Old Dominion University

How this program compares

Benchmark this program against our national recognition pages and use the key guides below to evaluate ROI, admissions difficulty, and outcomes.

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: Bachelor’s in CS or related field with adequate preparation; competitive GPA; proof of English proficiency where required. Confirm whether GRE scores are needed for the cycle you apply to.

About This Program

Old Dominion’s MSCS benefits from Hampton Roads defense and maritime industries, federal contractor ecosystems, and growing regional technology hiring. International students should coordinate STEM OPT questions early with ODU’s international office and verify CIP alignment for their specific degree plan.

Career Outcomes

ODU MSCS page lists core areas including cybersecurity, data science & machine learning, bioinformatics, game development, high-performance computing, and software engineering—use graduate advising to specialize toward AI/ML.

• 1. Software Engineer
• 2. Machine Learning Engineer
• 3. Data Scientist
• 4. Cybersecurity-focused Software Developer

What You'll Learn

• Advanced algorithms, systems, and software engineering at the graduate level.
• Depth in data science & machine learning offerings where elected.
• Research and writing skills via thesis track if selected.
• Collaborative engineering norms across ODU CS research groups.

Curriculum Highlights

ODU’s Department of Computer Science positions the MS CS as a flexible graduate degree spanning multiple research and professional concentrations. Students targeting artificial intelligence can route electives and projects through machine learning and related labs; confirm credit totals, culminating experience requirements, and any thesis/project distinctions in the active graduate catalog.

Top Employers

Defense contractors, shipbuilding-adjacent IT and modeling groups, healthcare IT in regional hospital systems, and remote national tech firms—verify timelines for security clearance pathways when applicable.

Admissions

Bachelor’s in CS or related field with adequate preparation; competitive GPA; proof of English proficiency where required. Confirm whether GRE scores are needed for the cycle you apply to.

Application Materials

• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: Typically 2–3
• Resume: Required
• Transcripts: Official transcripts required

Academic Requirements

• CS or equivalent preparation
• Readiness for graduate core coursework
• English proficiency minimums per Graduate School