Information for Graduate Applicants

As a Computer Science student at the University of Memphis, you'll get the chance to work with top-notch faculty who are dedicated to both teaching and research. We are one of the most highly research-active departments on campus and offer both master's and doctoral degrees, giving us an advantage over other similar departments in the Mid-South. We offer numerous student opportunities, including a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance and Graduate Certificate in Data Science, an internship program for academic credit, and a variety of student organizations.

For more information, please contact csgrad@memphis.edu.

Students

As of Fall 2024, we have 142 MS and 48 PhD students in our program.  Most of our doctoral students receive funding from the university.

Our alumni can be found working in industry and academia throughout the world.

Faculty

The Department has 24 full-time faculty, 19 of whom are tenured or tenure-track. Our faculty include 2 IEEE Fellows, an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer, the Lillian and Morrie Moss Chair of Excellence Professor in Computer Science, and the Sparks Family Chair of Excellence in Global Research Leadership.

Faculty have been recognized extensively for their accomplishments.  The awards conferred on individual faculty have included the Willard R. Sparks Eminent Faculty Award, Dunavant Professorship, Thomas W. Briggs Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Arts and Sciences Meritorious Faculty Award, and Early Career Research Award.

Research

Grant Funding

The Department is involved in three major national research initiatives: the Learner Data Institute with University of Colorado - Boulder, University of Wisconsin - Madison, University of North Carolina, University of Pittsburgh, 5 companies including Carnegie Learning, SoarTech, Aptima, WorkBay, and Gooru, and the Army's GIFT team; the MD2K Center of Excellence with Cornell, Georgia Tech, University of Michigan, Northwestern, Ohio State, University of Utah, UCLA, UCSD, UCSF, UMass Amherst, and West Virginia, along with Open mHealth; and Named Data Networking: Next-Phase with Colorado State, University of Arizona, UCLA, UCSD, UIUC, University of Michigan, and Washington University.

With millions in active grants, we have the highest per-capita research funding of any department on campus. We were recently ranked 55th among nationwide CS departments in federally funded research expenditures.

Interdisciplinary Institutes and Centers

• Center for Information Assurance
  We are designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and Research (CAE-CDE, CAE-R) by the NSA/DHS.
• Institute for Intelligent Systems
• Systems Testing Excellence Program

MS and PhD Admission Requirements

1. GRE scores are required and are an important factor for admission.  GRE score requirements are: >= 143 verbal, >= 153 quantitative, and >= 3.0 analytical writing.
   • GRE scores are optional for applicants (MS and PhD) who hold a CS degree from the University of Memphis.
2. An undergraduate degree in an appropriate discipline with a minimum GPA (on a 4.0 scale) of
   • 2.5 for Spring and Summer 2024 applicants
   • 3.0 for Fall 2024 and beyond applicants
3. A score of at least 87 on TOEFL, 6.5 on IELTS, 59 on PTE, or 110 on Duolingo, for students from countries where English is not the primary language.
4. Letters of recommendation - three for the PhD program, two for the MS program.
5. A statement of purpose.
6. Must have passed at least six of these seven prerequisite courses (or their equivalent) with a C+ or better.  Students missing a prerequisite must take the course during their first semester; this prerequisite does not count towards MS or PhD program requirements.
   
   • Calculus 1
   • Calculus 2
   • Linear algebra
   • Computer programming
   • Data structures
   • Discrete structures/mathematics
   • Computer organization/architecture

We consider a variety of factors in making admission decisions.  The fact that an applicant’s credentials meet the minimum admission standards does not entitle an applicant to be admitted.

You may apply online through the admissions portal by visiting: Apply for Graduate Admissions

Deadlines and Fees

Applicants are strongly recommended to apply by the priority deadlines for full consideration.

Please visit Tuition Estimator and Fee Charts & Fee Payment in order to learn more about tuition and fees.

Fellowships and Assistantships

• The Peter I. Neathery Scholarship/Fellowship may be awarded competitively each year to up to four qualified graduate students.
• The 2017 DoD Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP) offers full-ride funding to qualified students in return for serving the Department of Defense after graduation. U.S. citizenship is required.
• Graduate Assistantships are offered by the Department to a limited number of graduate students. Graduate assistants work a total of 20 hours per week to support departmental teaching, lab, and other needs. The appointment provides a stipend and tuition & fee waiver for the academic year, but it does not include summer support. To be considered for a graduate assistantship, your graduate program application must be received by the end of February for the Fall semester, or the end of November for Spring.
• Research Assistantships are available through research faculty and are supported by external grants. They provide stipends and waivers comparable to those from Graduate Assistantships, but duties depend on specific research projects. Please contact individual faculty for further information.

Additional information on graduate funding opportunities can be found at the University's Financial Aid page, or the Graduate School's Graduate Assistantships.

Why Memphis?

Memphis offers the best of both worlds: a metropolitan city's convenience without the high cost of living. The city is home to many established organizations including AutoZone, FedEx, International Paper, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  Memphis was ranked #4 on Glassdoor's 25 Best Cities for Jobs 2020.

For personal life, Memphis is well known for music and barbecue. In addition, Memphis boasts many cultural festivals, professional sports events, live entertainment and performances, museums, and a world-class zoo. Memphis International Airport hosts all major and budget U.S. airlines, and it is the world's second busiest cargo airport due to the FedEx global hub.