Explore Your Next Steps at UC Riverside
Today's prospective engineering students are asking a fair and practical question: In a changing technology industry, what is the true value of graduate education?
Early-career engineers often struggle with the question of whether getting an advanced degree is worth the time investment and will make them stand out.
The computing industry is experiencing a significant shift. In the age of agentic AI, companies are prioritizing hiring those with specialized technical depth—those who can rigorously evaluate the output of AI tools and architect and design large-scale systems based on deep knowledge of the field.
At the Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) at the University of California, Riverside, our graduate programs are set up to train students in these areas. We focus on rigorous theoretical foundations paired with the study of real-world systems to give students the deep skills needed to succeed in industry today.
Our Graduate Degree Pathways
M.S. in Computer Science (CS)
Designed for students seeking advanced competence in core and emerging areas—including artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, systems architecture, algorithms, and cybersecurity. Students work within a nationally recognized research department that emphasizes both foundational theory and modern systems engineering.
M.S. in Robotics (NEW!)
An interdisciplinary program at the intersection of mechanical design, control theory, computer vision, and machine learning. Students train on physical robotic platforms, sensor systems, and autonomous testbeds—developing the end-to-end hardware-software proficiency required by defense, aerospace, manufacturing, and autonomous vehicle industries.
M.S. in Computational Data Science (NEW!)
Jointly administered by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and the Department of Statistics, this curriculum emphasizes large-scale data systems, statistical learning, and computational scalability. Students learn to architect robust data infrastructure and deploy predictive models capable of handling enterprise-scale challenges.
Why Pursue Graduate Study at UC Riverside?
Direct Faculty Collaboration
As a premier Tier-1 (R1) research institution, UCR fosters a collaborative graduate community. Master's students have meaningful opportunities to engage with faculty on funded research projects, publish scholarly work, and receive substantive academic mentorship.
Research Infrastructure and Industry Proximity
Located in Southern California, UCR connects students to a dense network of aerospace leaders, defense research labs, autonomous systems innovators, and major tech employers spanning Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego.
A Strategic Career Pivot
In an increasingly competitive employment landscape, graduate standing opens access to advanced technical internships, university career recruiting pipelines, and roles specifically reserved for advanced-degree holders.
Advance Your Academic and Professional Journey
If you are considering how graduate study aligns with your long-term goals, we invite you to explore our degree requirements, meet our faculty, and learn more about our upcoming admissions deadlines.
Learn More About Graduate Admissions at BCOE
For questions regarding prerequisites, application deadlines, or degree concentrations, please connect with our Graduate Student Affairs team at gradinfo@cs.ucr.edu.