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MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Natural Science
Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering

FAQ

Our program collected most frequently asked questions and prepared a Frequently Asked Questions toggles to help our prospective applicants and current students answer questions. 

If you are a prospective applicant, see below

▶Do you offer a master's or a PhD degree in Computer Science?
  • The CMSE Department does not offer degrees in Computer Science. If you are interested in inquiring about the Computer Science degrees, please reach out to the Computer Science department at CSE.graduate.studies@msu.edu
▶Do you offer a master's degree in Data Science?
  • The CMSE Department does not offer the Master’s in Data Science. Please reach out directly to the program at MSDS.Info@msu.edu
▶Does CMSE provide funding to PhD students?
  • Yes. The applicants are automatically considered for assistantships and fellowships when applying to the program. The funding consists of a variety of funding appointments, including research assistantships, teaching assistantships, internal and external fellowships, traineeships programs, and scholarships. The funding is traditionally provided for the individual duration of a student’s program.
▶What is included in the financial package?
  • Students supported through assistantships typically receive the following benefits: tuition waiver up to 9 credits in the Spring and Fall semesters, bi-weekly stipend, health insurance, and summer support.
▶How long does it take for students to complete the program?
  • An average degree completion timeline for our students is 5 years.
▶What are the deadlines for PhD in CMSE program admission?
  • CMSE admits students both in the Spring and in the Fall semesters. Traditionally we close applications on August 1st for applicants who are interested in starting the program the following Spring, and on January 2nd for applicants who are interested in starting the program the following Fall.
▶What does an application for the CMSE Ph.D. program consist of?
  • The CMSE Ph.D. program application consists of the MSU Graduate Application Form, personal statement, academic statement, CV, 3 (three) letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. International students additionally are required to submit an English language proficiency exam. GRE is not required.
▶How many students does CMSE admit every year?
  • CMSE does not have a set number of students which we admit every year. However, cohorts typically vary anywhere between 5 to 11 students per year.
▶Should I have a master’s degree to qualify for the CMSE PhD program’s admissions?
  • No. CMSE requires undergraduate degrees for admissions. While master’s is not required, it can help students to waive some of the courses.
▶Should I reach out to faculty before applying to the program?
  • You do not have to reach out to faculty before applying. However, if you establish a relationship with a faculty who can potentially be your advisor, it will be helpful.
▶I would like to pursue BS/MS Program with CMSE. What should I do?
  • Reach out to the undergraduate team, including the undergraduate academic advisor and the undergraduate program director at cmseug@msu.edu, and the graduate team at cmsegrad@msu.edu to let them know that you are interested in the opportunity. Further on, apply to our CMSE Ph.D. program and notify the undergraduate and graduate teams that you have applied. The graduate team will keep it up from there and transfer your application to the master’s track and review your application.
▶What are English language requirements for international students?
▶What are transcript requirements for international students?
  • International students have to provide official transcripts when admitted to MSU. MSU accepts electronic transcripts sent via a transcripts system for certain countries. If your country does not offer an electronic transcript system, you will need to inquire your home university to provide you with a sealed and officially stamped envelope, which includes the official copies of your transcripts and their translation into the English language.
  • Learn more about the systems and eligible countries via link.

If you are a current student, see below

▶Can I waive some of the coursework based on my master’s?
  • Yes. To waive some of the coursework, you will need a permission of your academic advisor, your committee, and the graduate program director. Reach out to the graduate team via cmsegrad@msu.edu and send along your transcripts from your master's degree.
▶What are CMSE’s RECR Requirements?
▶What classes count towards the Computational Computing Certificate?
▶What classes count towards the High Performance Computing Certificate?