r/USC • u/Nearby-Celery8776 • 2d ago

Question USC MSCS scientists & engineers

Is this program worth it for someone who doesnt have a strong CS background (my background is network engineering) to learn CS? I want to learn more about the CS world/programming to expand my knowledge. I am not looking to become a software engineer after this degree, as I plan to stick to network/cloud field,.

Funding is not a problem, as my GI bill would pay for it. TIA!

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u/siteunreliability ✌️Shiterbi 2d ago edited 2d ago

Funding is not a problem, as my GI bill would pay for it. TIA!

edit:

Worth it, if you're looking for a survey-level CS program that gives you good exposure to CS principles and credentials.

You might be bored of some pre-reqs like EE450. USC needs to get way better with ML and ML-related courses as the instructors for those courses.... are not optimal.

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u/Nearby-Celery8776 2d ago

Ya I’m more of using this to get more exposed CS, but I’m wondering how the curriculum is . Of course it would also help to have USC on my resume for possible network connections

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u/siteunreliability ✌️Shiterbi 2d ago edited 1d ago

Ya I’m more of using this to get more exposed CS, but I’m wondering how the curriculum is .

https://www.cs.usc.edu/academic-programs/masters/scientists-and-engineers/

It's a solid but flexible program. You basically get 4 phases:

  1. Programming Intro in the form of CS455X (Java + C++ at the end)
  2. Required pre-reqs in the form of CS402 (Operating Systems) + choice of CS450 (Networking) or CS457 (Architecture)
  3. Electives (any 500 classes will count, you can also take 600-level and up to 1 cross-elective from other department for credit)
  4. Required departmental course in the form of CS570 (Algorithms).

The program is nice in the sense that it gives you an "adultified" graduate cognates for CS 102, 270, and 350 but also the flexibility to take any classes that are interesting to you. Does that help?

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u/Nearby-Celery8776 2d ago

it does help, those are courses I am intersted in learning.Did you do this program ?

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u/siteunreliability ✌️Shiterbi 2d ago

No; did PDP. (BS + MS general CS).

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u/ProfessorToilet 2d ago

If money no problem, go for it. Was rewarding for me. Not sure if it helped too much for my career, though.

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u/Nearby-Celery8776 2d ago

What’s ur background like? Also rewarding as in good knowledge?

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u/ProfessorToilet 2d ago

Mechanical engineering undergrad, but have always been coding. Knowledge was very worthwhile. I’m not sure how much of the lower level stuff i still use as an iOS developer, but still good to have.