usc computer science phd gre

What are you looking for?

• Domestic Students
• Prospective Students

How to Apply

Step 1: review program and application requirements.

Application Instructions: Before you begin your application to USC, please carefully read all instructions. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to revise it. You will, however, be able to amend certain sections (such as test scores). Submitting incorrect information on your application or failing to include important details can delay the admission process.

Deadlines : Since application deadlines vary by program, be sure to confirm your intended program’s deadline and apply on time.

You should also use the months leading up to the deadline to complete the following steps:

GRE/GMAT and Other Tests : If required by your program of interest, schedule the GRE or GMAT exam. Your scores are considered valid only if earned within five years to the month of your intended first term at USC. (For example, no earlier than August 1 five years before applying to the fall term).

Résumé/Curriculum Vitae : There is no “right” approach to structuring your résumé/CV for graduate school. However, it is a good idea to take some time to identify the skills and achievements you would like to highlight for your graduate program and structure the document accordingly. Please note: You will be required to upload a copy of your résumé/CV as part of your application.

Recommendation Letters: The number of letters you will need varies by program. Be sure to check with your program of interest for specific requirements. Identify potential recommenders and let them know that you would like them to write a recommendation for you. Recommendations may be optional for some programs at USC.

Step 2: Complete the Online Application

Please complete our graduate application for your intended program online.

You may apply to up to three programs per term. Applications to additional programs in a single term will not be considered. Please note that withdrawing an application does not reset the three-program application limit for that term.

For additional tips, tricks and advice, please view our video tutorial, “ Navigating your USC Graduate Application .”

Video Tutorial: Navigating your USC Graduate Application

Completing the online application:, apply to usc.

You must create a graduate application account in order to apply to a graduate program at USC. Please set aside 45 to 60 minutes to complete the online application. Alternatively, you may save your information and continue it at a later date. You must use the same account to apply to multiple programs. You can apply to all programs at the same time or add a program after you have submitted your application. Please note: You may apply up to a maximum of three programs per term. Applications to additional programs in a single term will not be considered.

Technical Requirements

The online application supports the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari. The application uses Cookies, JavaScript and Pop-up windows, so please be sure all are enabled within your browser. (The default setting is “On” so it is unlikely that you will need to make any changes.)

Dates and Deadlines

Most graduate departments will indicate if their deadline refers to the date by which only the application must be received, or if the deadline applies to all supporting materials as well. In most cases, it is understood that some supporting materials will arrive later. This may not be a problem as long as they arrive within a reasonable period of time.

• PhD Programs: The priority deadline for Ph.D. applicants is December 1 . However, many of our doctoral programs, such as the ones offered by the Viterbi School of Engineering and the School of Cinematic Arts , have different deadlines. Please refer to their websites for deadline information.
• Master’s and Graduate Certificate Programs: All deadlines for USC master’s and graduate certificate programs are set by individual academic departments. These deadlines may vary from program to program and are subject to change. Please check with your intended graduate department directly for this information.

Programs with Separate Applications

The following graduate degree programs administer their own applications. You will need to apply to them through a separate website.

Independent Health Professions Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Keck School of Medicine Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Master of Public Health (MPH) Master of Science in Biostatistics Master of Science in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology Master of Science in Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology Primary Care Physician Assistant Program

Ostrow School of Dentistry Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S) Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists (D.D.S) Postgraduate Specialty Certificate Programs

Gould School of Law All programs

USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences All programs

Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Chemistry , PhD Physics, PhD  

Confidentiality and Document Submission Policy

Transcripts and all other materials submitted for admission consideration become the property of USC. The university does not return or duplicate materials for any reason whatsoever. The information and materials in your submitted application are made available only to the central Office of Admission and the admission committee of your academic department or professional school.

Additional Help

Please contact us if you experience difficulties while completing your application or have questions about submitting your application.

Step 3: Pay your Application Fees

The application fee is $90 for all graduate programs, except those offered by the Marshall School of Business ($155) and the International Academy’s Pre-Master’s program ($175). We accept payments via Visa, MasterCard and Discover card.

Fee Waivers: You will be able to request a fee waiver only after you have started (but not submitted) your online application and indicated your program of interest. You will be asked for documentation to verify your eligibility for a waiver. If your request is approved, you will then be able to submit your application and skip payment of the application fee. Please refer to our Fee Waivers page to see if you are eligible.

Step 4: Provide Program Materials

In addition to transcripts and test scores, most USC graduate programs require supplemental materials for admission review. These materials may include (but are not limited to) a statement of intent, recommendations, writing samples, creative portfolio, etc. Supplemental materials are reviewed by the department only, not the Office of Graduate Admission.

