MS in CS from University Of Arizona: Overview, fees, admission process and more

University of Arizona is ranked #=262 in QS World University Rankings 2023. It is also tied for No. 105 overall and tied for No. 48 among public universities UArizona in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges.

An MS in CS at University of Arizona prepares you for:

Positions in the design and development of computer systems and applications in business and industry.
Scientific positions in industrial or academic computing research.

You can generally complete the degree in two years. In these two years, you will not just gain employable skills, but learn to network, make life-long friends and become a WildCat for life.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about pursuing an MS in CS at University of Arizona.

Overview of MS in CS at University of Arizona

Criterion	Information
Course options	Thesis (research focused) and non-thesis (career focused).
Course duration	1.5-2 years
Acceptance rate	14.51%
Fall deadline	January 15th (no Spring intake)
University of Arizona MS in CS fees	$34,000/year course fee and $800 annual program fee
University of Arizona MS in CS GRE requirements	156 verbal and 158 quantitative. No GRE required for 2023 admission.

In the next seven minutes, you will learn:

What University of Arizona MS in CS entails
University of Arizona MS in CS fees
University of Arizona MS in CS fees admission requirements
University of Arizona MS in CS GRE requirements
Important deadlines
Program statistics for the MS
The department’s research focus

What you can expect from the MS in CS as a student

As a student, you will be given the MS Curriculum Sheet. You can choose the courses you want to take and discuss it with the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Mihai Surdeanu, your advisor.

Students generally start with two courses their first semester and average 2.5 graduate courses per semester.

You have to pick one of two paths:

Thesis
Non-thesis

Thesis bases University of Arizona MS in CS

Pick the thesis-based route, if you want a taste of research. This will help you decide whether you should continue in a doctoral programme or pursue research-based professions after earning your degree.

Before beginning your senior year, you can discuss this option with the appropriate faculty. You can then pick a faculty advisor for the thesis.

Courses:

Select one advanced topics course

May be a CSC cross-listed course/non-department course from the approved electives list or an independent study (599) with prior approval. Internship credit will not count toward degree requirements.
Master’s Thesis

Non-thesis bases University of Arizona MS in CS

The non-thesis option is for you if you want to advance your theoretical, practical, and programming knowledge in preparation for careers in the industry.

Courses:

Select one advanced topics course

At most one elective course may be a CSC cross-listed course/non-department course from the approved electives list or an independent study (599) with prior approval. Internship credit will not count toward degree requirements.
Graduate Colloquium (Must attend 10 department colloquia)

University of Arizona MS in CS fees

Here are the University of Arizona MS in CS fees.

The course fee is $34,000/year.

The program has a $400/semester ($800 annual) program fee.
Apart from this you will be charged non-academic fees. These fees include parking, entry, extracurricular, graduation, copy and other administrative fees.
Visit the tuition calculator to get an accurate figure.

You can make some money through Graduate Assistantships and cover some of your expenses.

Each semester, there might be a small number of teaching assistantships available for MS students; in that case, an application form will be distributed.

Tips for locating graduate assistantships:

Ask any research faculty you’re interested in working with if they have any openings for research assistants.

Ask other departments on campus if they have any openings for graduate assistants. These positions are listed by some departments on Handshake.

University of Arizona MS in CS admission

Admission to the program is determined by:

High scores on standardized tests
An adequate background in computer science
Strong letters of recommendation
High-level grades from a strong undergraduate program
Research interests shared with the faculty.

Undergraduate Academic Requirements

You need an Undergraduate in Computer Science or a related field.

You need proficiency in high-level programming languages such as C, C++, or Java.

You should also have a solid background in the following areas:

Mathematics, including calculus and discrete mathematics
Machine architecture
Programming languages,
Data structures
Algorithm analysis
Theory of computation
Software systems, including compilers and operating systems.

University of Arizona MS in CS GRE requirements

The University of Arizona MS in CS GRE requirements has been waived for Fall 2023 admission.

Usually, The University of Arizona MS in CS GRE requirements are 156 verbal and 158 quantitative.

English Proficiency Scores for University of Arizona MS in CS

You need any one of the following scores:

TOEFL – minimum score of 79 iBT (or 60 on the revised PBT with no section lower than 15)

TOEFL Essentials test with a minimum band score of 9.5.section score lower than 15)
IELTS – minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6
Pearson PTE Academic – minimum score of 60

Statement of Purpose

A statement of purpose is your place to convince the admission committee that you are a better fit for the program than your competitors.

In the one-page personal essay you have to address the following prompts:

Why you want to pursue a University of Arizona MS in CS

What specific areas of computer science within the department most interest you.
Areas in which you have completed research.
Areas in which you want to pursue research.
Why are you specifically interested in the University of Arizona?
What you plan to do once you have completed your degree.
Indicate which faculty you are interested in working with, and why.

Get help on your SOP. Ask your peers to review your SOP. You should also get some expert advice on your SOP.

Try SelectRight. At SelectRight, you get access to a carefully curated directory of unbiased industry experts who can help you with your SOP. A friendly expert will ensure that the information you want to convey, comes across in a flawless, easy-to-read manner that impresses the admission committee.

Letters of Recommendation

You need a minimum of two confidential letters of recommendation to be submitted online (by the recommender).

You can ask a faculty member or employer. They have to endorse your applicant’s research abilities and potential for success in graduate studies.

Keep in touch with your professors to ensure that they hand in the recommendation on time. You should contact your professors before you start your application to check whether they can give you a reference or not. This gives you enough time to contact other faculty for LORs.

Curriculum Vitae

You also need to submit a CV. Focus on:

Any major research activities or programming projects, outlining the project and the role you played in the project.

List of peer-reviewed journal publications or any published papers.
List of conference presentations or posters (include the conference date, location, and the name of the presentation).
Include any work experience in Computer Science (such as relevant internships, volunteer positions, part-time jobs, full-time jobs, etc.)

International Admissions Deadlines

The Fall deadline is January 15, 2024. Applications begin on October 15, 2023.

There is no Spring intake for this program.

Program statistics for University of Arizona MS in CS

Application Acceptance Rate – 14.51%
Avg. Time-to-degree (years) – 1.58
Enrollment Percent Male – 74.16%
Enrollment Percent Female – 25.84%
Enrollment Percent International – 64.04%
Enrollment Percent URM – 7.87%

To find out about your relative admission chances, go to SelectRight. They comb through the past admission data of candidates with profiles similar to yours and give you a number which reflects the acceptance rate.

If you have any further questions, you can connect with mentors on Selectright. They care for your success and can offer valuable guidance.

The mentors are either current students or recent graduates of University of Arizona. This way, you get the most up-to-date advice for your study abroad journey.

The Department’s focus

The Department of Computer Science offers other great programs apart from University of Arizona MS in CS. This means that you will be in an environment where learning happens everywhere.

You will be prepared for careers in designing and developing commercial and industrial computer systems and applications. You can also get on track for academic or industrial computing research jobs in science.

At the moment, the department is interested in conducting research in the following areas:

Algorithms (bioinformatics, geometric, graph)
Artificial intelligence (natural language processing, machine learning, vision),
Parallel, distributed, and high-performance computing, programming languages and compilers,
Security, systems (operating systems, networking, storage, databases), and,
Visualization and graphics

Enrolling into the University of Arizona MS in CS program, means you can explore your interests in these areas as well.