| SCHOOL
OF COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES |
| GRADUATE |
| |
|
Dean:
David L. Feinstein (251-460-6390)
|
| Director,
CIS Graduate Studies: R. J. Daigle |
| Coordinators:
Daigle (ISC), Doran (CSC), Owen (ITE) |
| Professors:
Daigle, Doran, Feinstein, Longenecker |
| Associate
Professors: Langan, Pardue |
| Assistant
Professors: Hain, Landry, Moulton, Owen, Simmons,
Sweeney |
| Instructors:
Allen, Chapman, Denton, McKinney, Vest
|
| |
| School
of Computer and Information Sciences web site |
| |
| |
| THE
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER AND INFORMATION
SCIENCES PROGRAM |
| The
Master of Science in Computer and Information
Sciences degree program is designed for students
and professionals wishing to further their knowledge
and expertise in computer science. There are two
major areas of concentration within the degree
program: |
| 1. |
COMPUTER
SCIENCE (CSC) for students interested in
the theoretical aspects of the discipline with
an emphasis on the construction of system software
or the development of scientific applications
using software engineering principles. |
| 2. |
INFORMATION
SYSTEMS (ISC)
for students interested in business and organizational
applications and information systems management. |
| |
| REQUIREMENTS
FOR ADMISSION |
| Students
are admitted each semester. The following criteria
supplement the Graduate School criteria (see Categories
of Admission). |
| |
| REGULAR
ADMISSION |
| Students
must satisfy either: |
| 1. |
A
minimum total of 6000 admission points, with a
minimum GPA of 3.0 (A=4.0) in all undergraduate
courses, a minimum score of 400 on the verbal
and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record
Examination, using the following formula:
Admission Points = (undergraduate GPA total x
1000) + (combined verbal and quantitative GRE
score x 3.0) |
| |
|
Or |
|
|
| 2. |
An
earned graduate degree from an accredited institution
of higher education may qualify the applicant
for regular standing. |
| |
| PROVISIONAL
ADMISSION |
| Students
must satisfy: |
|
A minimum total of 5500
admission points, with a minimum GPA of 2.5
(A=4.0) in all undergraduate courses or 2.75
on the last 64 semester hours of college work,
a minimum score of 400 on the verbal and quantitative
sections of the Graduate Record Examination,
using the following formula:
|
| Admission
Points = (undergraduate GPA total x 1000) + (combined
verbal and quantitative GRE score x 3.0) |
| |
| APPLICANTS
WITHOUT CIS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES |
| Applicants
without undergraduate degrees in CIS may be admitted
to the graduate program as specified above. Applicants
who have not completed all prerequisite computing
and supporting requirements will be prescribed
courses from a set of CIS Graduate foundation
courses and a set of required supporting courses
in addition to the regular degree requirements.
Each prescribed course must be completed with
a minimum grade of B. The CIS foundation and required
supporting courses (undergraduate equivalents
are listed in parenthesis) for each specialization
are enumerated below: |
| 1.
