First Year Master's Students

First Year Master's Students

Welcome First Year Master's Students!

Welcome to the Department of Computer Science at Cal State East Bay, and congratulations on your admission to the Master of Science in Computer Science program. This page covers what to do first, what to expect in your first semester, and where to go for help.

Start here: your first steps

  1. Activate your NetID and Horizon email, and check your Horizon email regularly — it is how the university communicates with you.
  2. Log in to MyÂÌñ»»ÆÞ to register, view your admission status, and check for holds (you cannot register while a hold is on your account).
  3. Set up Canvas and , where you will find your courses, forms, and announcements.
  4. Pay your fees by the deadline — even if you are waitlisted. Unpaid fees can drop you from all classes. See Important Dates.
  5. Attend graduate orientation. It is held on Zoom shortly before the semester begins; watch your Horizon email and the “Computer Science Majors Graduate” organization in Canvas for the date.

Prerequisites and your first semester

Nearly all incoming students are admitted as Conditionally Classified, which means your admission letter lists prerequisite or remediation courses to complete in addition to your graduate coursework. Keep in mind:

  • Each prerequisite must be passed with a B− or better and does not count toward the MS degree.
  • Complete your prerequisites as early as possible, ideally within your first year.
  • Prerequisite grades do count in your cumulative ÂÌñ»»ÆÞ GPA, which must stay at 3.0 or above.

Not sure what to take first? Use the First-Semester Schedule Planner to get a suggested first-semester schedule based on the courses listed in your admission letter.

Registering for classes

  • Register through MyÂÌñ»»ÆÞ once any holds are cleared.
  • Before the semester begins you may sign up for at most four CS courses total, and this includes waitlisted courses. Non-CS courses such as STAT 316 do not count toward that limit.
  • A normal graduate load is 3–4 courses (9–12 units); full-time is 6 units. International (F-1) students must enroll in at least 8 units each fall and spring.
  • Always check Important Dates for add/drop, fee-payment, and final-exam deadlines.

Your degree at a glance

  • The MS in Computer Science requires 30 units of 600-level coursework, each passed with a C or better and an overall 3.0 graduate GPA.
  • Every student completes five required core courses: CS 601, CS 611, CS 621, CS 651, and CS 671.
  • You also complete a concentration and a capstone — the Comprehensive Exam (CS 692), a Project (CS 693), or a Thesis (CS 699).
  • See the full requirements and concentration options in the .

Financial aid and international students

  • Financial aid is based on degree-applicable 600-level units. Because prerequisites are undergraduate courses that do not count toward the degree, enrolling in prerequisites alone — even a full load — does not establish aid eligibility. Plan to include at least 4 units of 600-level coursework each term, and confirm your situation with the Office of Financial Aid.
  • International (F-1) students must maintain full-time enrollment and may take only one fully online course per semester. Direct visa and I-20 questions to the Center for International Education (CIE); the Department of Computer Science cannot assist with visa matters.

Tips for a strong start

  • Attend class from the first day — instructors may drop students who miss the first meeting or who lack the prerequisites.
  • Plan on about two hours of study for every hour in class.
  • Use office hours, and form study groups while following each instructor’s collaboration policy.

Questions? Who to contact