FAQ

Find answers to common questions below. Click a topic below to jump directly to that section.

General Program Information

The MS-CS on Coursera falls under the University of Colorado Boulder’s overall accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The HLC accredits degree-granting postsecondary educational institutions in the United States and assesses institutions based on their mission; ethical and responsible conduct; teaching and learning quality, resources, support, evaluation, and improvement; and institutional effectiveness, resources, and planning. Learn more.

No, the transcript and diploma that MS-CS on Coursera students get is the same as the diploma for our on-campus program. There are no "online" or "Coursera" designations.

For-Credit Experience: You can enroll right away into a series of three 1-credit pathway courses with a focus on either data structures and algorithms or software architecture. No transcripts or applications are required. To get started, fill out an enrollment form once enrollment opens on August 14, 2023, select and enroll in a pathway course, and pay your tuition. In the meantime, you can explore our non-credit experience. Learn more at How It Works.
Non-Credit Experience: To enroll in the non-credit versions of the MS-CS on Coursera curriculum, sign up for an account on Coursera, find the course you are interested in, and click the Enroll button to audit the course. Learn more at How It Works.

Please see Coursera’s list of recommended browsers and devices and ProctorU's equipment requirements.

Computer: We recommend you use a laptop or desktop computer rather than a mobile device (iPhones and Android phones) or tablet (iPads and Android tablets). Some 2-in-1 or hybrid laptops (like Google ChromeBooks), Linux operating systems, Windows 10S or Surface RT, and virtual machines may not be compatible with courses that include proctored exams.
Internet: We recommend you use an Internet download speed of 1.5 Mbps and an Internet upload speed of 1 Mbps.
Browser: We recommend that you use either the Chrome or Firefox web browsers.
Peripherals: You will also need a webcam, which is required to verify your identity and complete proctored exams.
For Exams: You must test your equipment and schedule your exam proctoring session at least 72 hours in advance of your desired session. To test your equipment, take the ProctorU System Test. For more information, see the ProctorU Test-Taker Resource Center.

No. The Coursera degree and the on-campus degree are not interchangeable. If you start the Coursera degree, you cannot later switch to the on-campus program and vice versa.

Yes, but first make sure you understand important considerations & required steps. Make sure you read all of items below before you use the Data Science enrollment form to enroll in cross-listed for-credit courses now and get a head start on the MS-CS degree.

Do NOT indicate degree interest on the MS-DS enrollment form. There is a question on the MS-DS enrollment form that asks if you are interested in pursuing the degree. Please do NOT select this option if you intend to pursue the MS in Computer Science when it launches. If you indicate degree interest on the MS-DS form, you will need to complete extra steps later to change your degree choice to the MS-CS degree. If you have already completed an MS-DS course, see Can I change to the MS-CS if I have already completed data science courses.
Choose courses that will count toward the MS-CS. Note that, of the 30 credits required for the MS-CS, you may complete up to 6 elective credits from other CU Boulder degrees on Coursera that both (a) do not have a CSCA prefix, and (b) are not cross listed with a CSCA course. All courses must be graduate level, offered on Coursera, and meet all applicable academic standards. This includes all courses offered by the ME-EM, MS-DS, or MS-EE on Coursera without a CSCA prefix, except the following four courses. Credit for the following four courses cannot be applied toward any MS-CS requirement: 
- DTSA 5302 Cybersecurity for Data Science 
- DTSA 5303 Ethical Issues in Data Science 
- DTSA 5501 Algorithms for Searching, Sorting, and Indexing 
- DTSA 5502 Trees and Graphs: Basics 
Decide whether you are happy with fewer CS courses appearing on your CU Boulder transcript. CU Boulder's Department of Computer Science encourages MS-CS students to take the Computer Science (CSCA) versions of cross-listed courses to ensure their transcripts reflect the substantial amount of coursework they are completing directly in their home department. Any MS-DS courses you complete will appear on your CU transcript with the Data Science prefix (DTSA).

You can earn a Data Science Graduate Certificate on your way to an MS-CS degree without needing more than 30 credits. This is possible because multiple courses in the MS-CS and MS-DS programs are cross listed. Note that you can apply credits from one course toward 1 graduate degree and 1 graduate certificate, as long as you earn the graduate certificate first.

To earn a CU certificate on Coursera, you must maintain a cumulative certificate GPA of 3.00 or higher. Individual certificates may have additional requirements. CU certificates on Coursera are automatically awarded once all requirements are met.

Make sure you take courses in the correct order and complete all steps to earn the certificate(s) you are most interested in. Additional steps are required to earn graduate certificates offered by CU Boulder degree programs on Coursera other than your own program. Your program’s student handbook (MS-CS | MS-DS) outlines those steps and other important considerations, including rules preventing students from double counting courses between multiple certificates.

