MS in Computer Science and MS in Software Engineering

at CSU Sacramento

Cui Zhang

Department of Computer Science

CSU Sacramento

CSc209

Two MS Programs Plus Certificates of Advanced Study

MS in Computer Science

MS in Software Engineering

Certificates for MS students:

(1) Intelligent Systems; (2) Computer Architecture; (3) Computer Engineering; (4) Networks and Communications; (5) Software Engineering;(6) Systems Software; (7) Data Management systems; (8) Bioinformatics; (9) Information Assurance and Security.

Goals of Our MS Programs

To prepare students to serve as effective professional computer specialists and/or software engineers in our society;

To prepare students for research, teaching, or further study towards the Ph.D. in CS/SE;

To enable individuals with background in other areas to obtain the skills and knowledge necessary to enter and/or advance in employment in computer-related industries.

A Significant Difference

Degree education program

vs.

Technical training program

MS in CS Degree Requirements

30 units of coursework completed within 7 years and with a minimum 3.0 GPA (two GPAs)

Required Courses (13 units)

CSc201 Programming Language Principles

CSc204 Data Models for Database

Management Systems

CSc205 Computer System Structure

CSc206 Algorithms and Paradigms

CSc209 Research Methodology

MS in CS Degree Requirements (Cont.)

Breadth Requirement (9 units)

Software Engineering CSc230, 231, 232, 233, 234,

235, 236, 238

Systems software CSc239, 245, 250, 251

Intelligent Systems CSc214, CSc215, CSc219

Database Management Systems CSc212, 244

Networks and Communications CSc255, 258, 275

Computer Architecture/Engineering CSc237, 242, 273

280

Information Assurance & Security, CSc250, 252, 253,

254

MS in CS Degree Requirements (Cont.)

Restrictive Electives (3-6 units)

(1) Taking from a restricted list of CSc

undergraduate upper division courses

(2) Taking other graduate level CSc courses

(3) Taking graduate level courses outside the

CS Department with prior department

approval

Culminating Requirement (2-5 units)

CSc500 Master’s Thesis (oral defense), or

CSc502 Master’s Project (oral presentation)

MS in SE Degree Requirements

30 units coursework completed within 7 years and with a minimum 3.0 GPA (two GPAs)

Research Methodology (1 unit)

CSc209 Research Methodology

MS in SE Degree Requirements (Cont.)

Required SE Core Courses (21 units) Select seven from the following: CSc230 Software System Engineering CSc231 Software Engineering Metrics CSc232 Software Requirements Analysis and Design CSc233 Advanced SE Project Management CSc234 Software Verification and Validation CSc235 Software Architecture CSc236 Formal Methods in Secure Software Engineering CSc238 Human-Computer Interface Design

MS in SE Degree Requirements (Cont.)

Restrictive Electives (3-6 units)

(1) Taking from a restricted list of CSc

undergraduate upper division courses

(2) Taking other graduate level CSc courses

(3) Taking graduate level courses outside the CS

Department with prior department approval

Culminating Requirement (2-5 units)

CSc500 Master’s Thesis (oral defense), or

CSc502 Master’s Project (oral presentation)

Program Advising, Planning, and Paperwork

Classification with possible multiple steps

(Classification Application Form);

Course taking planning and completion

(Advising Form for fully classified students);

Course evaluation for waiver/substitution

(Course Waive/Substitution From);

Advancement to candidacy

(Advancement to Candidacy Form);

Program Advising, Planning, and Paperwork (Cont.)

MS thesis/project (MS These/Project Topic Form, Course Supervisory Form);

MS thesis/project completion

(Oral Presentation Completion Form);

Graduation with a degree MS in CS/SE

(Graduation Petition Form);

Possible additional certificate of advanced study(Certificate Application Form).

Advancement to Candidacy

One must meet the following requirements:

Fully classified graduate standing in CS/SE;

Passing grade for WPE/WPG;

Completion of 12 units of 200-level courses;

A form for advancement to candidacy approved by the program advisor and the graduate coordinator. The advancement to candidacy form serves as a “contract” between the University and the student. There is a paperwork to change a course taking plan.

MS Thesis or Project

One must meet the following requirements to enroll into CSc500/502:

Have advanced to candidacy;

Have completed CSc209;

Have had a thesis/project topic and proposal, supervisor and committee;

Have Course Supervisory Petition Form and MS Thesis/Project Topic Form attached with the thesis/project proposal approved by the supervisor, the committee, and the graduate coordinator.

Guidelines for MS Projects

Approved by the Department Meeting 5/9/2007

An MS project must be original work.

MS projects are academic publications, which are public information. A work-related project must first resolve any Intellectual Property issue before it starts.