To verify what supplemental materials are required by your program of interest and how to submit them, refer to their homepage or to the instructions on the “Program Materials” quadrant on the application. In most cases, they can be submitted via the application.

Some programs may require that you submit your supplemental materials via Slideroom. You will receive instructions on our application or directly from your department if this is the case.

If any materials need to be mailed, the postal address will be provided on the department website. (This is usually not the same address to which you send your transcripts.)

Please contact your intended graduate program with any questions regarding supplemental materials.

After You Apply:

Your USC ID Number : You will receive your 10-digit USC ID via email within two to three business days after submitting your online application. Please keep this ID on record and make sure to include it in all your communication with USC. You will also need to include it when mailing any documents to the university.

It is important to note that your 10-digit USC ID is different from the USC CAS ID you will receive when you begin your application. The CAS ID is required for only technical support during the application process and is not issued by the university.

Step 5: Submit your Official Transcripts

You will need to have your official transcripts sent to USC, with any university seals or security features intact. Please note: Unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable. Please refer to our detailed guidelines .

Make sure to also upload copies of your university-issued transcripts (issued on official letterhead) to your online application. These copies are considered unofficial but can help speed application review.

Step 6: Submit your Official Test Scores

Most USC graduate programs require either GRE or GMAT scores. Please review your program’s website for their test score requirements. Make sure to include your test scores as part of your application. Once you submit your application, you will be able to return to it to add additional test scores if necessary.

Only scores received electronically from the testing service are considered official. USC does not accept self-reported test scores or paper scores sent via postal mail.

If you are sending GRE scores: USC’s ETS school code is 4852 . Use this code to ensure that USC receives your official test results. No department code is required.

If you are sending GMAT scores : Select “University of Southern California” from the list of available schools and refer to your intended program for their program code.

Video Tutorial: Entering Your Standardized Test Scores

For additional tips, tricks and advice, please view our video tutorial, “Entering Your Standardized Test Scores.”

Step 7: Track your Application Status

Our admission processing center receives a high volume of materials during the peak admission period (November through May). During these months, please allow approximately 15 business days from the date of receipt of your official academic records to process these documents and match them to your application in our database.

Graduate applicants are responsible for properly submitting all items required for review and responding promptly to requests for additional materials or information. Once you submit your application, all notifications regarding any missing transcripts or other required materials will be emailed to you. Therefore, it is important that you regularly check the email address you provided on the application.

Please note: You will not receive confirmation emails when specific materials have been received.

Step 8: View Your Decision

While the Office of Graduate Admission processes all graduate applications, admission decisions are ultimately made by the program to which you applied. Once the admission committee for your intended program of study has completed the review process, you will receive an email notification from the Office of Graduate Admission informing you that a decision has been made.

The length of time required to make a decision varies by the program, type of degree, and the size of the applicant pool. Most applicants to the fall term receive decision notifications by June. Most applicants to the spring term receive decision notifications by December.

When you receive your decision notification, follow the instructions on the email to register for and view your decision at youSC .

Video Tutorial: The Decision Letter and Statement of Intent Form

For additional tips, tricks and advice, please view our video tutorial, “The Decision Letter and Statement of Intent Form.”

Return to: USC Viterbi School of Engineering    

Henry Salvatori Computer Science Center 104 (213) 740-4494 FAX: (213) 740-7285 Email: [email protected]  

Chair: Cyrus Shahabi, PhD

Chan Soon-Shiong Chair: Maja Matarić, PhD (Neuroscience Center)

Andrew and Erna Viterbi Early Career Chair: Nora Ayanian, PhD

Andrew and Erna Viterbi Early Career Chair: Jernej Barbic, PhD

Philip and Cayley MacDonald Endowed Early Career Chair: Yan Liu, PhD

Gordon S. Marshall Chair in Engineering: Urbashi Mitra, PhD

Jack Munishian Early Career Chair; Zohrab A. Kaprielian Fellow in Engineering: Fei Sha, PhD

Niki and Max Nikias Chair in Engineering: Shrikanth (Shri) Narayanan, PhD

Northrup Grumman Chair in Engineering: Ramesh Govindan, PhD

Fletcher Jones Foundation Endowed Chair in Computer Science: Gaurav Sukhatme, PhD

David Packard Chair in Manufacturing Engineering: Stephen C-Y Lu, PhD (Mechanical Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering)

Charles Lee Powell Chair in Engineering: Viktor Prasanna, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Charles Lee Powell Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science: Massoud Pedram, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Henry Salvatori Chair in Computer Science: Leonard M. Adleman, PhD

Fletcher Jones Professor: Ramakant Nevatia, PhD

Helen N. & Emmett H. Jones Professorship in Engineering: Cyrus Shahabi, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering and Spatial Sciences)

