University of Houston

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Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related technical field required. Minimum GPA of 3.0. Prerequisites include programming, data structures, algorithms, and calculus. GRE: verify current requirement with UH CS department. International applicants: TOEFL 79 iBT or IELTS 6.5 minimum. Fall priority deadline: February 1. Apply at uh.edu/graduate.

About This Program

The University of Houston's MS in Computer Science is offered in the Cullen College of Engineering, located in one of the most strategically important tech markets in the US. Houston is home to major employers in energy (ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, Halliburton), healthcare (Texas Medical Center — the world's largest), and aerospace (NASA JSC), all of which have growing AI and data science hiring needs. UH's CS department has research strengths in AI, machine learning, bioinformatics, and data science with strong industry engagement.

Career Outcomes

30-credit thesis or 33-credit non-thesis MSCS at the University of Houston in the heart of the nation's energy capital, with strengths in AI, machine learning, data science, and energy-sector computing.

• 1. Machine Learning Engineer
• 2. Data Scientist
• 3. Software Engineer
• 4. AI Research Scientist
• 5. Energy Data Analyst

What You'll Learn

• Complete 30–33 credits spanning required algorithms, breadth areas, and advanced technical electives.
• Specialize in AI/ML, NLP, computer vision, bioinformatics, or data science.
• Apply CS expertise to Houston's energy, healthcare, and aerospace sectors through industry projects.
• Complete a supervised thesis or coursework-based non-thesis track as the capstone.

Curriculum Highlights

The MS in Computer Science at the University of Houston is offered by the Department of Computer Science in the Cullen College of Engineering. The thesis track requires 24 course credits plus 6 thesis credits; the non-thesis track requires 30+ course credits. Core breadth areas include algorithms, theory, systems, and applications. Elective tracks include artificial intelligence, machine learning, data mining, natural language processing, computer vision, bioinformatics, databases, and networks. Houston's energy sector creates strong demand for AI applied to oil and gas data analytics, energy grid optimization, and environmental monitoring. Catalog: publications.uh.edu.

Top Employers

ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, Halliburton, Houston Methodist, MD Anderson Cancer Center, NASA JSC, Amazon, Google; verify current recruiting through UH Career Services.

Admissions

Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related technical field required. Minimum GPA of 3.0. Prerequisites include programming, data structures, algorithms, and calculus. GRE: verify current requirement with UH CS department. International applicants: TOEFL 79 iBT or IELTS 6.5 minimum. Fall priority deadline: February 1. Apply at uh.edu/graduate.

Application Materials

• Official Transcripts: Required
• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: Three required
• CV/Resume: Required
• GRE General: Verify current policy with UH CS department
• English Proficiency: TOEFL 79+ iBT or IELTS 6.5+ for international applicants
• Application: Via UH Graduate Admissions portal

Academic Requirements

• Degree Required: Bachelor's in CS or closely related; minimum 3.0 GPA
• Prerequisites: Programming, data structures, algorithms, calculus
• GRE/GMAT: Verify current policy
• TOEFL/IELTS: Required for international applicants (TOEFL 79+ iBT or IELTS 6.5+)