Completed work in any context other than MS project should not be used to enroll into CSc502.

Guidelines for MS Projects (Cont.)

A course project should not be used to enroll into CSc502 unless there is a significant extension approved by both the project supervisor and the original course instructor.

Students should choose their MS project supervisors carefully. In particular, students are encouraged to select faculty members with expertise in their MS project topic areas.

Oral presentation must be on the same project toward the degree completion.

Guidelines for MS Projects (Cont.)

Project completion should be based on the quality of the project judged by the project committee. Other factors such as job commitment should not be used as excuses for demanding completion.

Each student is required to do individual oral presentation and write individual MS project report.

Students should follow other guidelines for changing project supervisors and for completing oral presentation requirement.

MS Project/Thesis Continuation

CSc299 (one unit/semester): A Course Supervisory Form must be approved by the supervisor and the graduator coordinator, and the student is added to CSc299 by the Department Office.

CSc599 (continuous enrollment): Students can register at most three semesters through the Graduate Center. After three semester registration with CSc599, one must re-enroll into CSc502 with all the required paperwork.

MS Thesis/Project Completion

Oral presentation for MS project (project proposal, on-going progress, or completed project) – Graduate Student Symposium once/semester; Complete this if plan to graduate in summer.

Oral defense for MS thesis;

Academic Integrity Statement for Project/Thesis.

Written report approved by the supervisor, the committee, and the graduate coordinator;

Submission of the thesis/project (printed or copied to the required type of paper) to the CSUS Graduate Center (Office of Graduate Studies).

CS Department Deadline for MS Project/Thesis Submission

In Spring 2004, the CS faculty approved the dept-level deadline for MS thesis/project submission.

The dept deadline in each semester for submitting an MS project report/thesis, approved and signed by the committee chair and its members (e.g., project supervisor and second reader), to the graduate coordinator's office is 10 working days before the University deadline.

The dept deadline each semester is announced to cscgradlist.

Special Advice on MS Thesis/Project Writing

Follow the University required format (“syntax”);

Study and use Office of Graduate Studies’ instructions, guidelines, and templates for MS thesis/project (www.csus.edu/gradstudies/Thesis.htm);

Attend required workshops organized by the Office of Graduate Studies;

Study/use Office of Graduate Studies’ format check list for MS thesis/project (available online).

Special Advice on MS Thesis/Project Writing (Cont.)

Start your writing early, and be prepared and leave sufficient time for multiple revisions;

Closely work with your supervisor in a timely fashion on the content (“semantics”) by answering/explainingWhat, Why, and How;

Pay attention to the technical writing details which are all very important;

Be an effective learner in CSc209 (see CSc209 coverage and weekly schedule);

Special Advice on MS Thesis/Project Writing (Cont.)

Pay Attention to the following:

1. The layout of chapters, sections, subsections, and the set-ups for margins,page numbers;

2. The preparation of your figures, tables, and their captions (consistent, e.g., all centered);

3. The relationship between your text and your figures and tables;

4. The preparation of your reference list;

5. The relationship between your text and your reference list;

6. Intellectual properties and copyright.

MS Degree Completion and Graduation

Completion of all the coursework with minimum 3.0 GPA (two GPAs) and without any grade lower than C;

Completion of a MS thesis/project;

Completion of the above within seven years;

Completion of the filing of graduation petition which needs the approval from the MS thesis/project supervisor;

CS Department set a policy in Fall 2009 that students graduate in Spring and Fall semesters.

Certificates of Advanced Study

The certificates in Computer Science program are designed to recognize students who have completed the core graduate courses – CSc201, CSc204, CSc205, and CSc206 – plus additional advanced coursework in a specialty area. GPA 3.0 or better is required.

The certificates are available only for MS in CS matriculated students.

There are nine certificate programs.

Certificate Programs

Intelligent System

Computer Architecture

Computer Engineering

Computer Networks and Communications

Software Engineering

System Software

Data Management Systems

Data Mining

Information Assurance and Security

More Information

Computer Science Department web site:

www.ecs.csus.edu/csc

Graduate Student Handbook

CSU Office of Graduate Studies website (please check it regularly): www.csus.edu/gradstudies

Information, requirements, and deadlines

Faculty and programs

Course schedules and descriptions

All university requirements and deadlines

MS project/thesis format requirements

Campus contacts/links

The Mailing List and Handbook for Graduate Students in the CS Department

Every graduate student should subscribe to the mailing list cscgradlist.

Send mail from your ecs or saclink account to cscgradlist-join@ecs.csus.edu, the subject and message body maybe blank.

Do not forget to forward all your emails to one email account.

Graduate Student Handbook is available from the front desk of the Department Office and the Department website.

Questions?

Thank You!