The Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) STEM Program with Work Integrated Learning (WIL) at Sofia University is a rigorous and comprehensive graduate program that provides a sound foundation in core computer science principles and cutting-edge computer science specializations. It provides thorough coverage of the theory of computer science while providing relevant, practical, and applicable knowledge in a broad range of applied and advanced topics that are enhanced by integrating theory and practice in an innovative STEM-based WIL environment. The program focuses on innovative, transpersonal, and transformative learning in the classroom and at the workplace to ensure that students are well prepared for the technical and managerial challenges of the rapidly evolving computing, engineering, and scientific industries as well as the challenges of future academic and research-based endeavors.
State Authorizations for Distance Education
Sofia University is licensed, registered, authorized, certified, or formally exempt in the following states and territories as indicated on our State Authorizations page.
Professional Licensure
Please visit our Professional Licensure page for more information.
Work Integrated Learning-Based Internship Program
A student may participate in the Sofia University Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Program which is fully integrated with the degree program. In this program, they will take a 0-credit Internship class each quarter during their program, which will aid them on their continued internship journey while in the MSCS program.
Internship Eligibility for F-1 students:
- You are a student enrolled in a graduate degree program – For all master’s and doctoral level degrees at Sofia University (including those granted to domestic students), internships are an integral part of the training.
Prospective F-1 students who have been in F-1 status and previously enrolled full-time at a college or university in the U.S. for at least one academic year (one academic year at Sofia is defined as three full-time quarters per the academic calendar) in the following, master’s degree programs DO NOT need to fulfill the one-year academic requirement to apply for CPT: - Master of Science in Computer Science – MSCS – STEM Cip Code 11.0701.
Master’s in Business Administration – MBA – Cip Code 52.0201. - In order to obtain approval to participate in an internship, you must be able to show that your curricular practical training directly relates to your major area of study. When a student files a CPT Authorization Request, this application will be reviewed by a qualified Internship Faculty Advisor. The Internship Faculty Advisor will review the proposed internship experience and sign-off if it adequately correlates with and supports the training objectives of the student’s degree program.
- All internship participants must maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout their participation in internships, with certain limited exceptions.
- For those students unable to find a placement in the first quarter, the university can assist in locating a placement; will help a student to find an appropriate substitute internship, or suggest the filing of a temporary waiver.
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To learn more about Sofia’s internship policies for check out our Domestic Internship Handbook and International Internship Handbook. Our Internship Handbook will help you learn about our Work Integrated Learning Internship Program, overall qualifications, and internal processes on how to apply.
Course Information:
At-a-glance information about this course for your convenience:
Summer Start Date: | July 1, 2024 |
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Fall Start Date: | September 30, 2024 |
Winter Start Date: | January 13, 2025 |
Spring Start Date: | April 7, 2025 |
Program Length: | 21 Months |
Total Number of Units: | 42 (Minimum) |
Estimated Total Cost: | $24,000 |
Estimated Fees: | $1,250 |
Format: | Choose from Online or Hybrid weekend courses to suit your schedule. (Each term, full-time take at least 6 credits, part-time students take 3 credits.) For International students on an F-1 Visa, all modalities are available and can be chosen to accommodate F-1 residency requirements. |
Campus: | Palo Alto, California campus located in Silicon Valley, or Costa Mesa campus located 25 minutes from Los Angeles |
Enhanced Experiential Pedagogy: | The Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Program at Sofia offers students immediate access to internship opportunities following their acceptance to the university. (Offered beginning Fall 2021.) |
Work Integrated Learning Highlights
WIL Program Overview
Our MSCS STEM program offers a pedagogically integrated Work Integrated Learning (WIL) component that allows all students to participate in a career-based work environment that directly maps to the MSCS curricula.
Real-World Application
The WIL program allows students to directly apply their learning in a highly technical environment while being mentored by an experienced Internship Faculty Advisor.
Peer Interaction Benefits
All students have the opportunity of interacting on a weekly basis with other STEM WIL peers to share their professional experiences in the field and provide peer guidance and advice.
Skills Acquisition & Application
All students will be able to learn a wide range of technology skills and apply them to their MSCS program while developing lessons learned documents, work application summaries, and technical products that will reflect on their newly acquired workplace skills.
MS in Computer Science Learning Outcomes
Application
Integrate and apply to a workplace environment, sound computer science principles, logic, and mathematics in an innovative managerial manner in myriad science, technology, and engineering (STEM) industries.Â
Communication
Integrate into the workplace computer science principles with sound research, writing, and analytic capabilities to foster professional-managerial communications and knowledge expression in science, technology, and engineering (STEM) based industries.
Leadership
Integrate both inventive and innovative computer science skills and capabilities to become transpersonal, transformative managers and leaders in the science, technology, and engineering (STEM) industries in a demanding technological workplace.Â
Ethics
Integrate sound managerial judgment with computer science skills in the workplace to provide legal and ethical solutions to science, technology, engineering, and management (STEM) problems with responsible, transpersonal, and transformative reflection on the social impacts of those solutions.
Alumni Stories
As a computer science student at Sofia University, this has been a very positive educational experience for me, and I feel very happy that I am a part of it. The faculty really care about the students and the academics are excellent. This is one of the best schools in the Bay area.
Harish Muuvala
Alumnus, MS in Computer Science
Class of 2016
I enrolled in Sofia University’s MSCS program for its rigorous curriculum in advanced computer science topics such as artificial intelligence, drones, and robotics, its Silicon Valley location, and its faculty’s technology industry experience. The course content turned out to be innovative and cutting edge, and the program exceeded my expectations. I strongly recommend it!