No. Key courses in these programs overlap, and the Graduate School’s “No Double Dipping” rule prevents students from applying credit from one course toward 2 graduate degrees (or toward 2 graduate certificates).

However, you can earn a Data Science Graduate Certificate on your way to an MS-CS degree without needing more than 30 credits. See Can I earn both a Data Science Graduate Certificate and an MS-CS for details.

This degree is self-paced. Students who take 3 courses per 8-week session (equivalent to a full-time graduate-level course load) typically complete the degree in about 2 years. However, you can take more courses per session to complete the degree more quickly. Or you can take fewer courses per session if you prefer a slower pace. Please note that you must complete all courses within 8 years.

Yes, students who successfully complete the MS-CS on Coursera degree will be invited to campus for graduation.

Yes, but first make sure you understand important considerations & required steps outlined below.

Please be aware that the MS-DS and MS-CS are different degree programs with different requirements. While the programs share a similar structure using performance-based admission, pay-as-you-go tuition, and options for both non-credit and for-credit experiences, there are also important differences. Please carefully review the following:

Recommended prerequisite knowledge: Though neither program has formal prerequisite requirements, they do recommend students have familiarity with particular subjects. See recommended prerequisite knowledge for the MS-DS and the MS-CS. 
Admissions requirements: See a list of admissions requirements for the MS-DS and the MS-CS.
Curriculum: See an outline of coursework requirements for the MS-DS and the MS-CS.
Grade requirements: The MS-CS requires a minimum grade of B on all breadth courses (including pathway courses) and a minimum of a C on all elective courses. If you have not earned these minimum grades in the DTSA version of a course, you will not be able to apply that credit toward the MS-CS unless you retake the course and meet this minimum grade requirement. Both programs require a 3.0 cumulative GPA and 3.0 pathway GPA. See details for both programs in the MS-DS and MS-CS student handbooks.
Tuition: Tuition rates vary by program. See details for the MS-DS and MS-CS.

Please be careful to indicate your degree interest properly, as noted below:

DO indicate degree interest on the MS-CS enrollment form once you have completed your DS certificate and you are working toward your CS degree. Use the MS-CS enrollment form to select, enroll in, and pay for for-credit courses. At that point, you will indicate that you are interested in pursuing a degree on the MS-CS enrollment form.
DO NOT indicate degree interest on the MS-DS enrollment form. There is a question on the MS-DS enrollment form that asks if you are interested in pursuing the degree. Please do NOT select this option if you intend to pursue the MS in Computer Science when it launches. If you indicate degree interest on the MS-DS form, you will need to complete extra steps later to change your degree choice to the MS-CS degree.
If you already indicated you were interested in “pursuing a degree” on the MS-DS enrollment form, you must take additional steps to change your degree once the MS in Computer Science launches in fall. Once the MS-CS launches, you will start using the MS-CS enrollment form to select, enroll in, and pay for for-credit courses. At that point, you will indicate that you are interested in pursuing a degree on the MS-CS enrollment form. Note that this alone will not change your program from MS-DS to MS-CS. You must also email reg-specialprograms@colorado.edu to request a program change from the online MS-DS to the online MS-CS. You cannot do this until the MS-CS degree has officially launched.

You will not be admitted to the MS-CS until you meet all requirements. You must meet all admission requirements outlined in the MS-CS student handbook, including completing a full pathway specialization with a B or better in each course. You will also need to indicate your intent to pursue the MS-CS degree, which you can only do on an MS-CS enrollment form. Admission decisions are released once per session, approximately 3-4 weeks after the end of the session.

We'll mail your complimentary paper diploma and/or certificate approximately eight weeks after the end of the semester in which you complete your degree requirements. Please note that we mail diplomas out three times per year (Fall, Spring, and Summer). So, if you graduate the first session of a term (ie. Spring 1), your diploma will be mailed out 8 weeks after the second session of that term (ie. 8 weeks after Spring 2 ends).

You should verify both your name that will appear on your diploma, as well as the address your diploma will be mailed to in your Buff Portal. You will need to Update Your Contact Information if your name and/or home address are not listed correctly.

You also have access to a Certified Electronic Diploma & Certificate (CeDiplomas/CeCertificates). Go to the electronic diplomas & certificates card in Buff Portal and click the "Access your CeDiploma/CeCertificate" link to access CeCredential Trust, an approved third-party vendor of CU Boulder. Please see CeDiplomas/CeCertificates for additional information regarding electronic diplomas.

Yes it does, it is the exact same accredited degree as the residential MS-CS degree.

