I started my M.S. in Computer Science at Cal State Long Beach in Fall 2024, finishing coursework in Spring 2026 and now working on my thesis. The program leaned heavily into software engineering and AI: search engines, computer vision, testing, and advanced algorithms, with directed research and a thesis carrying the final stretch. This post is the complete list for anyone who wants the details behind the degree.

AI, Vision & Search

The courses that shaped my current research direction:

  • CECS 529: Search Engine Technology - Retrieval, ranking, and the architecture of search systems. Directly relevant background for TruthSeeker.
  • CECS 551: Advanced Artificial Intelligence - Graduate-level AI methods.
  • CECS 553: Machine Vision - Feature extraction and visual recognition pipelines.
  • CECS 697: Directed Research (Fall 2025) - Multi-agent reinforcement learning with reward shaping in Unity simulations, exploring how agents learn to cooperate in shared environments.

Software Engineering

  • CECS 543: Advanced Software Engineering - Design patterns and architectural styles at graduate depth.
  • CECS 544: Software Testing & Verification - Automated testing, quality assurance, and formal verification. The course behind Bughound.
  • CECS 547: Software Maintenance, Reengineering & Reuse - Working with existing codebases: understanding, refactoring, and extending software that already exists.

Theory & Systems

  • CECS 524: Advanced Topics in Programming Languages
  • CECS 528: Advanced Analysis of Algorithms - Complexity analysis and algorithm design beyond the undergraduate treatment.
  • CECS 530: Advanced Computer Architecture I - Processor design, memory hierarchies, and performance at the hardware level.

Thesis

  • CECS 698: Thesis or Industrial Project (Spring 2026) - Thesis on multi-agent coordination, building on the simulation and RL techniques developed during Directed Research. Currently in progress (expected completion 2027).

Appendix: Complete Course History

Full course history (11 entries)
Academic YearTermCourseTitle
2024-2025FallCECS 524Advanced Topics in Programming Languages
2024-2025FallCECS 529Search Engine Technology
2024-2025FallCECS 543Advanced Software Engineering
2024-2025FallCECS 551Advanced Artificial Intelligence
2024-2025SpringCECS 528Advanced Analysis of Algorithms
2024-2025SpringCECS 530Advanced Computer Architecture I
2024-2025SpringCECS 544Software Testing & Verification
2024-2025SpringCECS 553Machine Vision
2025-2026FallCECS 547Software Maintenance, Reengin. & Reuse
2025-2026FallCECS 697Directed Research
2025-2026SpringCECS 698Thesis or Industrial Project