Thank you for your interest in the Department of Computer Science. We hope that the information on this web page will answer many of your questions regarding the admission process. After reviewing the material, we will be happy to respond to any questions you may have concerning our program or assist you in the application process.

If you want to major in “Computer Engineering, please contact the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE). Visit the University of Houston Admissions website for a list of all Graduate Degrees offered.

Each year over 400 applications are received for our graduate program. It is suggested that all portions of the application be strong as applications are received from highly qualified candidates. Admission to our graduate program is based on a competitive selection process.

Students seeking admission are evaluated taking academic credentials, quality of undergraduate institution, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and mathematics and computer science background into consideration. Moreover, letters of recommendation, resume, statement of purpose, and any other materials deemed relevant will also be used to evaluate applicants.

Applicants who did not graduate from native English-speaking countries (high school or university level) will be required to demonstrate English proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS).

The University of Houston Computer Science Department offers two graduate degrees:

• Master of Science in Computer Science Thesis Option or Non-Thesis Option
• Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science

We do not offer a non-degree objective graduate program and we do not offer conditional admissions.

M.S. Admission Requirements
Admission to our graduate program is based on a competitive selection process.

Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related area from an accredited college or university with an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 (out of 4.0) are encouraged to apply. Outstanding applicants with majors in other fields are also encouraged to apply.

Applicants to the master’s program should have a computer science and mathematics background including at least six hours of mathematics beyond integral calculus and two programming courses.

Students entering the master’s program without a bachelor’s degree in computer science or those with a bachelor’s degree not equivalent to that of the University of Houston may be required to remedy deficiencies with basic computer science courses required for undergraduates, without receiving graduate credit for them. Graduate students who need prerequisite courses are required to pass all courses with a grade of B- or better before taking graduate level courses.

Ph.D. Admission Requirements
Admission to our graduate program is based on a competitive selection process.

Applicants to the doctoral program should have a sound computer science and mathematics background (obtained from a B.S. in computer science or related field), satisfactory grade point average, satisfactory performance on the GRE, proficiency in English, and very strong letters of recommendation.

Consideration will be also given to applicants who have exceptionally strong academic credentials or show research potential and outstanding promise.

It is the policy of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics to admit Ph.D. candidates who do not have a master’s degree or 30 hours of graduate work, into the M.S. program until they pass the Ph.D. candidacy requirements set by the department.

Students entering the doctoral program may be required to remedy deficiencies with basic computer science courses required for undergraduates, without receiving graduate credit for them. Graduate students who need prerequisite courses are required to pass all courses with a grade of B- or better before taking graduate level courses.

Admission Statistics
Average scores of successful applicants to this program for Fall 2004:

• GRE: 534 verbal, 755 quantitative
• TOEFL: 627-paper/263-computer
• Applications received: 341
• Applicants admitted: 135
• Teaching assistantship/scholarship offers: 6

Application Instructions
You must apply to the Office of Graduate Studies, Computer Science Department. All items go directly to our office, sending a separate package to the Office of Admissions delays the process. Our Graduate Studies Office will review the materials and communicate with the Admissions Office as necessary. DO NOT contact the Admissions Office directly.

If transcripts or letters of recommendation are received separately and prior to an application, they are kept on file for one year.

It is the applicant's responsibility to make certain all of the materials we request reach our office by our deadline. Incomplete files will not be reviewed.

Late applications will be deferred to the following semester and will not be reviewed until after the next deadline.

1. Application forms.
   Applicants that are U.S. citizens or permanent residents should use the Graduate Admission Application. Applicants from a foreign country that hold non-immigrant visas should use the International Graduate Admissions application. Please obtain the forms electronically at the provided links.
2. Transcript Requirements.
   You must submit evidence of satisfactory completion of college or university-level studies. Please send a complete set of school transcript (or marksheets) and diplomas. The transcripts should include proof of any degree you received, and when the degree was conferred. All documents must be official and certified by the governing institution. If you are still attending school and have not yet earned the degree, an admission decision will be made without an official degree certificate and/or your final semester of schooling. We do not want secondary level transcripts, certificates from technology programs, or college syllabi.
3. Test Scores.
   All tests scores must be received prior to the deadline of the semester to which you are applying. Scores MUST be sent from Educational Testing Service. The ETS code for UH is 6870. It takes 6-8 weeks from the time you complete the exam to receive the scores in our database - plan test dates accordingly. If your GRE score is more than 5 years old, or your TOEFL score is more than 2 years old, you may send your original score sheet.

