University of Kentucky

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: Undergraduate CS degree or preparatory coursework; GPA, recommendation, and statement requirements as listed on the department admissions page; GRE policy stated as recommended-not-required—reconfirm each cycle.

About This Program

Public engineering MSCS emphasizing rigorous core groups and explicit thesis vs project distinctions; coordinate STEM designation questions with the international student office using the DHS STEM list for your admit year.

Career Outcomes

Lexington MSCS with Plan A thesis and Plan B non-thesis tracks; department pages list paired core course groups and minimum grades for foundational graduate coursework.

• 1. Software Engineer
• 2. Lexington–Louisville regional tech and healthcare IT
• 3. Defense-adjacent analytics
• 4. PhD preparation via thesis route

What You'll Learn

• Complete paired core graduate courses at the required grade level.
• Choose thesis research or non-thesis depth including project expectations as published.
• Elect AI, security, or systems seminars aligned with faculty research.

Curriculum Highlights

UK’s Computer Science graduate materials describe Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis) MS tracks with core coursework drawn from paired groups covering systems and theory/database-style foundations, minimum grade rules, and credit totals near 30 hours depending on culminating option. Non-thesis students typically complete a project component per current handbook language. Always verify credit distribution, allowed electives, and AI-focused seminars against the semester bulletin.

Top Employers

Regional hospitals, logistics technology, and manufacturing analytics employers recruit UK engineering graduates—confirm via career center surveys.

Admissions

Undergraduate CS degree or preparatory coursework; GPA, recommendation, and statement requirements as listed on the department admissions page; GRE policy stated as recommended-not-required—reconfirm each cycle.

Application Materials

• Personal statement: Required
• Letters of recommendation: Typically three
• Resume: Required
• Transcripts: Official transcripts required

Academic Requirements

• Degree Required: Bachelor's (CS typical)
• English proficiency: Per Graduate School for international applicants