Seeley G. Mudd Professor of Engineering: Shanghua Teng, PhD

Distinguished Professor of Computer Science; TRW Professor of Software Engineering: Barry Boehm, PhD

WiSE Gabilan Assistant Professor:  Heather Culbertson, PhD

WiSE Gabilan Assistant Professor:  Bistra Dilkina, PhD

WiSE Gabilan Assistant Professor: Aleksandra Korolova, PhD

Professors: Leonard Adleman, PhD (Molecular Biology) ; Barry Boehm, PhD (Industrial and Systems Engineering) ; Leana Golubchik, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Ramesh Govindan, PhD; Ellis Horowitz, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Ming-Deh Huang, PhD; Laurent Itti, PhD (Neuroscience Center) ; David Kempe, PhD; Sven Koenig, PhD; Yan Liu, PhD; Maja Matarić, PhD (Neuroscience Center) ; Nenad Medvidovic, PhD; Aiichiro Nakano, PhD (Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics) ; Ulrich Neumann, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Ramakant Nevatia, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Paul Rosenbloom, PhD; Fei Sha, PhD; Cyrus Shahabi, PhD ( Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Gaurav Sukhatme, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Shanghua Teng, PhD

Associate Professors: Nora Ayanian, PhD;  Jernej Barbic, PhD; Bistra Dilkina, PhD; Shaddin Dughmi, PhD; Shahram Ghandeharizadeh, PhD; William GJ Halfond, PhD; Chao Wang, PhD

Assistant Professors: Heather Culbertson, PhD; Jyotirmony Vinay Deshmukh, PhD; Robin Jia, PhD; Aleksandra Korolova, PhD; Joseph Lim, PhD; Haipeng Luo, PhD; Muhammad Naveed, PhD; Stefanos Nikolaidis, PhD; Barath Raghavan, PhD; Mukund Rahtorhaman, PhD; Xiang Ren, PhD; Vatsal Sharan, PhD; Jesse Thomason, PhD; Jiapeng Zhang, PhD

Joint Professors: Murali Annavaram, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Salman Avestimehr, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Irving Biederman, PhD (Psychology, Neuroscience ); Todd Brun; Emilio Ferrara, PhD (Annenberg); Satyandra K Gupta, PhD (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering) ;   Rahul Jain, PhD ( Electrical and Computer Engineering ); Rajiv Kalia, PhD (Physics) ; Carl Kesselman, PhD (Industrial and Systems Engineering) ; Bhaskar Krishnamachari, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; C-C Jay Kuo, PhD (Signal and Image Processing) ; Stephen Lu, PhD (Industrial and Systems Engineering) ; Urbashi Mitra, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Shrikanth (Shri) Narayanan, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Hamid Nazerzadeh, PhD (Data Sciences and Operations) ; Andrew Nealen, PhD (Cinematic Arts) ; Pierluigi Nuzzo, PhD ( Electrical and Computer Engineering);  Viktor Prasanna, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Konstantinos Psounis, PhD; C.S. Raghavendra, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Meisam Razaviyayn (Industrial and Systems Engineering, Computer Science, and Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Benjamin Reichardt, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Remo Rohs, PhD (Computational Biology) ; Nicolas Schweighofer, PhD (Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy) ; Neil Siegel, PhD (Industrial and Systems Engineering) ; Mahdi Soltanolkotabi, PhD ( Electrical and Computer Engineering) ;   Tianshu Sun, PhD (Data Sciences and Operations) ; Francisco Valero-Cuevas, PhD  (Biomedical Engineering) ; Priya Vashishta, PhD (Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Physics) ; Phebe Vayanos, PhD  (Industrial and System Engineering) ; Richard Weinberg, PhD (Cinematic Arts) ; John Wilson, PhD (Spatial Sciences, Computer Science)

Adjunct Assistant Professor: Marco Papa, PhD

Research Professor of Computer Science with Distinction: Premkumar Natarajan, PhD

Research Professors:  Ewa Deelman, PhD; Yolanda Gil, PhD; Jonathan Gratch, PhD; John Heidemann, PhD; Randall Hill, PhD; Craig Knoblock, PhD; Kristina Lerman, PhD; William Swartout, PhD; David Traum, PhD

Research Associate Professors: Jose Luis Ambite, PhD; Aram Galstyan, PhD; Kallirroi Georgila, PhD; Andrew Gordon, PhD; Robert Lucas, PhD; Jelena Mirkovic, PhD; Pedro Szekely, PhD; Greg Ver Steeg, PhD