|
CIS
GRADUATE FOUNDATION COURSES: |
| A. |
Courses
common to Computer Science (CSC) and Information
Systems (ISC) Specializations
Five (5) CIS Foundation
courses common to both CSC and ISC specializations
are as follows: |
| |
a. |
CIS |
501 |
Accelerated
Programming, |
| |
|
(CIS |
120, |
Problem
Solving and |
| |
|
|
122 |
Programming
Concepts I, |
| |
|
CIS |
121 |
II
& Labs, |
| |
|
|
123) |
|
| |
b. |
CIS |
502 |
Accelerated
Operating Systems and Computer Architecture, |
| |
|
(CIS |
220) |
(Computer
Organization), |
| |
|
|
And |
|
| |
|
(CIS |
322) |
(Operating
Systems), |
| |
c. |
CIS |
503 |
Accelerated
Data and File Structures, |
| |
|
(CIS |
230) |
(Adv Data and File Structures), |
| |
d. |
CIS |
504 |
Accelerated Networks and Communications, |
| |
|
(CIS |
321) |
(Data
Comm and Networking), |
| |
e. |
CIS |
507 |
Database
Programming, |
| |
|
(CIS |
324) |
(Database Design, Development, and Management) |
| B. |
Computer Science (CSC) |
| |
There
is one additional CIS Foundation course for the
CSC specialization: |
| |
|
CIS |
505, |
Programming Languages, |
| |
|
(CIS |
333) |
Program
Language Theory), |
| |
|
|
And |
|
| |
|
(CIS |
434) |
(Formal
Language and Automata Theory), |
| C. |
Information Systems (ISC) |
| |
There
is one additional CIS Foundation course for the
ISC specialization: |
| |
|
CIS |
506 |
IS
in Organizations (No undergraduate equivalent) |
| 2. |
REQUIRED
SUPPORTING COURSES: |
| |
The
supporting courses required for each specialization
area are as follows. |
| |
a. |
COMPUTER
SCIENCE (CSC)COMPUTER SCIENCE (CSC) |
| |
|
MA |
125 |
Calculus
I, |
| |
|
MA |
126
|
Calculus II, |
| |
|
MA |
267 |
Discrete Math, |
| |
|
|
And |
|
| |
|
ST |
315 |
Statistics |
| |
b. |
INFORMATION
SYSTEMS (ISC) |
| |
|
MA |
120 |
Calculus
and its Applications, |
| |
|
ACC |
500 |
Financial
Accounting, |
| |
|
(ACC |
211 |
Principles of Accounting I) |
| |
|
MGT |
340 |
Organizational
Behavior, |
| |
|
|
And |
|
| |
|
MGT |
545 |
Statistical Analysis |
| |
|
(BUS |
245 |
(Applied
Business |
| |
|
|
255) |
Statistics I, II) |
| |
| INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS’ SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS |
| International
students must submit documentary evidence showing
TOEFL test scores of at least 525 or an equivalent
level of competence as exhibited by a bachelor’s
degree from an accredited university in the United
States. All international students will be required
to take the ESL (English as a Second Language)
examination and may be required to enroll in ESL
courses as part of their graduate program in addition
to the normal requirements for the degree listed
below. |
| |
| CHOICE
OF CATALOGUE UNDER WHICH A STUDENT GRADUATES |
| Students
entering the CIS program may choose any catalogue
from their entry date to their time of graduation.
This applies for new students and transfer students.
Students at the University of South Alabama changing
their graduate specialization in CIS, changing
their major to CIS, or who interrupt their program
for more than one calendar year are considered
new students with respect to catalogue selection. |
| |
| WITHDRAWAL
FROM A COURSE |
| A
student cannot obtain more than two (2) WD’s
from the same course. Enrollment in that course
after two WD’s will necessitate the student’s
completing the course. If the student withdraws
for academic reasons after the third enrollment,
the student will be dismissed from the program. |
| |
| COURSES
TAKEN OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL OF COMPUTER AND INFORMATION
SCIENCES |
| No
more than three graduate courses, maúimum
of nine (9) semester hours taken outside of the
School of Computer and Information Sciences may
be applied toward the degree. Only grades of “A”
or “B” may be accepted. Transfer credit
is approved only after completion of a minimum
of nine (9) semester hours of graduate credit
towards the degree. Any such transfer courses
must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies
for Computer and Information Sciences and the
student’s advisor and may not have been used
to fulfill the requirements of another graduate
degree. |
| |
| SCHEDULING
OF COURSES |
| The
graduate program for CIS is primarily an evening
program. The courses are scheduled to accommodate
full-time students (normally two or three courses
per semester) and part-time students (one course
per semester). Special topics, directed study,
and thesis courses are available as they are needed. |
| |
| TIME
LIMITATION |
| All
requirements for a graduate degree must be completed
within five (5) calendar years from the date of
matriculation as a CIS graduate student. |
| |
| GRADUATE
RESEARCH SEMINAR |
| The
CIS Graduate Research Seminar is scheduled periodically
during each semester as a forum for students and
faculty to present and discuss research issues,
ideas, and results. Attendance is expected of
all graduate students. For students enrolled in
these special courses: CIS 518, CIS 594, CIS 595,
CSC 595, ISC 595, CIS 598, CSC 598, ISC 598, and
CIS 599. Moreover students enrolled in these special
courses are required to give a presentation each
semester based on their work in the course in
which they are enrolled. |
| |
| PROFESSIONAL
PARTICIPATION |
| Master’s
students are expected to take an active part in
at least one (1) professional computing organization.
