestones listed under Good Standing.

Minimum Background Requirements: Equivalent to two years of undergraduate training in Computer Science, including at least (a) an introductory course on programming and beginning data structures (typically referred to as "CS2"), (b) a sophomore or junior-level course in data structures (i.e., something that goes beyond the sata structures content normally expected from a standard "CS2" course), and (c) a course in operating systems. In addition, we expect background in Mathematics to include courses in Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, Statistics, and at least one year of Calculas.

These background courses can be taken at any area college or university including Northern Virginia College, George Mason University, and George Washington University, all of which offer undergraduate courses.

For more recent information and details on the department's academic procedures and system visit The GPC website

General Info

Good Standing

Advisors, Committees, Plan of Study

Background Requirements

Graduation Procedures