Deadlines
- January 15th: Application deadline for Fall semester admissions.
- September 1st: Application deadline for Spring semester admissions
- Late Applications: Full consideration will be given to applications received by the deadline. Late applications are considered depending on availability of resources.
Application
Submit your application online through Graduate Division. The CS program requires the following Supplemental Documents to be uploaded with your application:
- Statement of Objectives/Purpose (recommended for MS applicants; required for Ph.D. applicants). This document explains why you wish to pursue a graduate degree and your career objectives.
- Two letters of reference. Enter the names and e-mail addresses of reference letter writers via the Graduate Division’s Supplemental Documents upload site. Your letter writers will submit their confidential letters directly to the Graduate Division.
When Graduate Division determines that your application is complete, your application will be forwarded to the ICS Department. Note: ICS does not collect the application fee, and thus cannot waive it. You may request a waiver from Graduate Division at gradss@hawaii.edu, but they routinely deny such requests.
Minimum Requirements
All applicants must satisfy the following minimum requirements:
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree. Applicants with degrees in non-STEM fields (other than computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a natural science) should demonstrate significant programming experience through coursework or employment for their application to be competitive.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of a major modern programming language (e.g. Python, C++, Java). Our M.S. program assumes that you have at least three sequential semesters of programming experience (i.e. the equivalent of ICS 111, 211, and one of 212, 215 or a 300 level course requiring programming) before you enter our program as a classified graduate student. If you do not have any programming experience, then you will need to have completed this three semester sequence prior to enrollment.
- An undergraduate algorithms course (our ICS 311 course or equivalent). Applicants who do not meet this requirement but are otherwise strong applicants may be admitted with this “deficiency” and be required to take ICS 311 in their first semester.
- At least one other advanced (300-level or above) undergraduate computer science course (e.g., our ICS 312, 313, 321, 331, or 332 course).
- A one-year course in calculus (e.g., our MATH 241 and 242). (See brief descriptions of Math courses.)
- A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 75% (3.0 on a 4.0 system). This is a graduate division requirement.
- A minimum of two letters of reference.
GRE
The GRE General Test is suggested but not required due to the logistical and financial challenges they pose to some students. If you send them, GRE scores should be sent to us directly from ETS (Institution code: 4867; Department code: 0402).
International Students
International applicants may need to take either the TOEFL or the IELTS. This requirement is waived for students whose native language is English and students who graduated from a university in which English was the primary language of instruction. There are different minimum score requirements for admissions and for teaching assistant positions. These are published on the English Proficiency page of the Graduate Division website. Note that the language requirement is a policy of UH Graduate Division (not the ICS department), so questions should be directed there after reading this page: additional information for international applicants.
Questions
See also the FAQ and page on RA/TA funding support. Questions about submitting an application should be directed to Graduate Division. Questions about the program should be emailed to ICS Graduate Chair.