Regulations for the Computer Science M.Sc.

Program
Department of Computing and Software
McMaster University
CAS-2014-01

Introduction

This document contains the regulations for the M.Sc. program in Computer Science at McMaster University. It supplements, but does not supersede, the general regulations for Masters programs at McMaster
University given in the School of Graduate Studies Calendar.
M.Sc. students must successfully complete the equivalent of four one-term graduate courses and prepare and
successfully defend an M.Sc. thesis.

Admission policy and admission standards

Applicants may be admitted to the M.Sc. program in Computer Science if they have the equivalent of a
B.Sc. in Computer Science with at least a B+ average from McMaster University.
In very general and broad terms, applicants are expected to have covered the following subjects in three
fundamental areas:
1. Mathematics:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Calculus.
Linear algebra.
Probability and statistics.
Discrete mathematics or mathematical logic.
Automata theory or computation theory

2. Software:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Data structures and algorithms.

Principles of programming languages or compilers.
Scientific computation.
Software design or software engineering.

3. Systems:
a.
b.
c.
d.

Computer architecture.
Operating systems.
Computer networks or systems programming.
Databases or human-computer interaction.

The Admission Authority1 determines if any action is needed to bring a candidates Computer Science
knowledge to a reasonable level, and may require a candidate to take additional courses, see item 4 in
Section 3 below.
1

The person or body responsible for making admission recommendations to the School of Graduate Studies.

Course requirements

All students must successfully complete the equivalent of four one-term graduate courses2 in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or relevant areas such as Electrical and Computer Engineering or Mathematics.
1. At most one of the four may be a 600-level course.
2. At most one of the four may be from outside the Department.
3. At least two of the four must be Group A courses (i.e., Department courses with numbers in the range
701720).3
4. If requested by the Admission Authority (for candidates not fulfilling all the prescribed requirements
for admission), or if the Supervisor identifies a deficiency, a student may be required to take additional
courses, usually PUCs4 , to supplement their education.
In such cases the number of additional courses should normally be at most two, in some very exceptional
cases at most 4. A PUC may be replaced, when appropriate, by a PGC5 .
5. The selection of courses that are required for an individual student depends on the students background and research project. The selected courses should establish sufficient depth and breadth in
Computer Science.
6. The student, with the approval of the Supervisor, proposes the course selection for approval by the
Department Chair or delegate.
7. Outstanding M.Sc. students may be allowed to transfer to a Ph.D. program of the Department when
they complete their course requirements with at least an A- average and demonstrate exceptional
progress in their research project. Transfer procedures are determined by the respective Ph.D. programs.

Thesis requirement

The thesis must contain independent novel work that contributes to the field of Computer Science. The
thesis must report a substantial body of work that demonstrates scholarly competence and understanding
of state-of-the-art literature in the subject area.
To present a complete thesis to the Supervisor is the students responsibility.
The Supervisor must evaluate the thesis without unreasonable delay, but in any case within a two-month
period, and request the necessary improvements.
The Supervisor will certify in writing that the thesis meets the customary standards. Only then will the
thesis be submitted to the Examination Committee and the thesis defense scheduled.

The Examination Committee

When the M.Sc. thesis is ready to submit for defense, the students supervisor makes a proposal for the
Examination Committee.
1. The Committee consists of the Supervisor(s) and at least two additional faculty members.
2

A one-term course is a half course in the official McMaster terminology.

Enrollment in courses 701704 and possibly other Group A courses may be restricted.
4
A PUC is a Prescribed Undergraduate Course that is required as part of a students degree.
5
A PGC is a Prescribed Graduate Course that is required as part of a students degree. A PGC may be a prescribed course
that either is included among or is additional to the normal number of required courses.
3

2. At least one committee member besides the supervisor(s) must be a regular6 member of the Department
of Computing and Software.
3. The Supervisor verifies that the members proposed are willing and able to serve on the Examination
Committee.
4. The Computer Science Graduate Advisor approves or modifies the composition of the Examination
Committee and nominates the Chair of the Committee.
5. The Chair of the Examination Committee may not be the Supervisor.

The M.Sc. thesis defense

The student presents and defends his/her thesis. The Examination Committee evaluates both the scientific
merit and presentation of the thesis and decides about awarding the degree to the candidate.
1. The defense is open to the public.
2. The student presents the main results of his/her thesis in a 20-minute conference-like presentation.
3. The members of the Examination Committee ask questions about the material presented in the thesis,
related issues, the impact of the results, and future research.
4. The Chair of the Examination Committee should allow time for questions from the public, up to a
maximum of 15 minutes.
5. The defense normally takes about one hour and not longer than two hours.
6. The Examination Committee evaluates the students performance in a closed meeting after the defense.
If the student is required to make changes to the thesis, the Examination Committee should give the
student a description of what needs to be changed within a few days of the defense.

Timing for full-time students

1. Normally the Supervisor is named when the student enters the program. With the approval of the
Chair or delegate, more than one faculty member may jointly act as the supervisor.
2. Fully funded students having prestigious scholarships from government or international agencies (e.g.,
NSERC) might be admitted without having a supervisor at admission. In case no supervisor is
named at admission, the Computer Science Graduate Advisor acts as nominal supervisor. The actual
supervisor must be named not later than 6 months after the students arrival.
3. Students normally will take at least two one-term courses in each of the first two terms.
4. The required four courses must be completed successfully within 16 months after starting the program.
When PUCs are required, the time window might stretch until 20 months.
5. The Examination Committee should be named at least one month before the defense.
6. The final version of the thesis must be submitted to the Departments Administrative Coordinator or
delegate at least two weeks before the date of the defense. The student must provide a copy of the
thesis for the Department and each member of the Examination Committee. The Department will
keep its copy until it receives the official bound version of the thesis.
7. The thesis should normally be completed and defended within 20 months; however, funding may
continue up to a total of 24 months at the Supervisors discretion.
6

This includes Professors Emeriti but not Associate members.

Timing for part-time students

1. The Supervisor is named when the student enters the program. With the approval of the Chair or
delegate, more than one faculty member may jointly act as the supervisor.
2. Students normally will take at least two one-term courses in each of the first two academic years.
3. The required four courses must be completed successfully within 28 months after starting the program.
When PUCs are required, the time window might stretch until 32 months.
4. The Examination Committee should be named at least one month before the defense.
5. The final version of the thesis must be submitted to the Departments Administrative Coordinator or
delegate at least two weeks before the date of the defense. The student must provide a copy of the
thesis for the Department and each member of the Examination Committee. The Department will
keep its copy until it receives the official bound version of the thesis.
6. The thesis should normally be completed and defended within 36 months after starting the program.