   The GRE test is required of ALL applicants. Applicants that have completed a Ph.D. at a U.S. institution may apply for a GRE waiver.

   All applicants who did not graduate from native English-speaking countries (high school or university level) are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS (Please read the International Admissions Booklet for list of exemptions).

4. Statement of Purpose.
   Maximum of 2 pages.
5. Resume.
   Maximum of 3 pages
6. Three Letters of Recommendation.
   Recommenders should know the applicant reasonably well and be able to evaluate the quality of previous work. At least one letter should be from an academic source. Letters should be written on the recommender’s letterhead, include an email address, be sealed in individual envelopes, and either included with the other application materials or sent directly to our office.

International Application Materials Checklist
Information of Interest to Graduate International Applicants

The following should be sent to the Department of Computer Science:

1. Application form
2. Transcripts
3. Test scores. GRE and TOEFL via ETS (or IELTS)
4. Statement of Purpose
5. Resume
6. Three letters of recommendation with email addresses
7. A nonrefundable application evaluation fee of $75 U.S. made payable to the University of Houston. Payments may be made with a personal check drawn from a U.S. bank, cashier’s check or money order denominated in U.S. dollars. The application fee will not be waived.
8. Statement of Understanding. [pdf]
   This statement must be signed as evidence that you understand the admission requirements (Page 17 of booklet).
9. Letter of Financial Backing. [pdf]
   This document is only required for a student wishing to study at UH with an F-1 or J-1 visa, including anyone holding an F-1 or J-1 visa transferring from another U.S. institution (Page 17 of booklet).

Please attempt to submit all application materials in one large envelope. Individual portions of the application other than transcripts and letters of recommendation do not need to be in individual envelopes. Do not include folders, page protectors, binders, etc. Mail all documents to:

Office of Graduate Studies
University of Houston
Computer Science Department
501 PGH Building
Houston, TX 77204-3010

US/Permanent Resident Application Materials Checklist
The following should be sent to the Department of Computer Science:

1. Application form
2. Transcripts
3. Test scores: GRE and TOEFL via ETS (or IELTS)
4. Statement of Purpose
5. Resume
6. Three letters of recommendation with email addresses

Please attempt to submit all application materials in one envelope. Mail all documents to:

Office of Graduate Studies
University of Houston
Computer Science Department
501 PGH Building
Houston, TX 77204-3010

Deadlines

Fall                     February 1 : Financial Aid
                            April 1 : Admissions only

Spring                 October 1

Applications are accepted for the fall and spring semesters only. The Office of Graduate Studies must receive documents (including test scores) by the deadline for the application to be considered. Late applications will be deferred to the following semester and will not be reviewed until after the next deadline.

Application Status
Once the Computer Science Department receives your graduate application and it is entered in the University Database, an acknowledgement letter will be mailed indicating your intended semester and major and informing you of your 9-digit student number (for those that do not have a social security number). Please allow 2 months before contacting our office. This provides sufficient time to receive your documents and record them.

Due to the volume of applications received, we cannot guarantee a decision on your application if your documents (including test scores) arrive after our posted deadlines.

Online Status Check
You may check your application status and missing documents at the following website: https://my.uh.edu/psp/paprd/?cmd=login

Log In using your 9-digit student number and date of birth. Select 'Admissions' - 'Admission Status' on the shaded navigation bar.

The online application status refers to your file in the Computer Science Department, which is the only file you have at the University of Houston.

DO NOT contact the Admissions Office with any concerns.

Transcripts.
We realize it is impossible for you to provide transcripts for semesters that are not yet complete. We must indicate in our system that you have not completed your schooling. Admission decisions will be made without an official degree certificate and/or your final semester of schooling.

