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MS Program Advising

CICS Advising helps students pursuing their Master's of Science in Computer Science. Graduate students pursuing the PhD should see their assigned advisor. 

MS Advising Procedures

Schedule an Appointment

The MS Program has two academic advisors: Elizabeth Parolski and Taylor Nichols. Click the links below to request an in-person or Zoom appointment. If the links are not working, please open them in an incognito window. If prompted to continue as guest or sign-in, choose guest to book your appointment. Appointments should be requested at least 24 hours in advance. 

Request an appointment with Taylor Nichols.

Request an appointment with Elizabeth Parolski.

 If the links are not working, please open them in an incognito window. If prompted to continue as guest or sign-in, choose guest to book your appointment. Appointments should be requested at least 24 hours in advance. 

Spring '25 Standard Drop-In Advising 

Starts February 17, until the semester ends, on May 16, every Monday from 1:00 -3:00 p.m. in-person, in CS 100, and Tuesdays, 1:00 -3:00 p.m., via zoom.

Course Selection and Planning Resources

MS Requirements

List of MS Core Classes

MS Degree Requirements Checklist

Course Load Survey 
CICS graduate students were polled on the amount of time they spent on their classes. Results are from the January 2021 survey.

CICS Course Offering Plan
This is a plan in every sense of the word; things can change.

Preapproved Non-Computer Science Courses

Information About CS 696DS: Data Science Industry Mentorship Class

Academic Progress Plan & Policies

MS Advising Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For answers to commonly asked CICS MS questions check out the FAQs! You will find answers to questions about taking a class Pass/Fail, which classes can be taken from outside CICS, and more! Bookmark this page, as it is updated frequently.

Independent Study FAQ

MS Concentration Information

Field Experience Concentration 
This concentration is the ONLY way for international students to work more than 20 hours a week during Fall or Spring semesters. 

Data Science Concentration 
For specific questions regarding the data science concentration please reach out to Associate Professor Andrew Lan. 

Security Concentration 
For specific questions regarding the security concentration please reach out to Distinguished Professor Brian Levine.

OPT and CPT Information

CPT Instructions
Find out about rules, processes, how to apply, and more.

OPT Information for CICS Graduate Students

How to Get a Social Security Number

UMass Support Resources

UMass Graduate Student Commons

UMass Student Resources Hub 
This site provides a comprehensive list of the many UMass resources, from Legal Services to Off-Campus Housing Resources and more! If you do not know where to look for information, start here. 

UMass University Health Services (UHS) Student Health Benefit Plan Explanations

UMass Center for Counseling and Psychological Health

UMass Office of Disability Support 
Information on what students need to report accommodations both in and outside of the classroom

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