Yes, the MS-CS Coursera degree is a fully accredited M.S. degree and is the exact degree as the CU-Boulder MS in CS residential program. You could apply to the CU-Boulder Ph.D. program with the MS-CS Coursera degree, and you can apply to other U.S. University Computer Science Ph.D. programs with this degree. Note that Ph.D. program admission, at CU-Boulder, or other U.S. universities evaluates many aspects of a Ph.D. applicant's application: the M.S. granting institution, the program and your GPA are academic metrics to evaluate, but an applicant's professional work history, experience, community volunteering and leadership are other factors (there are more) to take into consideration.

YES! If a student was to earn an MS-CS degree and they want to come back after they earn a degree to pursue additional classes towards a MS-CS certificate (or other CU on Coursera certificate), they can! The student can re-enroll in classes through the current student enrollment form and it will add them to a 2nd non-degree program plan and if they meet requirements for a certificate, it will be added at the end of each term.

Remember, the "no double dipping rule" applies here as well. Students cannot count the same class for two degrees or two certificates. Students cannot use a class they took prior towards that certificate if it was already used for another certificate.

Eligibility & Admissions

No. Our admissions process does not depend on your academic history. Instead, we use performance-based admissions. This means we determine admission based only on your performance in a set of three specialized "pathway" courses. Simply complete your chosen three-course pathway for credit with a B or better in each class to demonstrate your proficiency and be admitted to the program.

There are no formal prerequisites for the MS-CS on Coursera, but you should be knowledgeable in the following subjects:

Algorithms: You must understand the concepts covered in the following courses taught by Dr. Sriram Sankaranarayanan to succeed in the pathway focusing on data structures and algorithms. We recommend completing these courses in the non-credit experience before starting that three-course MS-CS pathway; they are a great option to refresh your skills and ensure you're ready. Note that you cannot apply credit from these courses toward MS-CS graduation requirements.

Non-credit version of Algorithms for Searching, Sorting, and Indexing
Non-credit version of Trees and Graphs: Basics

Programming: You should be familiar with one or more of the following languages:

C, C++, or Rust - consider the following Coursera courses for more learning:
- C++ For C Programmers, Part A | Coursera
- C++ For C Programmers, Part B | Coursera
Python – consider CU Boulder's non-credit Expressway to Data Science: Python Programming specialization if you do not feel confident in this material. If you are looking for more Python courses, you can try:
Java - consider the following Coursera courses for more Java learning foundations:

Math: You should have an understanding of the following branches of mathematics:

Linear algebra – consider CU Boulder's non-credit Essential Linear Algebra for Data Science course if you do not feel confident in this material
Probability and statistics
Discrete mathematics
Consider the CU Boulder Expressway to Data Science: Essential Math Specialization

If you do not yet feel ready to complete your pathway courses and earn program admission, we suggest reviewing courses on the Coursera platform and/or enrolling in a pathway course as a non-credit learner, which gives you the option of previewing course content. Then, you can upgrade to the for-credit version and pay tuition when you are ready. Any assignments you complete in the non-credit experience will be automatically applied to your for-credit experience after you upgrade. Due to their interactive nature, discussion board posts and peer-graded assignments may not transfer from session to session when you upgrade. Be sure to save your work off-platform.

You can also consider CU Boulder's Computer Science Post-Baccalaureate non-degree program to boost your foundations for the MS-CS degree. This program offers non-credit courses in all of the foundational areas fro the MS-CS program.

Yes! This 100% online program is open to learners around the world. However, due to current restrictions imposed by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), neither CU Boulder nor Coursera can provide online courses to the following countries: Cuba, Iran, Sudan, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea Region of Ukraine.

There is an inherent risk in enrolling in any U.S. university remotely. Students living outside the United States—especially in countries where OFAC has issued sanctions (e.g., the Russian Federation)—should note that, in the unfortunate event that sanctions are elevated, there is a possibility they would not be able to complete their degree. While OFAC can issue general licenses that authorize U.S. universities to offer otherwise prohibited online education despite elevated sanctions, these licenses are not guaranteed and U.S. universities could be required to stop offering online coursework to new and existing students at any time in order to comply with updated federal regulations. Learners in some locations may encounter IP or payment purchase blocks when attempting to enroll in or access courses on Coursera. See the CU Boulder's Office of Export Controls' Remote (Online Learning & Sanctioned Countries) and Coursera's International Restrictions for details.

You do not need to submit anything. This program uses performance-based admissions, which means you earn program admission simply by performing well in a three-course pathway. We never ask for transcripts, test scores (like GRE or TOEFL), essays, letters of recommendation, or application fees.