Letter of Financial Backing.
If you do not submit a letter of financial backing that meets the criteria needed for producing an I-20, it will appear as a missing document. A decision will be made on your application without a letter of financial backing.

Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to respond to inquiries regarding the status of an application. Please do not inquire about your admission status by email or phone. You may check your application status online. Our office will contact you if any additional information is needed.

We begin reviewing files approximately 2-3 months before the application deadline. Because of the volume of applications received, this can sometimes be a lengthy process and we aim to be completed two months following the deadline. Please allow sufficient time for processing before querying.

Notification of admission decisions will be by a hard copy letter, as soon as a decision has been reached. Decisions are not given by phone or email. If two months following the application deadline you have not received a letter, you may then contact us.

Common Application Errors

• Confusing Computer Science with Computer Engineering. Please carefully research each department before mailing application materials. Once an admission decision has been reached, it is too late to change departments and majors.
• Not keeping a current address on file. If your address changes during the application process please contact the Computer Science Department.
• Sending multiple packages or sending documents to the Admissions Office. All materials should be sent directly to the Computer Science Department. Please attempt to submit all materials in one envelope.
• Contacting the Admissions office. The Computer Science Department processes their own graduate admissions. All questions or concerns should be directed to the Office of Graduate Studies, Computer Science Department.
• Confusing us with UH-Clear Lake, UH-Downtown, or UH-Victoria. We are part of the same system, but we are independent universities with differing degree programs and admission standards.
• Sending test scores to UH-Clear Lake, UH-Downtown, or UH-Victoria. The code for UH-Main Campus is 6870.We are sometimes listed as UH-University Park. We are unable to retrieve scores sent to any other university.

Deferring Graduate Admission
Your admission is valid only for the semester in which you were admitted. If you are unable to enroll during that semester and wish to postpone your admission to another semester, you must contact the Department of Computer Science to indicate your semester preference.

You must submit an updated application fee, and letters of financial backing are only valid for six months. Please include your student number, desired semester, and current address.

Applicants that defer admission will be reviewed with the new applicants for the upcoming semester. Admission to our graduate program is based on a competitive selection process an admission after deferring is not guaranteed.

Applicants are not encouraged to defer application more than once.

Reconsideration of Application
If you applied to the Computer Science Department within the last two years and were rejected you may reapply. Prior to the application deadline send, a letter to the Office of Graduate Studies requesting reconsideration. Include a new resume, new statement of purpose, and transcript of any new course work. If the GRE or TOEFL test has been retaken, send the official scores via ETS and indicate such in your letter. Applicants not providing new academic work or test scores will not be reconsidered.

Applicants will be reviewed with the new applicants for the upcoming semester. Admission to our graduate program is based on a competitive selection process. Meeting the minimum requirements published does not guarantee admission to our program.

Changing/Adding of Major within UH-Main Campus
Students wishing to join the Department of Computer Science from another graduate department or add computer science, as a second major, must file a General Petition. Applicants will be evaluated using the same standards as new graduate students. The following materials must be submitted along with the petition: application, GRE and TOEFL or IELTS scores, transcripts of all academic work (excluding UH), letters of recommendation, resume, and statement of purpose.  

Course Workload
It is possible for a student to earn a graduate degree on a part-time basis. However, students may be required to take a minimum number of credit hours because of other requirements such as F-1 and J-1 visa regulations. To be considered full-time, a student must take at least nine credit hours. The Computer Science Department offers limited evening and summer courses. Distance education allows for some classes to be completed at Houston suburban sites.

Tuition and Fees

                             Texas Residents            Non-Texas Residents & International

Total Charges        $2,243/semester           $5,025/semester

Note: This is the total average cost for a student taking nine credit hours. The fees may be more for certain courses. Fees and tuition are subject to change - please visit the Student Financial Services website for current information.

Information

WWW Site: http://www.cs.uh.edu
E-mail:        Gradinfo@cs.uh.edu
Voice:         (713) 743-3350
Fax:            (713) 743-3335