Research Assistant Professors:  Muhao Chen, PhD; Rafael Ferreira da Silva, PhD; Gale Lucas, PhD; Xuezhe Ma, PhD; Jonathan May, PhD; Fred Morstatter, PhD; Jay Pujara, PhD; David Pynadath, PhD; Srivatsan Ravi, PhD; Mohammad Rostami, PhD; Mohammad Soleymani, PhD; Satish Kumar Thittamaranahalli PhD; Ning Wang, PhD

Adjunct Research Professors: Paul Debevec, PhD; Christian Mattmann, PhD

Adjunct Research Associate Professor: Ethan Katz-Bassett, PhD

Adjunct Research Assistant Professors: Bradford Clark, PhD; David DeVault, PhD; Nanyun Peng, PhD

Professors of Engineering Practice: Victor Adamchik, PhD; Jeffrey Miller, PhD

Associate Professors of Engineering Practice: Clifford Neuman, PhD; Saty Raghavachary, PhD; Mark William Redekopp (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Wei-Min Shen, PhD; Wensheng Wu, PhD

Lecturers: Sandra Batista, PhD (Senior Lecturer);  Claire Bono ( Senior Lecturer) ; William Cheng, PhD ( Senior Lecturer) ; Aaron Cote, PhD ( Senior Lecturer) ; Scott Easley, BA ( Senior Lecturer) ; Andrew Goodney, PhD ( Senior Lecturer) ; Mohammad Reza Rajati (Lecturer) ; Tatyana Ryutov, PhD (Senior Lecturer ); Shawn Shamsian, PhD ( Senior Lecturer)

Emeritus Professors: Michael A. Arbib, PhD ( Biological Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Neuroscience and Psychology ); George Bekey, PhD (Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering) ;   Jerry Hobbs, PhD; Gerard Medioni, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Aristides A.G. Requicha, PhD ( Electrical Engineering )

Bachelor of Science

Undergraduate program educational objectives.

Graduates of the undergraduate program in Computer Science are expected to attain the following objectives within a few years of graduation:

• Graduates apply the computational and analytical approaches of computer science to their chosen professions.
• Graduates successfully engage in life-long learning to continue to be contributing members of their communities in fields within and outside the traditional scope of computer science.
• Graduates exhibit high professional and ethical standards to become productive leaders in society.

Undergraduate Program Criteria

The program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science includes at least one and one-third years of computer science that covers the fundamentals of algorithms, data structures, software design, concepts of programming languages and computer organization and software; provides an exposure to a variety of programming languages and systems, including at least one higher-level language; and includes advanced course work that builds on the fundamental course work to provide depth.

The program includes at least one year of science and mathematics, including at least one-half year of mathematics, including discrete mathematics. Additional mathematics might consist of calculus, linear algebra, numerical methods, probability, statistics, number theory, geometry, or symbolic logic. The science component develops an understanding of the scientific method and provides an opportunity to experience this mode of inquiry in courses for science or engineering majors that provide some exposure to laboratory work.

Physics/Computer Science Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Science

This program is intended for students with dual interests in physics and computer science who wish to complete the essential courses for both majors within their normal four-year career. See the Physics and Astronomy    Department section for course requirements.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering and Computer Science

See the listing under Computer Engineering Program   .

Graduate Degrees

The requirements listed below are special to this department and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements    of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering for master’s degrees and the general requirements    of the USC Graduate School for PhD degrees. The graduate program in computer science provides intensive preparation in the basic concepts and techniques related to the design, programming and application of digital computers. Both the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees are offered.

A Master of Science degree with specialization in software engineering is also offered. The program seeks to prepare students for an industrial leadership career in software engineering. It also serves as an introduction to this area for students who wish to pursue advanced studies and research leading to a PhD.

A Master of Science degree with specialization in intelligent robotics is also offered. This program seeks to prepare students for an industrial career in the development of computer systems for CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing) and robotics. It also serves as an introduction to this area for students who wish to pursue advanced studies and research leading to a PhD. The emphasis is on the domain of mechanical, electromechanical and mechatronic products. (CAD for digital systems is covered by a separate program offered by the Electrical and Computer Engineering department.)

A Master of Science degree with a specialization in computer networks is offered. This specialization prepares students in the areas of computer communications, networks and distributed processing.

A Master of Science in Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) is also offered.

A Master of Science in Computer Science (Multimedia and Creative Technologies) is also offered.

A Master of Science in Computer Science (High Performance Computing and Simulations) is also offered.

A Master of Science in Computer Science (Data Science) is also offered.

A Master of Science in Computer Science (Game Development) is also offered.

A Master of Science in Computer Science (Computer Security) is also offered.

A Master of Science in Computer Science Dual Degree with Tsinghua University School of Information Science and Technology – China is also offered.

A Master of Science in Computer Science (Scientists and Engineers) is also offered for students with limited background in computer science.