Simply enroll in and complete your chosen three-course pathway with a grade of B or better in each course to demonstrate your proficiency and be admitted to the program. Pathway courses are a required part of the curriculum, which means you make direct progress toward your degree while you work toward program admission.

No. Because this program uses performance-based admissions, we never ask for transcripts, test scores (like GRE or TOEFL), essays, letters of recommendation, or application fees. Rather, you earn program admission simply by performing well in our "pathway" courses.

Simply enroll in and complete your chosen three-course pathway with a grade of B or better in each course to demonstrate your proficiency and be admitted to the program as a degree-seeking student. Pathway courses are a required part of the curriculum, which means you make direct progress toward your degree while you work toward program admission.

No. Because this program is entirely online, students are not eligible for a student visa (e.g., F-1 or J-1 visa) or Form I-20. Students who are already in the US on an H1-B visa must work with their sponsor to determine if they are eligible to participate in this correspondence course.

You must reach out to the Registrar at reg-specialprograms@colorado.edu to request that you be changed to an MS-CS on Coursera student. This is an important step to ensure you are able to enroll in classes, earn admission to the MS-CS on Coursera degree program, and receive Computer Science communications.

Up to 6 graduate-level credits from select courses offered by other CU degrees on Coursera to be applied toward the MS-CS on Coursera degree. See the Curriculum page for details.

After you enroll in and complete your chosen three-course pathway with a grade of B or better in each course, you will be automatically admitted to the program as a degree-seeking student. All admitted students receive an official offer letter via email.

After admission to the degree, your cumulative GPA will include all attempted for-credit coursework. This includes any courses you failed before gaining admission to the degree. However, you are allowed to retake your original pathway courses and try to improve your grade. See the MS-CS on Coursera Student Handbook for details about course repetition and grade replacement.

Coursework

A course is a collection of on-demand videos, discussions, readings, and assignments designed by a CU Boulder instructor to help you learn more about a specific, focused topic.

Each course offers both a non-credit experience and a for-credit experience. See How It Works for more details about the differences between these options.

A specialization consists of three 1-credit courses linked together to cover a topic more fully.

Pathways are a series of three 1-credit courses with a focus on data structures and algorithms or software architecture. Together they make up a pathway. Complete your pathway with a grade of B or better in each course to be admitted to the program.

Choose one of the following pathways:

Foundations of Data Structures and Algorithms (3 credits)

CSCA 5414: Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms
CSCA 5424: Approximation Algorithms and Linear Programming
CSCA 5454: Advanced Data Structures, RSA and Quantum Algorithms

Software Architecture for Big Data (3 credits)

CSCA 5008: Fundamentals of Software Architecture for Big Data
CSCA 5018: Software Architecture Patterns for Big Data
CSCA 5028: Applications of Software Architecture for Big Data

Yes, all students must complete the courses in both pathways to complete the degree. To gain admission, you only need to complete one pathway, and you can choose the pathway that is right for you.

Note that you cannot "mix and match" pathways to earn program admission. You must complete all three courses within one pathway to gain admission. You cannot, for example, complete 2 courses in the Foundations of Data Structures and Algorithms pathway and 1 course in the Software Architecture for Big Data pathway to earn admission.

No, you may complete courses in any order. We recommend you complete each specialization course in the order they are listed, but you may choose to follow a different order if you wish.

Please note that to be formally admitted to the program, you must complete a pathway with a B or better in each class. If you have already completed coursework and have received academic credit for your work prior to completing a pathway, your completed credits will be applied to your degree progress and academic transcript once you are formally admitted.

No. The degree is designed to be flexible. You may complete courses in any order. We recommend you complete each specialization course in the order they are listed, but you may choose to follow a different order if you wish.

You will complete 15 credits of breadth coursework across two pathways and three specializations in data structures and algorithms, software architecture, machine learning, ethics and computing, and systems. You will also earn 15 credits of elective coursework across your choice of a variety of topic areas, including human-computer interaction, autonomous systems, data mining, natural language processing, and more. You must complete at least four full elective specializations.

From CU Programs on Coursera: Yes, up to six graduate-level credit hours of courses from other CU programs on Coursera may be applied as elective credits toward the MS-CS degree on Coursera. All courses must be graduate level, offered on Coursera, and meet all applicable academic standards. This includes all courses offered by the ME-EM, MS-DS, and MS-EE programs on Coursera that do not start with a "CSCA" prefix, with the exception of the following courses.

Credit from these courses cannot be applied toward MS-CS requirements:

DTSA 5302 Cybersecurity for Data Science
DTSA 5303 Ethical Issues in Data Science
DTSA 5501 Algorithms for Searching, Sorting, and Indexing
DTSA 5502 Trees and Graphs: Basics

Courses may not be counted twice toward two credentials of the same level. This means students can apply credit from a particular course toward one graduate certificate and one graduate degree, but they cannot apply credit from a particular course toward two graduate certificates or two graduate degrees. CU certificates on Coursera are automatically awarded once all requirements are met.

