The Network Systems Track

The Network Systems track is intended for students who wish to develop state-of-the-art knowledge of network systems technologies and the underlying principles, protocols and algorithms. Networking technologies play a central, driving role in shaping the directions of both the IT and communication industries. This track will help you develop leading-edge knowledge of these technologies.

1. Overall Requirements

Students must complete at least a total of 30 graduate points.

  • Network Systems track requires:

    - Breadth courses
    - Required Track courses (9pts): COMS W4115, COMS W4118, and CSEE W4119
    - Track Electives I (3pts)
    - Track Electives II (9 pts)
    - General Electives (3pts)

  • 4 elective courses (12 points) selected from the list of Elective Track Courses; at least 2 of these courses must be 6000-level CS courses.

  • 1 general elective. One Columbia Computer Science graduate course (3 points), at 4000 level or above.

2. Breadth Requirements

Students are required to satisfy Breadth Requirements by taking 1 course from Group 1, 1 course from Group 2, 1 course from Group 3, and 1 more course from any of the three groups.

Group
 Courses
Group 1 (Systems)

All CS 41xx courses except CS 416x and CS 417x
All CS 48xx courses, and CS 4340, 4444, and 4460

Group 2 (Theory)
All CS 42xx courses and COSR 42xx
Group 3 (AI and Apps)
All CS 47xx courses, and CS 416x and CS 417x

3. Required Track Courses

Students are required to complete the following course:

Course ID

Title

CSEE W4119

Computer Networks

COMS W4118
Operating Systems
COMS W4115
Programming Languages and Translators


Students who have completed equivalent courses with grades of at least 3.0 may apply these courses to satisfy these requirements and devote more points to pursue elective courses.

4. Elective Track Courses

Students are required to complete four (4) courses out of the following list*; at least two courses must be 6000 level CS courses:

Course ID

Title

CSEE W4140

Networking Laboratory 

COMS W4180

Intro to Network Security

COMS W4261

Intro to Cryptography

COMS W4737
Biometrics

COMS W4995

VoIP Security

COMS W4995
Intro to Semantic Web
COMS W4995
Social Information Networks
COMS W4995
Fund. of Distributed Systems 

COMS E6118

Operating Systems, II

COMS E6125

Web-enhanced Info Management (Whim)

COMS E6180

Modeling & Performance

COMS E6181

Advanced Internet Services

COMS E6184 

Anonymity and Privacy 

COMS E6185

Intrusion and Anomaly Detection Systems 

COMS E6717 (ELEN E6717)

Information Theory

COMS E6737

Biometrics

COMS E6901

Projects in Computer Science

COMS E6998

Practical Cryptography 

COMS E6998
Challenges in Cloud and Mobile Computing

COMS E6998

Web Application Servers - Arch-Design 

COMS E6998

Advanced Internet Routing

COMS E6998

Search Engine Technology

COMS E6998

Content Networking

COMS E6998

Network Theory 

COMS E6998

Virtual Machines 

COMS E6998

Algorithmic Game Theory

COMS E6998
Algorithmic Graph Theory

COMS E6998

Mobile Computing with Iphone and Android

COMS E6998
Next Generation Network Arch

COMS E6998

Internet Economics

COMS E6998
Network Systems Implementation
COMS E6998
Cloud Computing
COMS E6998
Content Distribution
COMS E6998
Analysis of Social Info.Nets
COMS E6998
Social Networks/Systems Pt of View
COMS E6998
Cellular Networks Mobile Compt

ELEN E4703

Wireless Communications

ELEN E6761

Computer Communication Networks

ELEN E6770

Next-Generation IP Networks 

ELEN E6771

Next Generation Networks

ELEN E6950

Wireless & Mobile Nets, I

ELEN E6951

Wireless & Mobile Nets, II

SIEO (STAT) W4606

Elementary Stochastic Processes

 

(or, substitute with IEOR-W4106)

IEOR E6704

Queueing Theory and Applications

IEOR E6801

Monte Carlo & Discrete Event Simulation

IEOR E4406

Facilities Location, Routing, Network Design

5. General Electives

Remaining points from any qualifying Computer Science graduate course (4000 and 6000 level). Students may take up to 3 points of non-CS/non-tech course approved by the advisor. Please complete a non-tech approval form, and once it is signed, forward it to Janine Maslov or Remi Moss. 

6. Track Planning

Please visit the Directory of Classes to get the updated course listings.

Please also note that not all courses are offered every semester, or even every year. A few courses are offered only once every two or three years or even less frequently. For more information, please see the SEAS Bulletin CS course-offering schedule (This schedule can change due to unforeseeable circumstances; thus, it should only be used as a reference).

7. Contact

Please cintact Prof. for curriculum advising.

8. Graduation

Candidates preparing for graduation should submit a completed application for degree to the Registrar's Office and submit a track graduation form to CS Student Services (an example of a completed form is available here).