Admission and Prerequisites

Admission is determined by the Office of Admission and the Viterbi School of Engineering, in consultation with the Computer Science Department. The applicant is required to have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university; satisfactory scores on the verbal and quantitative portions of the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examinations (one advanced test from computer science, mathematics or engineering is recommended); and a substantial background in computing constitutes a minimum requirement. Foreign students must earn a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Bachelor’s Degree

• •  Computer Engineering and Computer Science (BS)
• •  Computer Science (BS)
• •  Computer Science Games (BS)
• •  Computer Science/Business Administration (BS)
• •  Computer Science Minor

Joint Degree

• •  Computer Science Dual Degree with Tsinghua University School of Information Science and Technology (MS)

Master’s Degree

• •  Computer Science (Artificial Intelligence) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Computer Networks) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Computer Security) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Data Science) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Game Development) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (High Performance Computing and Simulations) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Intelligent Robotics) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Multimedia and Creative Technologies) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Scientists and Engineers) (MS)
• •  Computer Science (Software Engineering) (MS)

Graduate Certificate

• •  Software Architecture Graduate Certificate

Doctoral Degree

• •  Computer Science (PhD)

Computer Science

• •  CSCI 100xg Explorations in Computing
• •  CSCI 101L Fundamentals of Computer Programming
• •  CSCI 102L Fundamentals of Computation
• •  CSCI 103L Introduction to Programming
• •  CSCI 104L Data Structures and Object Oriented Design
• •  CSCI 109 Introduction to Computer Science
• •  CSCI 110 Introduction to Digital Logic
• •  CSCI 170 Discrete Methods in Computer Science
• •  CSCI 201L Principles of Software Development
• •  CSCI 270 Introduction to Algorithms and Theory of Computing
• •  CSCI 280 Video Game Production
• •  CSCI 281 Pipelines for Games and Interactives
• •  CSCI 310 Software Engineering
• •  CSCI 350 Introduction to Operating Systems
• •  CSCI 352L Computer Organization and Architecture
• •  CSCI 353 Introduction to Internetworking
• •  CSCI 356 Introduction to Computer Systems
• •  CSCI 360 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
• •  CSCI 368 Programming Graphical User Interfaces
• •  CSCI 380 Video Game Programming
• •  CSCI 390 Special Problems
• •  CSCI 401 Capstone: Design and Construction of Large Software Systems
• •  CSCI 402 Operating Systems
• •  CSCI 404 Capstone: Creating Your High-Tech Startup
• •  CSCI 410x Translation of Programming Languages
• •  CSCI 420 Computer Graphics
• •  CSCI 423 Native Console Multiplayer Game Development
• •  CSCI 426 Game Prototyping
• •  CSCI 430 Introduction to Computer and Network Security
• •  CSCI 435 Professional C++
• •  CSCI 439 Compiler Development
• •  CSCI 445L Introduction to Robotics
• •  CSCI 450 Introduction to Computer Networks
• •  CSCI 452 Parallel and Distributed Computation
• •  CSCI 454L Introduction to System-on-Chip
• •  CSCI 455x Introduction to Programming Systems Design
• •  CSCI 457 Computer Systems Organization
• •  CSCI 458 Numerical Methods
• •  CSCI 459 Computer Systems and Applications Modeling Fundamentals
• •  CSCI 461 Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Development
• •  CSCI 467 Introduction to Machine Learning
• •  CSCI 475 Theory of Computation
• •  CSCI 476 Cryptography: Secure Communication and Computation
• •  CSCI 477 Concepts of Programming Languages
• •  CSCI 485 File and Database Management
• •  CSCI 487 Programming Game Engines
• •  CSCI 490x Directed Research
• •  CSCI 491aL Final Game Project
• •  CSCI 491bL Final Game Project
• •  CSCI 495 Senior Project
• •  CSCI 499 Special Topics
• •  CSCI 501 Numerical Analysis and Computation
• •  CSCI 502a Numerical Analysis
• •  CSCI 502b Numerical Analysis
• •  CSCI 504a Numerical Solutions of Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
• •  CSCI 504b Numerical Solutions of Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
• •  CSCI 505a Applied Probability
• •  CSCI 505b Applied Probability
• •  CSCI 510 Software Management and Economics
• •  CSCI 511 Personal Software Process (PSP) and Project
• •  CSCI 512 Testing and Analysis of Software Systems
• •  CSCI 513 Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems
• •  CSCI 520 Computer Animation and Simulation
• •  CSCI 521 Optimization: Theory and Algorithms
• •  CSCI 522 Game Engine Development
• •  CSCI 523L Networked Games
• •  CSCI 524 Networked Artificial Intelligence
• •  CSCI 526 Advanced Mobile Devices and Game Consoles
• •  CSCI 527 Applied Machine Learning for Games
• •  CSCI 529a Advanced Game Projects
• •  CSCI 529b Advanced Game Projects
• •  CSCI 530 Security Systems
• •  CSCI 531 Applied Cryptography
• •  CSCI 532 Innovation for Defense Applications
• •  CSCI 533 Algebraic Combinatorics
• •  CSCI 534 Affective Computing
• •  CSCI 535 Multimodal Probabilistic Learning of Human Communication
• •  CSCI 536 Linear Programming and Extensions
• •  CSCI 538 Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality
• •  CSCI 540 Self-Organization
• •  CSCI 542 Neural Computation with Artificial Neural Networks
• •  CSCI 544 Applied Natural Language Processing
• •  CSCI 545 Robotics
• •  CSCI 548 Information Integration on the Web
• •  CSCI 549 Nanorobotics
• •  CSCI 550 Advanced Data Stores
• •  CSCI 551 Computer Networking
• •  CSCI 552 Asynchronous VLSI Design
• •  CSCI 553 Computational Solution of Optimization Problems
• •  CSCI 554 Cyber-Physical Systems: A Computing Perspective
• •  CSCI 555L Advanced Operating Systems
• •  CSCI 556 Introduction to Cryptography
• •  CSCI 557 Computer Systems Architecture
• •  CSCI 558L Internetworking and Distributed Systems Laboratory
• •  CSCI 559 Machine Learning I: Supervised Methods
• •  CSCI 561 Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
• •  CSCI 563 Building Knowledge Graphs
• •  CSCI 564 Brain Theory and Artificial Intelligence
• •  CSCI 565 Compiler Design
• •  CSCI 566 Deep Learning and Its Applications

