Eastern Michigan University offers a Master of Science in Computer Science through its Department of Computer Science in Ypsilanti.
The 32-credit degree is taught in person and in hyflex format, with a practicum, research study, or thesis. Machine learning is not required of every student. It enters the degree through elective courses in machine learning and data mining, neural networks and deep learning, and artificial intelligence, and the university does not offer a separate master’s degree in AI or data science.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Facts
| Degree | MS in Computer Science |
| Department | Department of Computer Science |
| Location | Ypsilanti, Michigan |
| Format | In person and hyflex, with some online and evening courses |
| Credits | 32 |
| Culminating Experience | Practicum, research study, or thesis |
| Minimum GPA | 2.7 overall and 2.75 in computer science coursework |
| GRE | Not required |
| Tuition | $1,046.50 per credit hour for Michigan residents, plus a $49.50 per credit program fee |
| Application Deadline | Rolling, with priority dates of May 1 (fall), October 1 (winter), and March 1 (summer) |
| STEM Designated | Yes |
Official MS in Computer Science page
Curriculum
Eastern Michigan does not offer a standalone master’s degree in machine learning, artificial intelligence, or data science. Students earn the MS in Computer Science and choose their own electives. The degree has no formal concentrations, but the catalog says students can design a program of study around an area of interest with the graduate coordinator.
Students complete 32 graduate credits in computer science under one of three plans:
- Plan A, Practicum: COSC 683 – Software Engineering Practicum (3 credits) plus 29 credits of electives
- Plan B, Research Study: COSC 694 – Research Project (3 credits) plus 29 credits of electives
- Plan C, Thesis: 6 credits of thesis plus 26 credits of electives
Electives must be computer science courses at the 500 level or above, with at least 8 credits at the 600 level or above. Up to 9 credits of approved coursework from outside the department can count. Students need a 3.0 GPA to graduate.
Foundational Coursework
Every student must have one course in each of four areas. Students who did not cover an area as an undergraduate take it at the graduate level, and those courses count toward the 32 credits.
- Operating system principles: COSC 525 – Computer Systems Principles
- Network principles: COSC 522 – Computer Communication Networks and Distributed Systems, COSC 523 – Advanced Computer Organization, or COSC 527 – Wireless Networking Principles
- Database principles: COSC 571 – Database Management Systems Design
- Theoretical computer science: COSC 511 – Design and Analysis of Algorithms, COSC 513 – Formal Methods in Software Development, COSC 541 – Automata, Computability and Formal Languages, COSC 542 – Compiler Construction, COSC 561 – Artificial Intelligence, or COSC 562 – Information Retrieval and Recommendation
Artificial Intelligence is one of six ways to meet the theory requirement, so it is possible to finish the degree without an AI course.
Machine Learning and AI Electives
The 2026–27 graduate course list includes these electives:
- COSC 561 – Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
- COSC 585 – Neural Networks and Deep Learning (4 credits)
- COSC 669 – Machine Learning and Data Mining (4 credits)
- COSC 664 – Automated Reasoning (4 credits)
- COSC 562 – Information Retrieval and Recommendation (3 credits)
- COSC 572 – Principles of Big Data Management (3 credits)
- COSC 573 – Principles of Big Data Analytics (3 credits)
Neural Networks and Deep Learning is a new course effective fall 2026. It covers convolutional networks, recurrent networks, long short-term memory networks, and transformers, with practical work in PyTorch. The catalog lists it for fall terms.
Machine Learning and Data Mining requires Artificial Intelligence or an undergraduate equivalent first, along with calculus and statistics. The catalog lists it and Automated Reasoning on an irregular rotation, so students should ask the department when they will next be offered.
The course list has no dedicated course in natural language processing, computer vision, or reinforcement learning.
Other Electives
The rest of the course list is general computer science, including:
- COSC 526 – Mobile Application Development
- COSC 552 – Human-Computer Interaction
- COSC 574 – Programming for Computer Security
- COSC 576 – Computational Tools in Bioinformatics
- COSC 613 – Parallel Algorithms
- COSC 617 – Algorithms in Bioinformatics
- COSC 624 – Advanced Operating Systems
- COSC 674 – Advanced Topics in DBMS
- COSC 682 – Software Requirement Engineering
- COSC 686 – Software Quality Assurance
Practicum, Research Study, or Thesis
In the practicum, students work in a team to build a large software system from requirements analysis to acceptance testing. The research study and thesis are each supervised by a three-member committee. The research report is presented publicly, and the thesis is publicly defended.
