Graduate programs

The PHDINF program will prepare you to work in the transformative “fourth paradigm” of science and engineering, an interdisciplinary field relying on big data and advanced software, hardware, and statistics skills. After a streamlined, five-year plan of study, you’ll be ready for leadership roles in industry and government research labs, as a faculty member or research scientist in academia, or as an entrepreneur in cutting-edge informatics application areas.

Requirements

We accept students from broad formal educational backgrounds, including computer science, electrical engineering, statistics, biology, and ecology. No matter their background, all students must possess sufficient mastery of key foundational areas in order to meaningfully engage in, and contribute to, original research. These areas include programming, data structures, software development methods, and statistics. Program faculty may require that students admitted into the program correct any deficiencies in these areas by enrolling in additional undergraduate or graduate courses.

To successfully complete the program, students must also complete a series of examinations.

The catalog description for the PHDINF program offers detailed requirements for the degree program.

Admission

This program only admits students in the fall term of each year. The deadline for applying for fall admission is January 1.

The MSCS degree program prepares graduates for careers in a wide variety of areas in the application of computer science to science, engineering, industry, and business. The non-thesis option of this program allows students to complete their degree through coursework and project-based learning, while the thesis option is focused on engagement with research projects under the mentorship of a faculty member and culminating in the preparation and defense of a thesis. The thesis option of the program is particularly appropriate for preparing graduates to subsequently enter doctoral programs of study.

Common types of software applications include advanced simulations, data analysis using Big Data, search and data mining, cloud-based systems, user interfaces, mobile application development, computer graphics and game development, high-performance parallel applications, and database design and applications. Computer scientists are employed in a large number of organizations, with Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Dell, Oracle, Amazon, Google, General Dynamics, Boeing, and Raytheon among the largest employers. Other more specialized organizations include National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and one of the National Laboratories (e.g. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory or Los Alamos National Laboratory).

Requirements

We accept students from a broad range of educational backgrounds, but all students are expected to possess mastery of key foundational computer science areas. Provisionally admitted students who have not earned a bachelor degree in Computer Science must first earn a B or better in CS126/L (Computer Science I), CS136/L (Computer Science II), CS249 (Data Structures), MAT136 (Calculus I), MAT137 (Calculus II), and either STA270 (Applied Statistics) or CENE225 (Engineering Analysis) before taking graduate-level computer science courses. Some faculty advisors may also require that students complete CS396 (Principles of Languages) and CS421 (Algorithms). Applicants may petition the Associate Director for Research and Graduate Programs to determine if equivalent coursework from other institutions or extensive work experience satisfy these requirements.

The catalog description for the MSCS program offers detailed requirements for the degree program.

Admission

This program admits students for both fall and spring terms. The deadline for spring admission is September 15; the deadline for fall admission is March 14.

The MSEE degree program prepares graduates for careers in a wide variety of areas in the application of electrical engineering to science, engineering, industry, and business. The non-thesis option of this program allows students to complete their degree through coursework and project-based learning, while the thesis option is focused on engagement with research projects under the mentorship of a faculty member and culminating in the preparation and defense of a thesis.

Common types of electrical engineering applications include cybersecurity, smart buildings, renewable energy, the internet of things, sensors and wearable technologies, intelligent and autonomous systems, system-on-chip design, and wireless systems and networks. Electrical engineers are employed in a large number of organizations; among the largest are General Motors, Apple, Micron Technology, Intel, General Dynamics, Boeing, and Raytheon. Other more specialized organizations include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Requirements

We accept students from a broad range of educational backgrounds, but all students are expected to possess mastery of key foundational electrical engineering areas. Provisionally admitted students who have not earned a bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering must first earn a B or better in CS122/L (Programming for Engineering & Science), EE110 (Digital Logic), EE188/L (Electrical Engineering I), EE222 (Intermediate Programming) or CS126/L (Computer Science I), EE215 (Microprocessors), EE280 (Introduction to Electronics), MAT136 (Calculus I), MAT137 (Calculus II), MAT238 (Calculus III), MAT239 (Differential Equations), PHY161/L (University Physics I), PHY262 (University Physics II), CENE225 (Engineering Analysis) or STA275 (Statistical Analysis), EE310 (Fundamentals of Computer Engineering), EE325 (Engineering Analysis II), EE348 (Fundamentals of Signals and Systems), EE364 (Fundamentals of Electromagnetics), and EE380 (Fundamentals of Electronics: Circuits) before taking graduate-level computer science courses. Applicants may petition the Associate Director for Research and Graduate Programs to determine if equivalent coursework from other institutions or extensive work experience satisfy these requirements.