They are expected to be aware of the social impact
of computing and adhere to the ACM/AITP code of
ethics. |
| |
| GRADUATE
ASSISTANTSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS |
| A
limited number of graduate assistantships are
available on a competitive basis and are awarded
on the recommendation of the School of Computer
and Information Sciences. Applications can be
obtained from the CIS office. |
| |
| COMPREHENSIVE
EXAMINATION |
| All
CIS masters students must complete a comprehensive
examination for the CORE courses in their Specialization
(Computer Science or Information Systems). The
comprehensive examination may be repeated no more
than twice. A written examination is required
of students who choose the Course Only Plan of
Study, an oral examination is required of students
who complete either the Thesis Plan of Study or
the Project Plan of Study. A detailed description
of the comprehensive examination requirements
for each Plan of Study is as follows. |
| |
| 3. |
THESIS
PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
All
students in the Thesis Plan of Study must pass
an oral comprehensive examination administered
after the thesis has been accepted by the thesis
committee. Acceptance to the THESIS PLAN OF STUDY
may occur after successfully completing the core
courses in the chosen specialization and CIS 518.
Students must enroll in CIS 595 (Computer and
Information Sciences Research Development) in
the semester during which they defend their thesis
prospectus. The thesis will normally be completed
in one semester while enrolled in CIS 599 (Computer
and Information Sciences Thesis). Students must
enroll in CIS 599 in the semester during which
they defend and/or submit their thesis. A grade
of “C” in CIS 595 will result in dismissal
from the THESIS PLAN OF STUDY to the COURSE ONLY
PLAN OF STUDY. |
| 4. |
PROJECT
PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
All
students in the Project Plan of Study must pass
an oral comprehensive examination administered
after the project has been accepted by the project
committee. Acceptance to the PROJECT PLAN OF STUDY
may occur after successfully completing the core
courses in the chosen specialization and CIS 518.
A required defense of the project proposal is
normally made in the semester following completion
of CIS 518. Students must enroll in CSC 595 (Computer
Science Project Proposal Development) or ISC 595
(Information Systems Project Proposal Development),
according to their specialization, in the semester
during which they defend their project proposal
The project will normally be completed in one
semester while enrolled in CSC 598 (Computer Science
Project) or ISC 598 (Information Systems Project),
according to their specialization. Students must
enroll in CSC 598 or ISC 598, according to their
specialization, in the semester during which they
defend and/or submit their project. A grade of
“C” is CSC 595 or ISC 595 will result
in dismissal from the PROJECT PLAN OF STUDY to
the COURSE ONLY PLAN OF STUDY. |
| 5. |
COURSE
ONLY PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
All
students in this Plan of Study must pass a written
comprehensive examination before filing an application
for graduation (A student must file an application
for graduation with the Registrar’s Office
two terms before expected degree completion-see
University Calendar for deadlines). Students must
take the examination as soon as possible after
successfully completing the core courses in the
chosen specialization and CIS 518. Students wishing
to sit for the examination must apply online to
the Director of CIS Graduate Studies by the Friday
of the last week of classes in the semester prior
to which the examination is to be taken. The site
for the online application may be found by following
the Links for Students selection on the School
of CIS web site, http://www.cis.usouthal.edu.
The policy regarding the comprehensive examination
is available in the CIS office. The comprehensive
examination is offered at least once a year. |
| |
| GRADUATE
SCHOOL STANDARDS |
| For
all other graduate policies and procedures not
specifically supplemented for the Master of Science
in Computer and Information Sciences degree program,
refer to The Graduate School.