From Other CU Programs: No, this program does not currently accept transfer credit from CU programs other than those listed above.

From Other Institutions: No, this program does not currently accept transfer credit from other institutions or from CU Boulder programs other than those listed below.

A cross-listed course is offered under two or more CU Boulder degree programs on Coursera. For example, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms is offered as both CSCA 5414 for the MS-CS and DTSA 5503 for the MS-DS.

You may not earn credit for more than one version of a cross-listed course.
You can identify cross-listed courses by checking the MS-CS on Coursera Student Handbook.
Your transcript will be affected. Cross-listed courses are considered equivalent when evaluating graduation requirements. However, we encourage you to take your program's versions of cross-listed courses (when available) to ensure your CU transcript reflects the substantial amount of coursework you are completing directly in your home department. Any courses you complete from another program will appear on your CU transcript with that program’s course prefix (e.g., DTSA vs. CSCA).
Programs may have different minimum grade requirements for admission and graduation. For example, the MS-DS requires a C or better on all courses for graduation (and a 3.0 pathway GPA for admission), whereas the MS-CS requires a B or better on all breadth courses and a C or better on all elective courses for graduation (and a B or better on each pathway course for admission). All programs require students to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA for admission and graduation.

Yes. Cross-listed courses are considered equivalent when evaluating graduation requirements. You can identify cross-listed courses by checking the MS-CS on Coursera Student Handbook.

An outside elective (sometimes called an “external” elective) is a course offered by another CU Boulder degree program on Coursera. You may apply credits earned from outside elective courses to complete your degree’s elective requirements. Tuition rates vary by program. Credit limits apply and not all courses are applicable to all degree programs. See the MS-CS on Coursera Student Handbook for details and restrictions.

The following courses are not considered outside electives:

Courses offered by your degree program: You can identify courses offered by your degree program by the four-letter prefix before the course number:
- Computer Science: CSCA
- Data Science: DTSA
- Electrical Engineering: ECEA
- Engineering Management: EMEA
Courses that are cross-listed with a course offered by your degree program: You can identify cross-listed CSCA courses by checking the MS-CS on Coursera Student Handbook.
- For example, Data Mining Pipeline is a one-credit cross-listed course available as both DTSA 5504 and CSCA 5502. CSCA 5502 is not considered an outside elective for Data Science students, and DTSA 5504 is not considered an outside elective for Computer Science students. These courses would be considered outside electives for Electrical Engineering and Engineering Management students because they are not cross listed with ECEA or EMEA courses, respectively.

Look for the graduation cap icon () and “Part of the Master of Science in Computer Science degree” on Coursera’s course description pages.

Find MS-CS on Coursera courses and view course details at Curriculum.

For-credit courses are open for 8 weeks. All for-credit coursework is due by the last day of the 8-week session. There are 6 enrollment sessions per year. Each enrollment window starts 2 weeks before the first day of class and ends 2 weeks before all coursework is due. See the calendar for exact dates.

Non-credit courses do not have time limits. They are not tied to sessions and can be completed entirely at your own pace. See How It Works for details.

This degree is self-paced, and there is no minimum or maximum number of courses required per session. We recommend new students take one class in their first session as they adjust to the demands of this graduate-level program. We recommend students take up to 3 courses in subsequent sessions, which is equivalent to a full-time graduate-level course load. Students who take 3 courses per session complete the degree in about 2 years. You must complete all courses within 8 years.

Courses are self-paced; however, all for-credit coursework must be submitted by the last day of the 8-week session.

For every one credit hour you take, you may spend 5–8 hours per week depending on your knowledge and skills. This includes videos, discussions, readings, and assignments.

Lectures are recorded on video and available on-demand. You do not need to worry about attending a live lecture in a different time zone.

Instructors create videos specifically for Coursera. These lectures are designed with online learners in mind and not simply recordings of on-campus classes.

No. Cross-listed courses are considered equivalent to each other when evaluating graduation requirements. They do not count toward your limit of “outside” elective courses. Please see What is a cross-listed course for important details.

There may be group work. Assignments vary by course and may include individual and group work assignments.

Courses may include project-based assessments and/or online proctored exams that use ProctorU, an online proctoring service that ensures exam integrity and accountability. ProctorU requires a computer, Internet connection, and webcam and monitors students in three ways:

By using secure identity verification to ensure that the person taking the test is the correct student
By employing a human proctor to monitor the test taker through a webcam. You will be connected to a real person to guide you through the process
By employing a proctor to watch the test-taker’s screen in real-time, allowing them to see everything the student is doing

ProctorU is available 24/7. However, you must test your equipment and schedule your proctoring session at least 72 hours in advance of your desired session. To test your equipment, take the ProctorU System Test. See the ProctorU Test-Taker Resource Center for more information.

