missouri-university-of-science-and-technology

Studying Computer Science at Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology appears in our ranking of the Top 30 Best Online Master’s in Computer Science Degree Programs.

Celebrating its Golden Jubilee, the College of Engineering & Computing at Missouri University of Science and Technology confers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science for undergrads to develop hardware/software algorithms that solve modern challenges. The 128-credit, four-year curriculum directed by Dr. George Markowsky has perfectly mapped standards for IACE Courseware certification. Majors interact closely with faculty at a 19:1 ratio for courses like Machine Learning, Data Mining, Multimedia Information Systems, and Cybersecurity. Students access over 1,000 companies, such as Microsoft, Sprint, and Honeywell, via MinerJobs for co-ops with median monthly pay of $3,152. Other opportunities include researching in the Mobile Computing Lab, joining the IEEE-CS Chapter, entering the Honors Academy, getting DreamSpark Premium accounts, and adding the Bioinformatics Minor.

The NSA Center of Academic Excellence also presents a Master of Science in Computer Science on-site in Centennial Hall or online via Blackboard to advance graduates’ expertise in computing system architecture. Chaired by Dr. Wei Jiang, the 31-credit degree offers two concentrations for Critical Infrastructure Protection or Software Engineering. Students follow the thesis or non-thesis tracks packed with tailored courses from Big Data Management to Computational Intelligence and Wireless Networks. Taking the qualifying exam for the 72-credit Ph.D. in Computer Science redesigned in Fall 2012 will prepare for faculty and research jobs. Graduates might also pledge Upsilon Pi Epsilon, innovate in the CReWMaN Lab, snag IBM internships, become Daniel St. Clair Fellows, attend the Departmental Seminar Series, and get published in Frontiers of Computer Science.

About Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri University of Science and Technology was founded in 1870 after the Morrill Act by Daniel Read as the Midwest’s first School of Mines and Metallurgy (MSM) in the famed Lead Belt. First housed in Rolla High School with 28 students, it grew into a public, land-grant University of Missouri location in 1964. Endowed for $176 million, Missouri S&T now educates 6,920 undergrad and 1,964 post-grad Miners, including Computer Science majors, in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Near Schuman Park, Missouri University of Science and Technology holds a 284-acre Rolla campus off Route 66 and a Solar House. Linked to 42,351 LinkedIn alumni, Missouri S&T has trained Jack Dorsey, Stephanie O’Sullivan, Joe Ballard, and others.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked Missouri University of Science and Technology the 165th best national college and 87th top public school with the 19th best online computer science program. On Niche, Missouri S&T is America’s 81st best computing center and 49th best value with the 131st top faculty. Forbes declared Missouri S&T the 118th best research university and 246th best institution overall. PayScale placed Missouri University of Science and Technology 24th for its $713,000 20-year net ROI. Business Insider crowned Missouri S&T the 15th smartest public university countrywide. Known for its award-winning Human Powered Vehicle Team, Missouri S&T also landed in the globe’s top 600 universities on Times Higher Education.

Missouri University of Science and Technology Accreditation Details

In October 2018, Missouri University of Science and Technology will undergo its 10-year regional accreditation review by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) located in Chicago. This agency holds U.S. Department of Education recognition to certify all 35 bachelor’s, 35 master’s, 29 doctoral, and 65 certificate programs at Missouri S&T under president Christopher G. Maples, Ph.D. The College of Engineering & Computing is specifically accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET) through 2020.

Missouri University of Science and Technology Application Requirements

Starting the B.S. in Computer Science at Missouri University of Science and Technology will require passing the “more selective” admission rate of 79 percent. Freshmen CS majors are judged based on their completion of a 17-unit high school curriculum, including four units of mathematics. Class rank percentile added to aptitude examination percentile should equal 100 or greater. First-year Miners have an average GPA of 3.71, ACT score of 28, and 1250 SAT score. Transfers need 24+ college credits obtained with averages above “C.” The Master of Science in Computer Science only reviews bachelor’s grads with upper-division GPAs of 3.0 or 12 graduate credits. On the New GRE, students must achieve at least 144 (verbal), 155 (quantitative), and 4.0 (analytical writing) scores. Strong programming skills from prerequisites like Algorithms & Data Structures are also needed.

Missouri University of Science and Technology has established priority deadlines of February 1st for Fall, December 1st for Spring, and May 1st for Summer admission. The Office of Graduate Studies considers M.S./Ph.D. candidates until January 15th and September 15th each year. Prospective Computer Science majors create Missouri S&T Connect accounts to submit the Online Application. Extra materials may be emailed to admissions@mst.edu or sent to 300 West 13th Street in Rolla, MO 65409. The College of Engineering & Computing requests the following:

• One-time $50 application fee ($75 for graduate)

• Digital high school and postsecondary transcripts

• Self-reported SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT scores

• Personal statement of educational plans

• Current résumé or CV of computing experiences

• Names and email addresses for three references

• Federal FAFSA application via code 002517

Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time Missouri S&T undergraduate tuition is currently $7,332 for Show-Me State residents and $22,814 for non-residents. Student fees equal $1,530 per year. Budgets should include $760 for textbooks, $10,200 for room and board, and $2,304 for personal expenses. Annual attendance charges Missourians $25,626 and out-of-state undergrads $42,702 total. Earning graduate degrees at the Rolla campus costs $11,894 in-state and $26,218 out-of-state yearly. However, the Online M.S. in Computer Science bills $1,200 per credit for an entire price of $37,200. The Distance Education Division discounts military tuition to $734 per credit too.

According to the NCES College Navigator, 78 percent of full-time MST Miners share $42.1 million in annual financial aid packages averaging $7,887. Computer science majors might claim institutional funds, including the Chancellor’s Scholarship, Diversity Scholarship, John W. Hamblen Scholarship, Accenture Scholarship, Ellen M. Hodges Scholarship, Rex Widmer Software Archaeology Scholarship, and John J. Adelsberger III Scholarship. The MO$T Tax Savings Program has incentives to save up to $8,000 for college. Financially needy undergrads could earn $5,730 from the Federal Pell Grant plus SEOG supplements. Midwesterners may receive the Access Missouri Grant, Wartime Veteran’s Survivors Grant, or Marguerite Ross Barnett Grant. Federal Work-Study positions are available for paychecks every two weeks. Money magazine found that Missouri University of Science and Technology students also have median debt of $19,500 from Perkins, Direct, and PLUS loans.

Learn more about Missouri University of Science and Technology at the Computer Science Department website.