Some policies and procedures that may be of interest
are: Graduate Study for Advanced Undergraduates,
Graduate School Academic Standards, Grade Standards,
Change of Grade, Academic Dismissal, Final Grade
Grievance Policy, Appeal Procedure, English Language
Proficiency, Full Load of Course Work in a Semester,
Change of Program, Student Responsibility, Degree
Requirements for the Master’s Degree, Guidelines
for Theses and Dissertations, Standards for Theses
and Dissertations, and Application for Degree. |
| |
| REQUIREMENTS
FOR MASTERS DEGREE WITH COMPUTER SCIENCE (CSC)
SPECIALIZATION |
| A
total of thirty-six (36) credit hours are required
for the degree. Twelve (12) hours of CORE courses,
three (3) semester hours of REQUIRED courses,
and twenty-one (21) semester hours according to
the selected PLAN OF STUDY option as: |
| 1. |
CORE
COURSES (12 semester hours): |
| |
All
core courses must be completed with a minimum
grade of “B”. |
| |
|
CSC |
520 |
Computer Architecture, |
| |
|
CSC |
522 |
Perform Eval of Algorithms, |
| |
|
CSC |
525 |
Complexity Theory, |
| |
|
|
And |
|
| |
|
CSC |
527 |
Software
Engineering Prin |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 2. |
REQUIRED
COURSES (3 semester hours): |
| |
|
CIS |
518 |
CIS
Research Methodologies |
| |
| 3. |
PLANS
OF STUDY (21 semester hours): |
| |
A. |
THESIS
PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
A
maximum on nine (9) semester hours of CIS 595
and CIS 599 may be applied to the degree for the
THESIS PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
a. |
Research Development |
| |
|
A
minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6)
semester hours credit of CIS 595, Computer and
Information Sciences Research Development, may
be applied towards the degree. |
| |
b. |
Thesis |
| |
|
A
minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6)
semester hours credit of CIS 599, Computer and
Information Sciences Thesis, may be applied towards
the degree. |
| |
c. |
Elective
Course Work |
| |
|
A
minimum of twelve (12) and a maximum of fifteen
(15) semester hours of approved electives. A list
of pre-approved Computer Science electives is
given in this section. |
| |
B. |
PROJECT
PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
A
maximum of nine (9) semester hours of CSC 595
and CSC 598 may be applied to the degree for the
PROJECT PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
a. |
Project Proposal Development |
| |
|
A
minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6)
semester hours credit of CSC 595, Computer Science
Project Proposal Development, may be applied towards
the degree. |
| |
b. |
Project |
| |
|
A
minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6)
semester hours credit of CSC 598, Computer Science
Project, may be applied towards the degree. |
| |
c. |
Elective Course Work |
| |
|
A
minimum of twelve (12) and a maximum of fifteen
(15) semester hours of approved electives. A list
of pre-approved Computer Science electives is
given in this section. |
| |
C. |
COURSE
ONLY PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
Twenty-one
(21) semester hours of approved electives are
required. A list of pre-approved Computer Science
electives is given in this section. |
| |
| 4. |
PRE-APPROVED
COMPUTER SCIENCE ELECTIVES |
| |
|
CSC |
510 |
Compiler
Design & Const, |
| |
|
CSC |
511 |
Comm
& Network Analysis, |
| |
|
CSC |
512 |
Real-Time
Software Systems, |
| |
|
CSC |
513 |
Computer
Graphics, |
| |
|
CSC |
514 |
Modeling
and Simulation, |
| |
|
CSC |
515 |
Numerical
Analysis, |
| |
|
CSC |
524 |
Computer Language Design, |
| |
|
CSC |
526 |
Database Structure & Design, |
| |
|
CSC |
532 |
Advanced Operating Systems, |
| |
|
CSC |
533 |
Artificial Intelligence and Heuristic Programming, |
| |
|
ISC |
559 |
Info
Systems Applications Design and Implementation |
| |
|
ISC |
561
|
Info
Systems Database Mgt |
| |
|
ISC |
563 |
Info
Systems Database Administration |
| |
|
|
|
|
| A
maximum of six (6) credit hours of the following
courses may be applied to the degree for the COURSE