No, the MS-CS on Coursera is a non-thesis degree that requires 30 credit hours of coursework only.

This program is designed for working professionals in the industry. It is not intended to train Ph.D. students or research students. Other institutions and universities may accept transfer credit from the MS-CS on Coursera program at their discretion.

The degree does not currently include a capstone project.

For-credit Courses:

If you have accessed restricted content (usually a final exam or project), you will receive a letter grade for the course based on the work you completed before the end of the session. This includes a final exam/project grade—even if you did not finish that assignment.
If you have not accessed restricted content and not received a course grade, you can drop or withdraw from a course depending on your timeline. See the Registrar's Special Programs page for information and forms related to drops, refunds, and withdrawals.
Tuition payments cannot be rolled over to future sessions.

Non-credit Courses: Non-credit courses have no time limit.

The MS-CS on Coursera is a brand new degree launching Fall 2023. This means that many courses are still under development and will be released as sessions continue. The Pathway: Foundations of Data Structures and Algorithms is part of this development. There are two courses that are highly recommended prior knowledge that students can take to prepare for the pathway when it is complete. Please see more about this on the Curriculum page for Foundations of Data Structures and Algorithms.

Grades

Students who are worried about succeeding in a particular class have multiple options to consider, depending on the exact circumstances. Options include:

Previewing a non-credit version of the course beforehand to get a head start
Attend weekly office hours with the course facilitator (for-credit courses only)
Connect with peers in Slack for support (for-credit courses only)
Connect with peers in discussion forums for support
Dropping or withdrawing from the course
Grade replacement
Pursuing a different pathway (before degree admission)

If you do not complete each pathway course with at least a B grade or do not earn at least a 3.00 GPA average for the pathway, you can pursue another pathway. If you successfully complete this second pathway, you will be admitted to the degree program.

To successfully complete a pathway and earn admission to the program, you must:

Earn at least a grade of B in each pathway course
Maintain a 3.00 average GPA (or higher) for your pathway courses
Maintain a 3.00 cumulative GPA (or higher) for all for-credit courses taken to date
Declare your intent to pursue the degree when you enroll in classes

You can also preview the second pathway option as a non-credit learner, and then upgrade to for-credit when you are ready to pay tuition and complete the final exam.

Before the MS-CS degree is awarded, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and a grade of B or better in each breadth course (including the two required pathways and three required breadth specializations). Elective courses in which grades below C (2.0) are received may not be applied toward degree requirements.

See the MS-CS on Coursera Student Handbook for details about course repetition and grade replacement.

Yes, you must maintain a 3.00 average throughout the program to remain in good academic standing. The MS-CS degree cannot be awarded until you have achieved a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA, and a grade of B or better in each breadth class (including the two required pathway specializations and the three additional required breadth specializations). Elective courses in which grades below C (2.0) are received may not be applied toward degree requirements.

See the MS-CS on Coursera Student Handbook for details, including what happens if your cumulative GPA falls below 3.00.

Non-credit vs. For-credit Experiences

Our non-credit experience includes:

Flexible dates – complete coursework at your own pace
Coursera completion certificates, which do not imply the conferral of credit from CU
Coursera subscription fee – certain courses may be free with trial or course audit
Independent work
Coursework that transfers after upgrading to the for-credit experience
Easy enrollment process
Ability to upgrade, pay tuition, and complete additional coursework at any time to earn CU credit

Our for-credit experience includes:

Set session dates – six 8-week sessions per year
CU credit, stackable toward CU graduate degree
Pay-as-you-go tuition
Access to additional academic support from CU course facilitators
Access to online CU services, including CU on Coursera membership, alumni services, and a student email address
Access to additional coursework and materials
Simplified enrollment
Performance-based admission

Learn more on our How It Works page.

To enroll in the for-credit versions of courses

Click the Enroll Now button during an open enrollment period
Complete the registration form for 1–3 courses in your chosen pathway
Pay your tuition
Check your email for next steps
Complete all coursework by the end of the 8-week session to earn CU credit

Once you have enrolled in a for-credit course and paid your tuition…

You will receive two emails from CU Boulder: one confirming your enrollment and one with information about your new CU Boulder email address and student ID, or IdentiKey.
You will also receive an email from Coursera with instructions on how to create a Coursera account and/or link your Coursera account to your new CU Boulder account using your IdentiKey.
Prior to accessing for-credit MS-CS on Coursera content for the first time, you must activate/link your student accounts and pass a free non-credit onboarding course (3–5 hours). You only need to complete these steps once.

