Graduate Programs

request more information

The UAH Computer Science Department’s graduate students are the some of the most highly sought-after employment candidates in the nation. Upon graduation, our alumni achieve their goals of working in exciting areas such as artificial intelligence & data science, cybersecurity, software development, system analyst, software engineering, network architecture, database management, and cloud computing.

Graduate Application and Fees

You may contact the School of Graduate Studies at gradadmissions@uah.edu for more information and to apply.   The application process begins HERE.     

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (Ph.D. Only)

If you have been admitted to the Ph.D. program and wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship, please submit your materials to csadmin@uah.edu.   Graduate Teaching Assistantship are offered to Ph.D. students only and are primarily available each Fall semester.   

• Requirement:   All documents must be combined into one PDF file.
• Application Material Required:    Application, transcripts, and resume.
• Deadline:  The yearly deadline to apply for a gradaute teaching assistantship is February.    The month is subject to change. 

Graduate Research Assistantships

Research positions are handled at the faculty level. Please contact individual faculty members directly to inquire about openings.

Ph.D. Preliminary Examination

• Ph.D. program: 

Detailed requirements for each program are in the UAH Catalog.   Please read the requirements carefully for the program that interests you.  The Ph.D. program requirements can be found HERE. 

• Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Policy: 

Full-time Computer Science Ph.D. students are required to take the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination during their first semester of enrollment.  Part-time students are required to take the preliminary examination by the semester in which they complete their 9 graduate credit hours.

Students are allowed two attempts to pass the preliminary examination. All students must pass the preliminary examination by the semester in which they complete 18 graduate credit hours in order to remain in the Computer Science Ph.D. program. Therefore, full-time students must pass the examination by the end of their second semester, while part-time students must pass it by the semester in which they complete their 18 credit hours.The Ph.D. Preliminary Examination covers the following four areas:

• Theoretical Foundations
• Computer Architecture and Operating Systems
• Data Structures and Programming Principles
• Coding

All students are required to complete the Coding section of the examination. Students may, however, waive one of the three remaining sections by completing the corresponding course with a grade of B or better.

The corresponding courses are:

• Theoretical Foundations: CS 517, Introduction to Design/Analysis of Algorithms, with a grade of B or better.
• Computer Architecture and Operating Systems: CS 513, Introduction to Computer Architecture, with a grade of B or better.
• Data Structures and Programming Principles: CS 521, Intensive Introduction to Programming, Design Patterns, and Software Engineering, with a grade of B or better.

• Ph.D. Preliminary Examintion Study Guide:

A study-guide of the exam will be posted once it is finalized.

• Ph.D. Preliminary Examination annual Schedule: 

The Ph.D. preliminary examination is offered in September (Fall Semester) and February (Spring Semester) each year.

Computer Science, MS

A master's degree in Computer Science incorporates theoretical content and practical activities and builds on existing knowledge and skills. Our master's program will allow you to focus your degree in fast-growing specialties like network security, data analytics, software development and artificial intelligence. 

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Concentration and Cybersecurity Concentration are also available.

Cybersecurity, MS

The Master of Science in Cybersecurity program is designed to educate students to become knowledgeable cybersecurity professionals. The focus of this program is on technological knowledge at the most in-depth levels, so that graduates of this program will be able to address the challenges that are at the forefront of national security and commercial security in the cyber domain.

Software Engineering, MS

The MSSE is an interdisciplinary program, joint between the Computer Science department and the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. This programs provides a comprehensive focus on computer-based engineering, programming, and software design. Graduate students build on their foundational knowledge to study advanced computer engineering theory.

Computer Science, PhD

A doctorate in computer science builds on prior knowledge, education, and experience in the field to become an expert in the field. Earning a doctorate positions yourself to be eligible for more opportunities to pursue a high-level career within the industry or as the next generation of scholars in computer science research.

The admission policies for the Ph.D. program in computer science follow the general policies of the School of Graduate Studies and Computer Science Department as described above. An applicant’s admission request will be reviewed in light of preparatory coursework, GRE scores, any supporting information, and general expectation of completing the degree. Students requiring a large amount of prerequisite coursework will not normally be admitted to the program until the courses have been completed. Graduate admission requests for the Ph.D. program will be reviewed once per semester by a departmental admissions committee. Applicants are required to submit supporting recommendation letters and an indication of research interests and study plans. Specific requirements are available from the Computer Science Department office. Requests for admission will be evaluated according to the following guidelines.

Please visit Graduate Studies for more information about graduate studies at UAH.  You may contact the School of Graduate Studies at gradamissions@uah.edu.

You are invited to begin the application process HERE.       

For students who want to broaden their knowledge in an area, but do not necessarily desire to pursue a graduate degree, certificate programs are also offered in:

Computer Science, Intensive Core Certificate

Learn More...

Applicants are strongly advised to explore our areas of research prior to applying. If you have an idea of the area you want to study but cannot find a match with our academics please contact the Department Chair.