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Degree Requirements

Applying for your MS

After passing the qualifying evaluation, you’ve earned a master’s degree! Here’s how to apply:

  1. Run a DARS Audit to confirm your course requirements are met.
    • Something doesn’t look right? Email grad-advising@cs. The requirement to be currently enrolled will not be marked “OK” until the Graduate School administers your degree. The requirement to complete your work within six years also will not be marked “OK” until the Graduate School administers your degree.
    • Don’t have 18 graded credits (GS 1.1) due to waivers? That’s OK– set a reminder to apply for your master’s degree after your next course and earn it in the following quarter.
  2. Apply for your master’s degree:
    1. Log into MyGrad
    2. Select “Request Credentials” followed by “Master’s”
    3. Your program is: “MASTER OF SCIENCE (COMPUTER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING) – Computer Science & Engineering, Major/Pathway CSE 00-25.” Do not select the programs labeled “Evening / CSE E” or “B.S./M.S. / CSE M.“
    4. Your “thesis option” is “Non-Thesis Program.” The Graduate School treats quals as a project, not a thesis.

You should apply for a master’s degree even if you plan to continue on to the Ph.D. We earn funding from the state of Washington based on the number of degrees we grant, so you’re helping out the Allen School. Degrees are awarded at the end of the quarter in which you applied for your MS.

You can apply for a MS degree in the same quarter that you earn your Ph.D. We encourage you to apply for your MS if you haven’t already for the reasons above! International student should review the information below before applying.

International Students

The timeline for OPT requests begins when you earn a degree. If you’re unsure that you will complete your Ph.D., consider waiting to apply for your MS. If you decide to depart early without a Ph.D., you can apply for the MS degree at that point so that you’re eligible for OPT.

This timeline resets when you earn your Ph.D. If you’re sure you’ll be completing your Ph.D., there’s no other reason to delay obtaining your MS.