The catalog description for the MSEE program offers detailed requirements for the degree program.

Admission

This program admits students for both fall and spring terms. The deadline for spring admission is September 15; the deadline for fall admission is March 14.

The MSINF degree program prepares graduates for careers in a wide variety of areas in the interdisciplinary application of computing, statistics, and technology to science. The non-thesis option of this program allows students to complete their degree through coursework and project-based learning, while the thesis option of the program is particularly appropriate for preparing graduates to subsequently enter doctoral programs of study.

Common types of informatics applications include the analysis of massive data sets (Big Data), ecological processes modeling and quantification, genetic and genomic analyses, epidemiology and population health, and remote sensing with satellite and drone imaging. Informaticists are employed by industry and government research labs, as research scientists in academia, or as entrepreneurs in cutting-edge informatics application areas.

Requirements

We accept students from a broad range of educational backgrounds, but all students are expected to possess expertise in key informatics areas, such as computer science, biology, or ecology.

The catalog description for the MSINF program offers detailed requirements for the degree program.

Admission

This program admits students for both fall and spring terms. The deadline for spring admission is September 15; the deadline for fall admission is March 14.

• Conditional admission to the Accelerated Bachelor/Master’s Program may be granted to either freshmen, transfer students, or continuing students that meet the requirements. Conditional admission will be discontinued once you earn a BSCS or BSE degree while maintaining performance levels required.
• Submit an application for the Accelerated Bachelor/Master’s Program as a freshman, transfer student, or once you have completed 60 semester hours with at least a 3.25 GPA in 24 hours completed at NAU, and at least a GPA of 3.5 in 12 hours of NAU major-prefix courses (CS for BSCS, EE for BSE). You must apply and be admitted before you take any of the credits that will be used for both degrees. You will maintain undergraduate status (for tuition and financial aid purposes) even while taking graduate classes until you receive your BSCS/BSE degree. Students admitted conditionally must have an overall NAU GPA of 3.25 and a 3.50 GPA in their major prefix coursework at their BSCS graduation. Students are ineligible to continue in the accelerated program if their overall NAU GPA drops below 3.0 at any time or if they fail to demonstrate adequate progress as defined by the academic program.
• Students admitted into the accelerated program will sign an agreement, a copy of which is forwarded to the Graduate College. The Graduate College will seek confirmation from students of their intent to continue after they accumulate at least 90 credits. A student may withdraw from the accelerated program by informing the academic program in writing, with a copy to the Graduate College.
• Students must submit an undergraduate application for graduation (BSCS/BSE) during the term before their expected graduation (which must be at least one semester prior to your MSE/MEng graduation). Upon posting of your BSCS/BSE degree, you will be granted full graduate status and will be eligible for graduate assistantships and other graduate financial awards.
• A minimum of 120 units are required for a BSCS degree, 127 units are required for a BSE degree, and 30 units for the master’s degree. Up to 6 units can apply to both degrees.
• All required coursework for the bachelor’s degrees must be completed with a grade of C or higher. For the BSCS degree, one D is allowed in CS electives or technical elective coursework. For the BSE degree, two D’s are allowed in elective coursework. Any coursework credited to both bachelor’s and master’s degrees must be completed with a grade of B or higher.
• The master’s degree allows for up to 6 units to be a combination of 400-level or individualized study (either 685 – Graduate Research or 697 – Independent Study).
• Your six undergraduate major electives that will be counted for both degrees must be at the 400- or 500-level and must be approved by your graduate committee; for co-convened classes that count for both degrees, you must take the 500-level option.

For more information, see NAU’s policy on accelerated programs.