Ankur Saxena
Alumnus, MS in Computer Science
Class of 2019
Sofia University offers cutting-edge courses and concentrations that are in high demand in the computing industry. As a result, students can choose course concentrations in which they are passionate and be able to find internship opportunities in the Silicon Valley area. In this way, students can apply what they have learned in the professional industry. I also feel my career prospects are much brighter now versus before I attended Sofia University. My concentrations in AI and Data Science will help me find a data science internship at a prestigious company in Silicon Valley.
Yuan-Jiun (David) Sung
Winter 2021 Graduate
Key Takeaways
Supreme Silicon-Valley Location
Our Northern California campus is located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Network with professionals from companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, IBM, and explore the bustling and diverse metropolitan city of San Francisco. The accessibility of our Palo Alto campus to a diverse mix of cultural, educational, and recreational resources gives students a little bit of everything.
Affordable
Our MSCS program is ranked as one of the most affordable online colleges for masters in science. Awarded by Sr. Education Group for the 2019 school year.
Innovative
AI & Machine Building, Robotics/Drone Computing, and Cybersecurity. Stay ahead of the curve with cutting-edge STEM courses and concentrations that are in high demand.
Accredited
Sofia is accredited by WASC Western School of Schools and Colleges Commission (WSCUC), the nation’s premier regional accreditation body for higher education.
Flexible
Classes offered in online formats, as well as in evenings and weekends. Because we understand that like many of our students, you’re juggling a full-time job, family, and other commitments.
Concentrations/Career Paths:
Pick the path that speaks to your journey – both personally and professionally.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Possible career outcomes include:
- Data Scientist
- Forensic Scientist
- Cyber Security
Cyber Security & Information Assurance
Possible career outcomes include:
- Interface Design & Implementation
- Web Developer
- User-Centered Researcher
Learning Outcomes:
Here’s what you can expect to walk away from this program with…
Integration
Integrate and apply to a workplace environment, sound computer science principles, logic, and mathematics in an innovative managerial manner in myriad science, technology, and engineering (STEM) industries.Â
Communication
Integrate into the workplace computer science principles with sound research, writing, and analytic capabilities to foster professional-managerial communications and knowledge expression in science, technology, and engineering (STEM) based industries.
Leadership
Integrate both inventive and innovative computer science skills and capabilities to become transpersonal, transformative managers and leaders in the science, technology, and engineering (STEM) industries in a demanding technological workplace.Â
Responsibility
Integrate sound managerial judgment with computer science skills in the workplace to provide legal and ethical solutions to science, technology, engineering, and management (STEM) problems with responsible, transpersonal, and transformative reflection on the social impacts of those solutions.
Curriculum:
To receive a Master of Science in Computer Science degree, a total of 42 units are required for graduation. The following are specific degree requirements:
The following are the program core courses:
- MSCS 2103 -Systems Programming
- MSCS 3801 -Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science
- MSCS 3802 -Automata, Computation, and Complexity
- MSCS 2401 -Data Science
- MSCS 2202 -Machine Learning
- MSCS 2101 -Software Engineering
- MSCS 3804 -Cyber Security and Information Assurance
- MSCS 3019 -Data Visualization
Students will select one of the following concentrations. All courses in the concentration must be completed to earn that concentration. Substitution of courses is permitted with Program Chair approval.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- MSCS 3805 -Statistical Analysis for Computer Science
- MSCS 2201 -Artificial Intelligence
- MSCS 3008 -Introduction to Robotics
- MSCS 3806 -Advanced Topics in AI and Machine Learning
Cyber Security and Information Assurance
- MSCS 3920 -Cyber Security: Defense
- MSCS 3921 -Cyber Security: Forensics and Attack Analysis
- MSCS 3922 Applied Cryptography
- MSCS 2219 -Advanced Threat Analysis
Data Science
- MSCS3020 Mining Massive Data Sets
- MSCS3805 Statistical Analysis for Computer Science
- MSCS3807 Data Modeling in Python and R
- MSCS3809 Advanced Data Science
A total of 3 units of electives in the computer science, psychology, or business programs must be completed.
- WILC5000 Full-Time Internship in Computer Science
The Capstone Course is mandatory and should be completed in the final or next to final term of study.
- MSCS 1022 -Technical Writing and Analysis for Computer Scientists: Capstone
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Immerse yourself in the world of computing and enhance your technology career with Sofia University’s Master of Science in Computer Science. This section will help answer some of the most common inquiries about the program.
The Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) at Sofia University is a rigorous and comprehensive graduate program with a STEM Program and Work Integrated Learning (WIL) component. This approach integrates theory with practical application in an innovative STEM-based WIL environment. The program is designed to equip students for both the technical and managerial challenges of the evolving computing, engineering, and scientific industries.
The Sofia University Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Program offers a fully integrated internship program for students. Students may participate in this 0-credit Internship class each quarter during their program, supporting their professional development throughout their MSCS journey. Furthermore, the university can assist students in locating placement if unable to find one in the first quarter.
The program is designed to be completed in 21 months for full-time students (who take 6 units per quarter). The maximum allowable time for degree completion is 4 years.
The estimated cost for the program is $24,000.
The program is offered at Sofia University’s California campuses located in Palo Alto, Silicon Valley, and Costa Mesa, which is about 25 minutes from Los Angeles. Students also have the option to choose from On-Ground or Hybrid & Weekend Courses, allowing for flexibility in accordance with their schedules.
