MS | Significant Software Implementation

Overview

In order to complete an MS CS degree, students must demonstrate the ability to do substantial software development as part of their coursework. To satisfy the Significant Implementation (SI) requirement, students complete a course designated as satisfying the SI requirement. This course will be one of the courses taken to satisfy some other program requirement (i.e., Breadth, Depth, or Elective). The SI requirement must be satisfied by coursework at Stanford and cannot be waived by coursework elsewhere. The SI course must be taken for a letter grade. 

Approved Significant Implementation courses: You can find the current list of SI courses on the MS program sheets, or in the Stanford Bulletin in the Core Requirements section.

Coterm students must have the SI course on their graduate transcripts. The only exceptions are for Coterm students who completed two courses with the SI designation as part of their undergraduate programs; in that case they can leave both SI courses on their undergraduate transcripts.

Exceptions: The list of Significant Implementation courses is considered to be strict. Exceptions are rarely granted, and only in cases in which a course requires a Significant Software Implementation from all students in the course. To request an exception, send an email to Cynthia Bailey Lee (cbl@stanford.edu), the Faculty Director of the MS CS Program. Your email should include your request and justification.