Cost and Tuition
Eastern Michigan is a public university and charges graduate tuition by the credit hour, with different rates for Michigan residents and nonresidents. Computer science courses also carry a per credit Graduate Signature Program Fee.
For the 2026–27 academic year, Student Business Services lists these rates for 500- and 600-level courses:
| Category | Michigan Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate tuition, per credit hour | $1,046.50 | $1,813.00 |
| Computer science program fee, per credit hour | $49.50 | $49.00 |
| Estimated 32-credit total, tuition and program fee | $35,072 | $59,584 |
The 32-credit totals are estimates calculated from the per credit rates. The university also lists a $225 Student Services Fee per semester, a $45 graduate application fee, and a $110 graduation application fee.
All online courses at Eastern Michigan are charged at the resident tuition rate. Rates are set by the Board of Regents and can change each year.
View Eastern Michigan University tuition and fees
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a four-year bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or an equivalent degree from outside the United States.
The Graduate School requires a minimum 2.7 cumulative undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale, or a 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program. The program also requires a 2.75 GPA in computer science coursework.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science is not required, but applicants need:
- at least 18 credit hours of computer science courses at the 200 level or above, including data structures, programming languages, and computer organization
- competency in a high-level programming language such as C, C++, Python, or Java
- one semester each of discrete mathematics, probability or statistics, linear algebra, and calculus
Applicants who are missing some prerequisite courses may be admitted conditionally and complete them at Eastern Michigan. The department does not waive prerequisites for industry experience.
Application Materials
Applicants submit:
- online graduate application through GradCAS and a $45 application fee
- official transcripts
- proof of English proficiency when required
The GRE is not required. Domestic applicants usually need only the transcript from the institution that granted their bachelor’s degree. Applicants with transcripts from outside the United States send them to an approved evaluation service.
Application Deadlines
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and students can start in fall, winter, or summer. The university recommends applying by these priority dates:
| Entry Term | Priority Date | International Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | May 1 | June 24, 2027 (fall 2027) |
| Winter | October 1 | November 11, 2026 (winter 2027) |
| Summer | March 1 | March 10, 2027 (summer 2027) |
International students on an F-1 visa can begin only in fall or winter, because few courses run in summer.
Program Format
The catalog lists the degree as in person and hyflex. Courses are offered in evening, hybrid, and online formats, and students can study part time or full time.
The degree cannot be completed fully online. The department states that several computer science classes are offered online, but not all of them.
The program is STEM designated, which allows eligible international students to apply for the STEM OPT extension. Students must complete the degree within six years of first enrollment. Graduate assistantships are available, and the department usually awards them to students who have completed at least one semester.
Who Is This Program Best For?
Eastern Michigan’s MS in Computer Science is a reasonable option for students with a computer science background who want a general computer science master’s degree in the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor area, with room to add machine learning electives.
It may be especially appealing to students interested in:
- machine learning and data mining
- neural networks and deep learning
- artificial intelligence and automated reasoning
- big data management and analytics
- a choice of practicum, research study, or thesis
- part-time study with evening and hybrid courses and no GRE
The degree is a computer science master’s first. Every machine learning and AI course is an elective, there is no AI concentration, and the two 600-level courses in the area are offered irregularly. The course list has no dedicated natural language processing or computer vision course, and the degree is not available fully online. Students who want a degree built around AI or data science, a fully online program, or entry without computer science prerequisites may want to compare other Michigan schools.
Official Eastern Michigan University Program Links
- MS in Computer Science program page
- Graduate catalog entry
- Computer science graduate course list
- MS in Computer Science admission FAQ
- Apply to EMU and graduate priority deadlines
- International graduate admissions
- Tuition and fees
- Graduate and doctoral fees
Related Machine Learning Programs in Michigan
Students can also compare Eastern Michigan University with other master’s programs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields offered in Michigan.
- Grand Valley State University – Grand Rapids
- Lawrence Technological University – Southfield
- Michigan State University – East Lansing
- Michigan Technological University – Houghton
- Oakland University – Rochester
- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
- University of Michigan-Dearborn – Dearborn
- Wayne State University – Detroit
- Western Michigan University – Kalamazoo