USC Computer Science: Class of 2022

Meet usc viterbi’s department of computer science graduating class of 2022.

The 139th USC Commencement Ceremony takes place May 13, 2022.

At USC Viterbi's Department of Computer Science, students may have different backgrounds, interests, and life stories, but they share one thing: a passion for making a difference in the world. Read the stories of our Class of 2022, learn about their future goals, and get inspired by their dedication! Fight on! 

Congrats, Class of 2022!

Leena Mathur, B.S./B.A. Computer Science, Cognitive Science, Linguistics

“AI research for human health and well-being” describes Leena Mathur’s pursuits at USC – and her journey as a researcher has just begun. A triple major in computer science, cognitive science, and linguistics, Mathur’s research focuses on developing AI techniques to help humans address difficult problems in society. 

At USC, Mathur conducted research on robots to help children with autism spectrum disorder, modeled robot empathy perception to enhance human-machine interactions, and created novel approaches for social intelligence in machines with healthcare applications. Mathur also researched machine learning methods for preserving endangered languages and developed AI approaches for non-invasive Alzheimer’s disease screening .

Mathur is a recipient of the USC Presidential Scholarship and her thesis work was supported by USC Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowships. In addition, Mathur’s research has been published in seven papers and she was nominated for a Best Paper Award at the 2020 ACM International Conference on Multimodal Interaction. Her potential as a researcher has been recognized by three top national awards: the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the Astronaut Scholarship, and the Computing Research Association (CRA) Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award .

Mathur cares deeply about outreach and mentorship in STEM. Since 2018, she has designed and led regular AI workshops for USC undergraduates through CAIS++ and for Los Angeles high school students through Viterbi’s K-12 STEM Center . After graduation, Mathur will begin a Ph.D. at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science and plans to pursue an academic AI research career.

Bryan Huang, B.S. Computer Science

During COVID-19, hundreds of thousands of families in Los Angeles lost their jobs and re-entered cyclical homelessness. For Bryan Huang, it hit close to home. “That feeling of instability felt personal,” said Huang, who grew up in Boston, the child of parents who emigrated from China and juggled grad school, work and raising a family.

So, Huang and his teammates set to work building a software platform called Social Benefit, which leverages algorithms to help low-income families navigate changes to their government benefits. The team recently received the $50,000 grand prize at the 2021 Min Family Challenge , an engineering social entrepreneurship competition that encourages entrants to build companies to benefit underprivileged people locally, nationally and worldwide.

“A lot of meaning in my life is rooted in being able to help others,” said Huang, who staffed a Samaritans suicide hotline in high school. “I also think there is almost a karmic way of the world giving back good when you put good into it.”

During his time at USC, Huang also served as president of Code the Change , a student club that designs and builds software for social good for local non-profits. After graduation, he hopes to launch his own startup. “The mission will undeniably have some part that will benefit society,” he said. “That’s a high priority for me.”