You must complete all coursework by the end of the 8-week session to earn CU credit.

No, the non-credit courses carry a monthly subscription fee, which you will pay to Coursera rather than to the University of Colorado Boulder. However, some courses offer a free trial period.

To enroll in the non-credit versions of courses:

Sign up for an account on Coursera
Find the course you are interested in
Click the Enroll button

Once you enroll, you will be able to either audit the course for free or pay a certificate fee to earn a Course or Specialization Certificate. Some courses offer a free trial during which you can try out the course for free before committing to paying the certificate fee.

Upgrade, pay tuition, and complete additional coursework at any time to earn CU credit for the course.

You may upgrade from non-credit to for-credit at any time during the enrollment window using the enrollment form. Each enrollment period starts 2 weeks before the first day of class and ends 2 weeks before all coursework is due.

All for-credit coursework is due before the last day of the session. Previously completed assignments will be automatically applied to your for-credit experience when you upgrade from the non-credit experience.

Please note that if you start a non-credit course within the same month that you upgrade to the for-credit version, you will not receive a refund for the monthly subscription associated with the non-credit course. The monthly subscription fee is paid to Coursera, not to the University of Colorado Boulder.

No. The work you complete in the non-credit version of a course transfers over to the for-credit version when you upgrade and pay tuition. Due to their interactive nature, discussion board posts and peer-graded assignments may not transfer from session to session if you drop/withdraw and later re-enroll in a particular class. Be sure to save your work outside of the Coursera platform.

You can upgrade from non-credit to for-credit at any time during your learning journey. After you upgrade, you will complete additional coursework (usually a final project or exam) to earn credit for the course. You have up to 8 years to complete the full program.

If you are taking a non-credit class, you only pay the monthly Coursera subscription fee.

If you are taking a for-credit class, you only pay the $525 per credit hour tuition fee.

If you start a non-credit course within the same month that you upgrade to the for-credit version, you will not receive a refund for the monthly subscription associated with the non-credit course. The monthly subscription fee is paid to Coursera, not to the University of Colorado Boulder.

Yes, students can earn a Course Certificate from Coursera for non-credit courses and specializations. This non-credit certificate of completion does not earn transcripted credit from the University of Colorado Boulder, nor can it be applied to the degree.

Yes, you can always start with a non-credit version of a course on Coursera and later upgrade to the for-credit version and pay CU Boulder tuition.

Finances

MS-CS on Coursera courses are $525 per credit hour. The degree program requires 30 credit hours of coursework. Please note that course tuition may vary depending on the program.

Because this program is 100% online, the tuition is the same for all students regardless of where they live.

No. Because this program is 100% online, the tuition is the same for all students regardless of where they live.

No, this program does not currently have any student fees. When you enroll in for-credit courses and pay CU tuition, you do not need to pay for a Coursera subscription or cover exam proctoring costs. Your tuition also includes access to CU on Coursera, Digital Library resources, the Handshake online employment platform and networking tool, the VMock online resume review service, and the Forever Buffs alumni association.

No. If you are taking a non-credit class, you only pay the monthly Coursera subscription fee. If you are taking a for-credit class, you only pay the $525 per credit hour tuition fee.

U.S. federal student aid: This program is not currently eligible for financial aid provided through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Scholarships: CU Boulder does not currently offer scholarships for this program. However, you can search for private scholarships and improve your chances of success with our tips to apply.
Student loans: Private loans may be an option for you. Contact the Office of Financial Aid if you have questions. Note that enrollment in this program will not affect your existing federal student loans (i.e., you will not be able to defer your loans based on half-time or full-time enrollment status).
Student jobs: Students in this program are not eligible for part-time instructor positions, teaching assistantships (TA), or research assistantships (RA). Limited hourly appointments are available for more advanced students. See X for current openings.
Employer tuition assistance: Many employers value the skills this program provides. Check directly with your employer to see if they have a "tuition assistance" or "tuition reimbursement" program, where your employer helps pay your tuition.
V.A. education benefits: This program is currently eligible for education benefits offered through Veterans Affairs (VA), including the GI Bill, VEAP, DEA, etc. Please contact MS-CS staff at mscscoursera-info@colorado.edu for more information. Please also check with your VA advisor and visit the WEAMS website for more information.
Tax benefits: Consult a tax advisor to determine which credits and deductions might apply to you. Learn more about tax credits, deductions, and other benefits.
Tuition assistance benefit for CU employees: This program is not eligible for the University of Colorado employee tuition assistance benefit.

