Admissions - FAQ
What are the application deadlines?
The application deadlines for our programs can be found on the Graduate School's website at: Graduate Programs - UTEP.
What documents do I need to submit with my application?
Official transcripts—Of all previous academic work.
Personal statement—Approximately 2 pages long, describing your reasons for pursuing graduate study, academic and professional interests, and goals. Might include events/experiences that prepared you for CS graduate study and how your interests compliment our department's faculty and research.
2 letters of recommendation - optional for the Cyber Security Certificate—Letters should emphasize research experience and/or academic achievements.
CV/resume—With evidence of other relevant personal or professional experience.
TOEFL or IELTS–Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required if your native country’s primary language is not English. This requirement is waived if you have a bachelor's from an accredited U.S. institution or other English-only speaking country.
Contact Graduate School at 915) 747-5491 or visit their website for any issues or questions concerning submitting these documents.
Does the CS Department require a different TOEFL or IELTS minimum score from what is listed on the graduate school website?
No, the CS department adheres to the minimum scores listed on the Graduate School website.
What criteria are used to evaluate students for admissions into a CS graduate program?
The CS graduate committee evaluates applicants for graduate study based on their application as a whole. Factors that are considered are grades, test scores, computer science background, letters of reference, and statement of purpose.
Are there minimum GPA scores required for admission?
The Graduate School requires a minimum GPA of 3.0. It is important that an applicant’s academic record in both undergraduate and any previous graduate studies demonstrates a consistent ability to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Please note that in our Graduate School, receiving a higher grade in a course does not replace a lower grade from a previous semester for the same course. The scores are averaged over all secured points.
Do I need an undergraduate degree in CS to be accepted into a CS graduate program?
If you do not have a CS bachelor's degree, you may still apply for any of the CS graduate programs and be considered for conditional admittance. The pre-requisite for admission to a CS graduate studies program is that you demonstrate sufficient knowledge to be successful in your program of interest. This can be achieved by enrolling in leveling courses, or by other means, such as online resources, and self-study. The knowledge that each program requires is available by reading the course learning outcomes of the courses provided in Table 1. Courses are divided into levels in order to reflect the order in which the courses can be taken at UTEP. Additional courses may be added in Level 4 for the MS-CS or CS-PhD on a case by case basis.
Leveling Course Requirements by Graduate Program
PROGRAMS | Course Levels | Additional Info. | ||||
LEVEL 1 MATH 1411; CS 1301 & 1101 or CS 1401 | LEVEL 2 Math 2300***; CS 2401 | LEVEL 3 CS 2302; EE 2369 & 2169** | LEVEL 4 CS 3331 OR CS 3432 | Number of semesters needed to complete Levels 1-4. * | Level during which it is recommended you apply to the program. | |
MS-CS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | CS 3331 & 3432 | 4 | 3 |
MS-AI | ✓ | ✓ | CS 2302 | CS 3331 | 4 | 3 |
MS-SWE | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | CS 3331 | 4 | 1 |
Cyber-Security Certificate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | CS 3331 & 3432 | 4 | 3 |
CS-PHD | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | CS 3331 & 3432 | 4 | 3 |
The leveling courses on this page are listed to help applicants understand which bachelor's level courses might be required as prerequisites during their graduate studies. The program catalogs may have additional prerequisite requirements, so be sure to consult the program catalog to ensure that you meet those conditions. For example, MSAI applicants are expected to have knowledge of probability and statistics (STAT 3320 Probability and Statistics).
- *Assuming all courses listed in each level can be taken concurrently. CS 1301& 1101, 2401, and 2302 are courses commonly offered in the summer.
- **EE 2369 & 2169 may be moved to Level 2 or Level 4, and special approval is needed to move it to Level 1; the pre-requisite for the course is CS 1401.
- ***MATH 2300 can be moved to Level 1, if you already have credit for the pre-requisite, MATH 1411.