Our program trains students of diverse backgrounds — computer science majors and those pivoting into the field — through a common core curriculum and specializations in applied computer science, cybersecurity, game and computational media, or data science. Students may receive funding as research assistants working with professors or in other university roles.
Specialize Your Studies
Image synthesis process for visualizing translucency from student Chenxi Liao of Professor Xiao's Computational Material Perception Lab.
The MS program offers students 4 specializations:
- Applied Computer Science
- Cybersecurity
- Data Science
- Game and Computational Media
Students choose their specialization while completing a 5-course common core. Starting in their penultimate semester, they begin work on an expansive capstone project with theoretical or practical options: Internship and Project, Project, or Thesis.
Beyond the capstone, students may work with faculty projects and labs, including the AU Game Center and Game Studio (for persuasive play and interactive media); Design and Build Lab (prototyping and digital fabrication); Data Science Lab (machine learning development and application); Lab for the Study of Sensation, Perception, Reality, and Illusion; and Computational Material Perception Laboratory (applying human perception principles to improve machine perception). Our students intern with a range of local, national, and international firms, often on campus or arranged through AU alum networks.
Curriculum - https://www.american.edu/cas/cs/ms/
https://www.american.edu/cas/cs/ms/