We accept the following forms of payment:

Pay online from a U.S. checking or savings account (no fee). If a payment is returned for insufficient funds, a returned payment fee is charged.
Pay online with a U.S. credit or debit card (service fee for each transaction).
Pay online with a wire transfer via Flywire.

See the Bursar's Degrees on Coursera page for details.

MS-CS on Coursera courses use pay-as-you-go tuition, where payment is due at the time of enrollment. You must make a tuition payment to complete the enrollment process, which is different from our traditional on-campus programs.

Once you are registered, you can submit a voucher or letter of authorization from your company detailing your student information, the charges and courses covered, and the period that will be covered. About 1–2 weeks after we receive your completed form, we will refund your pre-pay payment and submit an invoice to your sponsor. See more about the sponsorship process.

No, tuition payments cannot be rolled over to future sessions.

No. When you pay CU Boulder tuition for a for-credit course, you do not need a Coursera subscription. However, non-credit courses carry a monthly subscription fee. This means that if you start in the non-credit version of a course on Coursera and later upgrade to the for-credit version, you will also have paid Coursera's monthly subscription fee.

You pay per credit hour. You may drop a class if both of the following conditions are met:

You are within 14 days from the class start date or enrollment date (whichever is later)
You have not accessed restricted content in the course.

A refund will be returned to your credit card within 7-10 business days. When a course is dropped under these conditions, it will not appear on your student record. See the Registrar's Special Programs page for more information.

No, this program is not eligible for the University of Colorado employee tuition assistance benefit.

This program is eligible for education benefits offered through Veteran’s Affairs (VA). Check with your VA advisor and visit the WEAMS website for more information. Please contact MS-CS staff at mscscoursera-info@colorado.edu for more information.

CU Boulder Resources

Course facilitators hold weekly office hours so you can connect with them and ask questions about the material being covered in the program.

There are not currently opportunities for local students in the online program through Coursera to meet with professors.

Tutors are not available at this time. We highly encourage you to work with your peers.

MS-CS on Coursera students do not have access to campus facilities, but can access online resources including CU on Coursera, off-campus digital library resources, Handshake and VMock career services, and the Forever Buffs alumni association.

Yes, students taking for-credit classes receive an IdentiKey, which includes your CU Boulder login name and password. Your IdentiKey uniquely identifies you and acts as your student identification number. Students can also receive a physical Buff OneCard (student ID card) for $30 by emailing a headshot, photo ID, and mailing address to boc@colorado.edu from your colorado.edu student email address.

Yes, students taking for-credit classes receive an official @colorado.edu email address. It is required that you activate your CU student email account as all communications will be sent to this email address.

Careers in Computer Science

No, internships are not currently available as part of this program.

Students who have been admitted into the MS-CS on Coursera degree program will have lifelong access to Handshake through CU Boulder Career Services. Handshake is an online employment platform where employers post jobs and hold virtual events. Alumni can also use Handshake as a networking tool to connect with other alumni.

Admitted students also get access to AI Resume Builder by Quinncia. This tool leverages data-science, machine learning, and natural language processing to provide personalized feedback on your resume based on criteria gathered from employers and global best practices.

As a University of Colorado Boulder graduate, you will join the alumni association Forever Buffs.

Computer science MS graduates typically hold positions as software engineers, software developers, systems engineers, cloud architects, research scientists, research engineers, security engineers, information security analysts, user interface (UI) engineers, user experience (UX) researchers, interaction designers, computational scientists, computational engineers, data scientists, data architects, data analysts, front-end developers, and full-stack developers.

With an anticipated 25% job growth by 2031, the field is expecting “much faster than average” year-over-year growth for 2021-2031. [BLS]

CU Boulder MS-CS alumni are employed across a variety of organizations and sectors. US-based graduates from the CU Boulder MS-CS on campus work for giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Adobe, Lockheed-Martin, IBM, Salesforce, and Accenture, as well as start-up companies of all sizes. Popular sectors include information technology, aerospace, finance, manufacturing, consulting, and government laboratories.

With a nationwide average salary of $132,930 [BLS], computer scientist salaries are more than double the average salary across sectors. Computer science graduates out-earn all other MS degree holders in the United States [NACE 2021].

Help

Who can I contact for help with exam proctoring?
Who can I contact with additional questions?

If you are enrolled in a for-credit course and are having difficulties with your final exams, please email us at mscs-coursera@colorado.edu.

Prospective students: Please email us at mscscoursera-info@colorado.edu.
Students in non-credit courses: Please email us at mscscoursera-info@colorado.edu.
Students in for-credit courses: Please email our dedicated support team at mscs-coursera@colorado.edu.
Admitted degree students: Please email our dedicated support team at mscs-coursera@colorado.edu.

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Affiliates & Partners