Description
Master of Science in Computer Science
The Master of Science in Computer Science is a 30 credit hour program with two possible areas of concentration: Computer Systems Applications and Software Engineering. It is designed to:
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Produce graduates that are ready to work in industry, government, health, and education. The graduates will have both practical and theoretical educational experience in Computer Science/Software Engineering with some hardware skills
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Provide computing educational experience that is rich in state-of-the-art laboratories, industry-related projects, and practical design skills, which highlight teamwork, computer-based problem solving, communication skills, and ethical values needed for computing professions and software engineers
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Prepare students to pursue a Doctorate degree in computer science, and software engineering through a motivating, extensive, and state-of-the-art educational experience
Admissions Requirements
In order to be admitted to the program, the applicant
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Must hold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with a minimum GPA 3.0 on a maximum 4.0 scale.
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Must have knowledge of a modern programming language, such as C++ or Java, Data Structures and Algorithms, Machine Organization, and Discrete Mathematics. The level of knowledge required in these areas is equivalent to that taught in undergraduate courses CSC-345, Software Construction, or CSC-413, Java, CSC-443, Data Structures, CSC-271, Assembly Language or EE-480, Computer Architecture, MTH-142, Calculus II, and MTH-276, Discrete Mathematics.
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Students will make up programming deficiencies in undergraduate preparation by taking the following prerequisite courses or their equivalent: CSC 503 - Java, CSC 504 - Object-Oriented Programming, and CSC 505 - Algorithms and Data Structures. The department may add/change courses as necessary.
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Applicants with academic or work experience equivalent to any of these courses may have that course waived after passing a department test with a grade of at least "B."
Degree Requirements
I. COMPUTING APPLICATIONS CONCENTRATION
The Computing Systems Applications Concentration provides specialized knowledge and experience in the theory, algorithm design, and implementation of various software systems and applications. It allows the study of the principles and tools adopted by computer software professionals.
Concentration Requirements
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Provide students with a broad knowledge of computer applications.
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Provide leadership in advancing the state of the practice of computer science research and education.
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Provide students with specific knowledge and skills required to develop methodologies and to construct large computer applications.
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Prepare students for career advancement in computer science, doctoral research, and teaching.
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Provide an understanding of the methods of planning and managing software projects.
Concentration Requirements
| 1. Students must take the following six courses: |
| | | cr. | rec./lec. | lab. |
| CSC 528 | Database Systems | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 531 | Data Mining | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 544 | Web Technology | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 593 | Graduate Design Project OR | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 599 | Computer Science Thesis | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 551 | Parallel Systems | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 567 | Distributed Processing or | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 565 | Bioinformatics Algorithms. | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
2. The Graduate Design Project (CSC 593, 3 cr.) or Thesis (CSC-599, 6 cr.) must be taken during the last semester(s) of study. These courses require students to carry out a project in a field of Computer Science or submit a thesis in selective areas of Computer Science.
3. The remaining courses (maximum four) should be appropriate graduate level CSC courses or taken from the Department’s Recommended List of Courses.
II. SOFTWARE ENGINEERING CONCENTRATION
The Software Engineering Concentration provides specialized knowledge and experience in applying a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to software development, operation, and maintenance. Software Engineering is a discipline which is concerned with all aspects of software production including analysis, design, development, testing and support of software systems.
Concentration Requirements
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Provide students with a broad foiundation of software engineering processes, methods, technologies, and tools.
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Provide leadership in advancing the state of the proactice in software engineering research and education.
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Provide students with the specific knowledge and skills required to analyze and design complex software systems.
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Prepare students for careers and career advancement in software engineering.
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Provide an understanding of the methods of planning and managing software projects.
Concentration Requirements
| 1. Students must take the following six courses: |
| | | cr. | rec./lec. | lab. |
| CSC 515 | Software Engineering | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 550 | Software Quality Engineering or | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 525 | Software Design | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 555 | Software Requirements Engineering | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 557 | Software Systems Project Management | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 569 | Software Security Engineering | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 593 | Graduate Design Project OR | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| CSC 595 | Software Engineering Thesis | | 3 | 3 | 0 |
2. The Graduate Design Project (CSC 593, 3 cr.) or Software Engineering Thesis (CSC-595, 6 cr.) must be taken during the last semester(s) of study. These courses require students to carry out a project in a field of Software Engineering or submit a thesis in selective areas of Software Engineering.
3. The remaining courses (maximum four) should be appropriate graduate level CSC courses, or taken from the Department’s Recommended List of Courses.
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