Computer Science at Rice University

Computer science is concerned with the study of computers and computing, focusing on algorithms, programs and programming, and computational systems. The main goal of the discipline is to build a systematic body of knowledge, theories, and models that explain the properties of computational systems and to show how this body of knowledge can be used to produce solutions to real-world computational problems.

Computer science is the intellectual discipline underlying information technology, which is widely accepted now as the ascendant technology of the next century. Students in computer science at Rice benefit from the latest in equipment and ideas as well as the flexibility of the educational programs. The research interests of the faculty include algorithms and complexity, artificial intelligence and robotics, compilers, distributed and parallel computation, graphics and visualization, operating systems, and programming languages.

The department offers two undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) degree.

At the graduate level, the department offers a PhD degree as well as two master’s degrees: the professional Master of Computer Science (MCS) degree, the professional Master of Data Science (MDS) degree, and the research-oriented Master of Science (MS) degree. 

• The MCS and MDS degrees are professional degrees for students intending to pursue a technical career. Both have an on-premise and a fully online option. Students are admitted directly into one or the other option and cannot switch between the two, but the resulting degree is the same.
• The MS degree is a research degree requiring a thesis in addition to coursework. The MS degree is primarily for students pursuing their PhD. Typically, students are not admitted directly to the MS program. Students wishing to pursue a terminal master's degree should apply to the MCS program.
• Students wishing to pursue a PhD should apply directly to the PhD program. 

A coordinated MBA/MCS degrees program is also offered in conjunction with the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business.