David Barrett, B.S. Computer Science (Games)

As with all technologies, games should be adapted to fit a wide range of needs, says senior David Barrett, a student in the USC Computer Science Games (CSGA) program. Originally, from Santa Clarita, CA, Barrett is passionate about the gaming world’s sense of community, but most importantly, his mission: to make games accessible to everyone.

Barrett got involved with accessibility in gaming by chance when he landed an internship through the USC School of Cinematic Arts, learning from experts in user experience (UX) research. Since then, he has worked on adapting or creating various multiplayer and VR games to accommodate users with a wide array of disabilities.

In 2021, he received the USC Games scholarship, which allowed him to attend the AbleGamers non-profit course focusing on accessibility. After learning different Accessible Player Experience (APX) gaming patterns to make games more accessible, he received his APX certificate and is now a certified practitioner.

In his final project, a game called Charon inspired by Greek mythology, Barrett’s main concern as an engineer is ensuring the game is accessible to as many people as possible. After graduation, Barrett will intern at Gamebreaking Studios, an LA-based company that has worked with some of the largest brands in the world including Disney, Microsoft and Blizzard.

Aida Rahmattalabi, Ph.D. Computer Science

At USC’s Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society (CAIS), Aida Rahamattalabi worked on artificial intelligence (AI) and social network-based interventions aiming to reduce suicidality among unhoused youth, college students and active-duty military members.

Pairing her background in computer science with social work methodologies, Rahmattalabi hopes to implement an intervention with long-lasting—and widespread—results. Originally from Iran, during her time at USC, Rahmattalabi realized she could channel her passion for AI into meaningful work, helping low-resource communities and other vulnerable populations through interventions that leverage social relationships and create a supportive environment.

Rahmattalabi has researched how AI can help facilitate ‘gatekeeper training,’ a common suicide-prevention strategy in which individuals are taught to detect and respond to the warning signs. She also worked on a project that leveraged AI and social network theory to optimize substance abuse intervention groups for unhoused youth. After graduation, she is taking some time off to travel before pursuing research roles in trustworthy AI research.

Sarah Cooney, Ph.D. Computer Science

Imagine a city with trees lining every street, safe roads for cyclists, and infrastructure designed specifically for pedestrians to feel secure while walking. A place with clean air, where neighbors help each other. That’s Sarah Cooney’s vision for the city of the future. At USC, Cooney has been using AI to democratize urban planning and make cities around the world more livable and sustainable.

Cooney’s interest in this process can be traced back to her home in rural Pennsylvania, where she spent most of her life before moving to the Philadelphia area, earning her undergraduate degree from St. Joseph’s University. Her ideal space is a combination of both: green and accessible, like the place she grew up, but with the amenities and cultural opportunities offered by a world-class city.

At USC, she created a software system that allows everyday citizens to design their own sustainable surroundings. Currently, the project focuses on helping people imagine how things could be different, said Cooney, but ultimately the goal is to help people implement those possibilities.

According to Cooney’s supervisor, Associate Professor Barath Raghavan, Cooney’s work could help to democratize urban planning and improve the livability and sustainability of urban environments. Cooney is passionate about sharing her knowledge with others and, after graduation, will return to Pennsylvania to serve as an assistant professor at Villanova University.

Victor Ardulov, Ph.D. Computer Science

High-quality early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, can have a strong impact on their development and wellbeing. At USC, Victor Ardulov conducted his research as a member of the Signal Analysis and Interpretation Lab, where his work sits at the intersection of mathematics and human behavior. As part of a recent project published in Nature Scientific Reports, Ardulov and his team created a system to help clinicians screen children for developmental disorders such as ASD.

The AI-based computer adaptive test helps clinical practitioners determine the best questions to ask caregivers based on their previous responses about the child's behavior. This could help clinicians make a faster and more accurate diagnosis, and differentiate between disorders such as ASD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and more. 

“Such an approach ... could also help in diagnosing numerous mental and behavioral health conditions across the life span, and globally, including anxiety disorder, depression, addiction, and dementia that all rely on similar procedures for understanding and treating them,” said Ardulov's supervisor, Professor Shrikanth Narayanan.

Besides his work at USC, Victor served as a scientific advisor at Calypso, and worked at both  Hughes Research on human-AI collaborative teams and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory on VR tools for science and planning. In May 2021, he received the Viterbi Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award for his outstanding work mentoring undergraduate students. While his precise plans after graduation are still under wraps, Ardulov plans to join a tech company working in an AI and healthcare-focused team.

"What was your most memorable project at USC?"

Adam Hamden B.S. Computer Science

“I worked on a system for robot mindfulness interactions that measures heart rate, inter-beat interval, and heart rate variability through live remote video. This could inform models for stress during mindfulness sessions."