ONLY PLAN OF STUDY: |
| |
|
CIS |
594 |
Directed
Study, |
| |
|
CIS |
595 |
Computer Science Research Development, |
| |
|
CSC |
595 |
Computer
Science Project Proposal Development |
| |
|
CIS |
598 |
Computer and Info Sci Project |
| |
|
|
|
|
| REQUIREMENTS
FOR MASTERS DEGREE WITH INFORMATION SYSTEMS (ISC)
SPECIALIZATION: |
| A
total of thirty-six (36) credit hours are required
for the degree. Twelve (12) hours of CORE courses,
nine (9) semester hours of REQUIRED courses, and
fifteen (15) semester hours according to the selected
PLAN OF STUDY option as: |
| 1. |
CORE
COURSES (12 semester hours): |
| |
All
core courses must be completed with a minimum
grade of “B”. |
| |
|
ISC |
551 |
Human/Computer Interface Design, |
| |
|
ISC |
560 |
Info
Systems Analysis, |
| |
|
ISC |
561 |
Info Systems Database Mgt, |
| |
|
|
And |
|
| |
|
ISC |
565 |
Info
Systems Project and Change Mgt. |
| 2. |
REQUIRED
COURSES (9 semester hours): |
| |
|
CIS |
518 |
CIS
Research Methodologies |
| |
|
ISC |
559 |
Applications
Design and Implementation |
| |
|
ISC |
562 |
Info
Systems Design |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 3. |
PLANS
OF STUDY (15 semester hours): |
| |
A. |
THESIS
PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
A
maximum on nine (9) semester hours of CIS 595
and CIS 599 may be applied to the degree for the
THESIS PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
a. |
Research Development |
| |
|
A
minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6)
semester hours credit of CIS 595, Computer and
Information Sciences Research Development, may
be applied towards the degree. |
| |
b. |
Thesis |
| |
|
A
minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6)
semester hours credit of CIS 599, Computer and
Information Sciences Thesis, may be applied towards
the degree. |
| |
c. |
Elective
Course Work |
| |
|
A
minimum of six (6) and a maximum of nine (9) semester
hours of approved electives. A list of pre-approved
Information Systems electives is given in this
section. |
| |
B. |
PROJECT
PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
A
maximum of nine (9) semester hours of ISC 595
and ISC 598 may be applied to the degree for the
PROJECT PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
a. |
Project
Proposal Development |
| |
|
A
minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6)
semester hours credit of ISC 595, Information
Systems Project Proposal Development, may be applied
towards the degree. |
| |
b. |
Project |
| |
|
A
minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6)
semester hours credit of ISC 598, Information
Systems Project, may be applied towards the degree. |
| |
c. |
Elective
Course Work |
| |
|
A
minimum of six (6) and a maximum of nine (9) semester
hours of approved electives. A list of pre-approved
Information Systems electives is given in this
section. |
| |
C. |
COURSE
ONLY PLAN OF STUDY. |
| |
Fifteen
(15) semester hours of approved electives are
required. A list of pre-approved Information Systems
electives is given in this section. |
| |
|
|
| 4. |
PRE-APPROVED
INFORMATION SYSTEMS ELECTIVES |
| |
|
ICS |
553 |
Info
Systems web site Mgt. |
| |
|
ISC |
557 |
Modeling
and Decision Support Systems |
| |
|
ISC |
563 |
Info
Systems Database Admin, |
| |
|
ISC |
571 |
Info
Systems Data Warehousing and Decision
Support, |
| |
|
CSC |
511 |
Communications
and Network Analysis |
| |
|
CSC |
514 |
Modeling and Simulation, |
| |
|
CSC |
527 |
Software
Engineering Prin. |
| |
|
CSC |
533 |
Artificial Intelligence and Heuristic Programming, |
| A
maximum of six (6) credit hours of the following
courses may be applied to the degree of the COURSE
ONLY PLAN OF STUDY: |
| |
|
CIS |
594 |
Directed
Study, |
| |
|
CIS |
595 |
Computer Science Research Development, |
| |
|
ISC |
595 |
Info
Systems Project Proposal Development, |
| |
|
CIS |
598 |
Computer & Information Sciences Project, |
| |
|
DESCRIPTIONS OF COMPUTER SCIENCES
COURSES ARE FOUND AS FOLLOWS:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
