Degree Information

Master of Science in Applied Computing

  • Objectives

    The Master of Science in Applied Computing is designed to provide intensive preparation in both concepts and techniques related to applications of computing systems. The program requires the student to take a wide range of courses to meet the breadth requirement, while simultaneously allowing for emphasis in desired application areas of specialization.

  • Application for Admission

    An application should include a completed Application for Admission to Graduate Study, official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work, a resume, three letters of recommendation, and the General Test of Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The application package with application fee should be submitted directly to the Graduate School. For international applicants whose primary language is not English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.

  • Admission Requirements

    Candidates must meet the Graduate School general requirements for admission to graduate study. In addition, a candidate should have an undergraduate degree with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credit hours, and a good background in mainstream computer science. Candidates without an undergraduate degree in computer science or a closely related field may obtain conditional admission. Students with conditional admission are required to take leveling courses determined by the Computer Science Graduate Committee. No leveling course can be applied toward the degree requirements.

    The Computer Science Graduate Committee maintains specific admission standards that may above the minimum requirements set by the Graduate School.

  • Degree Requirements

    This degree requires a minimum of 34 credit hours with a cumulative grade-point average at least 3.0. No more than six hours may be transferred from another university toward the degree. The degree has both thesis and non-thesis options. For both, at least five courses from the areas of algorithms and theory (algorithm design, theory of computation), systems and hardware (operating systems, computer architecture), software and programming (language concepts, compiler construction), and software engineering, are required to meet the breadth requirement. One or more of these required courses maybe replaced by an appropriate elective if an equivalent course was taken at another accredited academic institution with a grade of "B" or better.

    To complete the master's degree, a student must complete a thesis or a project under the supervision of her/his thesis or project committee. A majority of the committee members must approve the thesis or project. The thesis option requires up to six credit hours of thesis credit, plus a thesis defense. A thesis usually consists of original work or a detailed survey of a research topic. The non-thesis option requires three credits based on an application project and an oral presentation of the project. A project usually consists of the production and documentation of code to perform a particular task. The student must also complete a written report describing the objectives of the work, the previous state of the art, and the results of the project. A public presentation will be required of every student in either option.

  • Graduate courses

  • Graduate assistantship

Research and teaching assistantships will be awarded competitively based on the credentials of the applicants.

  • For more information

    More information about the Applied Computing program can be found in the Graduate Bulletin

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

Purpose

The Department of Computer Science offers a degree leading to a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, a Master of Science degree in Applied Computing, and a minor in Computer Science. The Bachelor of Science degree emphasizes problem solving in the context of algorithm development and software implementation, and prepares students for effectively using modern computer systems in various applications. This BS program requires a minimum of 48 credit hours in computer science, about 30 credit hours in mathematics and the sciences, and the university general education program. The departmental curriculum provides required computer science courses such as programming languages, data structures, computer architecture and organization, algorithms, database systems, operating systems, and software engineering; as well as elective courses in artificial intelligence, computer-based communication networks, distributed computing, graphics, human-computer interaction, multimedia, scientific computing, and other current topics in computer science.

The purpose of the BS in computer science is twofold: (1) to prepare the student for a position involving the design, development and implementation of computer software and systems, and (2) to prepare the student for entry into a program of graduate study in computer science and related fields. The educational objectives for the BS degree program are:

Objective 1: Grow as well-educated professionals with integrated high-level understanding of computing systems, processes, and the main body of knowledge of computer science as a whole;
Objective 2: Be able to creatively apply essential concepts, principles, and practices to construct appropriate solutions and analyze application processes using professional judgment in the selection and application of theory, tools and techniques;
Objective 3: Work productively, as an individual and as a team member, to produce work involving problem identification, analysis, design, and development of a software system within a professional, legal, and ethical framework; and
Objective 4: Maintain their skills as the field evolves, and appreciate the needs for continuing professional growth and development to keep current in the profession.

To achieve the above objectives, upon graduation, a student should possess capabilities and skills appropriate to immediate employment in a position involving the design and implementation of computing systems, and for graduate study in computer science related fields. Specifically, the curriculum has the following outcomes:

Outcome 1: Concrete knowledge of essential facts, concepts, principles, and theories in computer systems and applications. These include the following:

  1. Proficiency in at least one high-level programming language, to enable the construction of software systems that effectively solve practical problems with various kinds of data and information;
  2. Deep understanding of computer organization and architecture at both assembly language and operating system levels to support the effective operation and application of computing hardware and software systems;
  3. Ability to select data structures and algorithms appropriate to modeling, design, and construction of solutions to application problems;
  4. Ability to use appropriate programming paradigms in the engineering of software systems;
  5. Professional judgments and awareness on safety aspects in terms of security, privacy, legal and ethical issues; and
  6. Knowledge of selected emphasis areas in computing, such as artificial intelligence, computer graphics, database systems, human-computer interactions, multimedia systems, and networking.

Outcome 2: Sound mathematical background and scientific training for critical thinking and problem solving. This includes:

  1. Discrete mathematics, differential and integral calculus, linear algebra, and probabilistic and statistical models; and
  2. Background in a laboratory science and in biology.

Outcome 3: Effective oral and written communication skills:

  1. Ability to communicate orally in informal discussions and formal presentations about technical problems and their solutions in organized and accurate ways with clear statements of questions, concerns, and ideas;
  2. Ability to use appropriate written forms, such as software and project documentation, journals, reports, argumentative essays, and research papers to express thoughts clearly, using such techniques as peer review, multiple drafts or revisions.

Outcome 4: Well-rounded general knowledge in humanities, social sciences, and arts.

The department of computer science also offers a computer science curriculum leading to a minor in computer science. This curriculum provides necessary background for students interested in using computational methods to solve a broad range of application problems in sciences and engineering, such as bioinformatics, computational chemistry, computational engineering, computational mathematics, and others.

Requirements

  • The Bachelor of Science, with a major in computer science, requires successful completion of 124 hours, including (1) general education requirements, (2) degree requirements, (3) major requirements outlined below. This program does not require a minor.

  • Computer science courses(48 hours): CSCI 1470, 1480, 2320, 2440, 3190, 3330, 3350, 3370, 3380, 4191, 4300, 4490 and 12 hours of electives to be chosen from CSCI 2375, 3335, 3381, 3385, 4320, 4340, 4345, 4350, 4360, 4370, 4390, 4195, 4295, 4395. A maximum of 3 hours credit from courses 4195, 4295, and 4395 may be used in meeting the 12-hour elective requirement in computer science.

  • Required mathematics courses (19 hours): MATH 1591, 1592, 2311 or 4371, 2330, and 3320.

  • Required science courses (12 hours): BIOL 1400 or 1440, and one sequence of CHEM 1450 and 1451, PHYS 1410 and 1420, or PHYS 1441 and 1442.

  • For more infromation about the Computer Science program see the Undergraduate Bulletin

  • Description of undergraduate courses in computer science

  • A sample 4-year study plan to meet the degree requirement.

  • Honors program: Junior and senior students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement may be invited to participate in an advanced honors program. These students will engage in investigations in special computer science topics. The successful completion of these research studies will make these students eligible to graduate with honors in computer science.

Minor in Computer Science

Minor in Computer Science requires a minimum of 20 hours in Computer Science: CSCI 1470, 1480, 2320, 2440, and a minimum of 5 hours of electives chosen from any upper-division CSCI course.

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