Prachi Palod Master's in Computer Science

"My favorite project was creating a weather app from scratch as one of my coursework pieces. After graduation, I'll be joining Amazon!"

Zizhao Hu Master's in Computer Science

"I collaborated with USC iLab on my first conference paper and our work has the potential to make safer autonomous vehicles in the future and save lives."

Frost (Tianjian Xu) B.S. Computer Science

"I worked on a COVID-19 forecasting research project at USC Data Science Lab, using machine learning methods to predict global COVID-19 transmission."

Join the livestream to watch the latest commencement coverage

The 139th Commencement Ceremony at the University of Southern California begins on May 13 at 8:30 a.m. at Alumni Memorial Park. Individual school ceremonies will follow the main ceremony. #USCGrad

Published on May 12th, 2022

Last updated on May 16th, 2024

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Earning a graduate degree in computer science can lead to positions in research institutions, government agencies, technology companies and colleges and universities. These are the top computer science schools. Each school's score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions. Read the methodology »

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Students are provided a deep understanding of both fundamentals and important current issues in computer science and computer engineering so that they may either obtain productive employment or pursue advanced degrees.

The Master of Science in Computer Science program requires the student to take a broad spectrum of courses, while simultaneously allowing for emphasis in desired areas of specialization.

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The Department of Computer Science also offers the following Master of Science in Computer Science degree program concentrations:

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Why earn a degree in data science.

When you major in data science for your bachelor’s degree or choose to pursue a master’s degree in data science , you can expect to take courses in databases and information systems, data mining, data visualization, AI and machine learning, security, and much more. What’s more, when you enroll in a data science degree program at either the undergraduate or graduate level, you’ll get an opportunity to build and strengthen several key skills important for working with data , such as programming, statistics, database management, data visualization, and machine learning, among others.

A data science degree is a foundational credential that can lead to a number of career options. Between your subject knowledge and skills development, you can explore traditional data roles, like data analyst or data engineer , or pursue a career in machine learning, game development, or marketing. Learn more about what you can do with your degree after graduating.

Data scientists are one of the fastest-growing occupations, with a projected 36% job growth from 2021 to 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .

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Become part of a global learning community and establish strong relationships that can open new and unexpected opportunities throughout your career.

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Master's degrees, bachelor's degrees, postgraduate programs, what do data science students have to say, find helpful articles related to data science degrees, is a master’s degree in data science worth it.

While it's not always necessary to hold a master's in data science, earning an advanced degree does feature several benefits. Learn more about whether it's right for you.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a bachelor’s degree in data science.

A bachelor's degree in data science is an undergraduate program that combines concepts from computer science, statistics, data science, and more. You may either find specific bachelor’s degrees in this major or choose the subject as a concentration when earning your bachelor’s degree in computer science .

Studying data science is an opportunity to develop an array of skills, including programming, data visualization, critical thinking, and communication, all of which can lead to in-demand careers across industries .

What is a master’s degree in data science?

A master's degree in data science is a newer graduate program that integrates fundamentals from computer science, probability and statistics, machine learning, and data visualization, among other subjects. In a data science master’s program, you’ll build key skills in areas such as machine learning, data mining and data visualization, and cloud computing, alongside critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication. Learn more about whether a master’s in data science is worth it and the types of roles you can pursue with the degree .

How do I choose the best data science degree program for me?

On Coursera, you’ll find online data science degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate level. To figure out which one might be best for you, it helps to first understand why you want to earn a degree and what you hope to get out of your education.

Beyond your larger goals, consider what you’ll learn and how you’ll learn it, as those factors can be important when it comes to determining the best program for you. Take time to review the various business degree options on Coursera, paying particular attention to the “Academics” and “Student experience” sections for more information.

Will I earn a degree from an accredited university?

Yes, all online degree programs available on Coursera are directly conferred by accredited institutions. Accreditation is important because it shows that an institution meets rigorous academic standards, eases your ability to transfer credits, and helps employers validate the quality of education on your resume or application.

What is the experience of earning an online data science degree through Coursera like?

Earning your data science degree from a leading university on Coursera means experiencing greater flexibility than in-person degree programs, so you can learn at your pace around your other responsibilities.

Once enrolled in your program, you may find a range of learning options, including live video lectures that encourage you to collaborate and self-paced courses that give you greater independence. Moreover, throughout your learning journey, you'll have access to a dedicated support team, course facilitators, and a network of peers to help you achieve your academic goals. Learn more about the benefits of learning online .

Is an online data science degree worth it?

Yes, both a bachelor’s and a master’s in data science can be worth it—depending on your goals and your resources. Both types of education tend to lead to higher salaries , in-demand careers , advanced knowledge and skill sets, and exciting networking opportunities, among other benefits.

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