Software Engineering students Sarah Santiago '23 and Elisa Normand '23

Computer Networks & Distributed Systems
Graduate Certificate

Offered as: 
On-campus
Graduate
Certificate
STEM

Not accepting new students

The Computer Networks and Distributed Systems graduate certificate program is not accepting new students at this time.

The Computer Networks and Distributed Systems certificate program is offered by Department of Computer and Information Science. The program includes courses in advanced computer systems, operating systems, and computer networks.

You will gain:

  • knowledge of tools, techniques, and theory associated with computer networks and their performance evaluation
  • solid understanding of distributed computing systems, including distributed operating systems
  • understanding of fundamental issues associated with computer networks engineering including multimedia networking

The certificate program also serves as a path to master's degree programs in computer science at UMassD. 

The 5 courses required for the certificate are compatible with MS degree requirements for Computer Science, enabling you to transition to a degree program without loss of credits.

Prospective students can take up to 2 courses for the certificate before completing their official acceptance to the certificate program, with permission of the instructor.

University requirements for graduate admissions

  • Submit an application via the online portal. Be sure to provide your full legal name and to capitalize the first letter of all proper nouns.
  • Pay non-refundable $60 application fee (American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa) via the online portal. For Nursing applicants, the non-refundable application fee is $75.
  • Statement of Purpose, minimum 300 words. Unless otherwise indicated in the program requirement details, indicate your graduate study objectives, research interests and experience, and business or industry experience if applicable. If you are applying for a teaching or research assistantship, include any special skills or experience that would assist us in making assistantship decisions.
  • Resume
  • Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended (regardless of whether a credential is earned or not). Unofficial transcripts are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled a final official transcript is required. International students applying with an transcript evaluation, please submit that document with your unofficial transcripts. International applicants for Data Science must submit semester-by-semester transcripts as well as consolidated transcripts. 
  • Many programs have specific recommendations/requirements, please see the additional program-specific requirements for more information.
  • International students: official TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Pearson PTE or Duolingo (if accepted by program) score. Unofficial scores are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled official scores are required and must be sent by the testing agency (copies/scans not accepted). This is required of any applicant who did not earn a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from an accredited academic institution in the U.S. or accepted English-speaking country, see exemptions for more details. We require an overall/total minimum score of 72 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.0 on the IELTS or a 52 on the Pearsons PTE Academic for entrance to any program and a minimum score of 79 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.5 on the IELTS for consideration for a teaching assistantship. Some programs require higher minimum scores (see program-specific requirements). Most programs also accept the Duolingo with a minimum score of 95. The following programs do not accept the Duolingo: Art Education, Biology/Marine Biology, Nursing (MS, DNP, PhD), Psychology: Clinical, and Public Policy. 
  • All official documents are required for enrollment, please have documents (ie. test scores) sent prior to the expiration. 

Program-specific requirements

Candidates must submit the required application materials, university requirements and program-specific requirements, for consideration.

Applicants are required to hold an appropriate undergraduate degree such as a BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or BS in other closely related disciplines.

Program deadlines

Not accepting new students

The Computer Networks and Distributed Systems graduate certificate program is not accepting new students at this time.