University of Alabama

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: CS or related bachelor’s; GPA, test score, and English proficiency thresholds per Graduate School and department admissions pages—reverify annually.

About This Program

Flagship public MSCS with explicit core-area spread in the official catalog; assistantship and funding language on department pages should be verified for each admit cycle alongside CPT/OPT questions for international students.

Career Outcomes

Tuscaloosa MSCS with Plan I thesis and Plan II non-thesis options cataloged separately from the department’s MS in Artificial Intelligence degree name.

• 1. Software Engineer
• 2. Southeast automotive and logistics technology employers
• 3. Research engineering via thesis pathway
• 4. Doctoral programs after strong research output

What You'll Learn

• Satisfy software, systems, and theory breadth at the graduate level.
• Complete thesis research or coursework/project depth per Plan I vs Plan II.
• Use elective capacity for AI, security, or HCI-aligned seminars when offered.

Curriculum Highlights

The University of Alabama graduate catalog describes the MS in Computer Science with thesis (Plan I) and non-thesis (Plan II) tracks at 30 credits, core distribution requirements across software, systems, and theory buckets, elective flexibility, and limited transfer credit rules that cannot replace core buckets. Non-thesis students may include a structured project course where catalog language permits. This differs from the MS in Artificial Intelligence plan also offered by the department—compare prerequisite stacks before applying.

Top Employers

Southeast enterprise IT, automotive suppliers, and university research partners—confirm statistics via official employment disclosures when published.

Admissions

CS or related bachelor’s; GPA, test score, and English proficiency thresholds per Graduate School and department admissions pages—reverify annually.

Application Materials

• Statement of purpose: Required
• Letters of recommendation: Confirm department count
• Resume: Required
• Transcripts: Official transcripts required

Academic Requirements

• Degree Required: Bachelor's (CS-related typical)
• GRE: Verify funding vs admission policy
• English proficiency: Per Graduate School