SCHOOL OF COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES

Dean: V. Gordon Moulton (460-6236)
Chair: David L. Feinstein (460-6390)
Professors: Daigle, Feinstein, Longenecker, Niccolai
Associate Professors: Doran, Langan, Walczak, Ward
Assistant Professors: Hain, Heisterkamp, Moulton, Ryder
Instructors: Kemp, Lott, Olson, Owen, Vest

The School of Computer and Information Sciences (CIS) provides a stimulating curriculum which includes a variety of courses for students in many disciplines, as well as for citizens in the business and industrial community. CIS majors must elect course work in one of two areas of specialization: Computer Science (CSC)*, or Information Science (ISC). A joint program with the College of Engineering leading to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (CpE) is also offered. Students interested in the support of desktop systems may minor in Information Technology (ITE).

*The Computer Science specialization has been accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Commission (CSAC) of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board, Inc. (CSAB).

ADMISSION TO THE DEGREE PROGRAM AND COURSES
Admission to the University of South Alabama constitutes admission to the School.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES
A minimum of 192 credit hours in prescribed and elective courses is required for the degree of Bachelor of Science. Candidates for this degree must complete one of the two specializations: Computer Science or Information Science. Under special circumstances, and with approval of the Dean, a student may select a unique specialization in which the general philosophy and requirements of the program are not violated.

In addition to an overall grade-point average of 2.0, all courses in the major, including supporting courses, must be passed with a minimum grade of "C." Any course taken at the University of South Alabama with a grade of "D" or "F" may be retaken only at the University of South Alabama.

Students presently enrolled in the program may not take any required courses, including supporting courses, as a transient student at any other institution.

TRANSFER STUDENTS
Transfer students must complete at least twenty-four (24) credit hours of work at the 300-level, or above, at this University in courses in their specialization.

FIVE-YEAR COMBINED BACHELORS AND MASTERS DEGREES PROGRAM
Qualified students may enroll in a program that results in both a bachelors degree and a masters degree. Students in this program will normally complete the B.S. degree in four (4) years and complete the M.S. degree in four (4) additional academic quarters, or one (1) additional calendar year. Admission to the program is competitive. Students must apply in the second quarter of their junior year. Minimum requirements are a 3.25 GPA and a composite score of 1100 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with neither score below 400. Financial aid is available to students admitted to the program.

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; however, no programs prior to 1981-82 will be accepted. This applies for entering freshmen, transfer students, and students at the University of South Alabama changing their specialization in CIS or changing their major to CIS. Students who interrupt their program for more than one calendar year are considered new students with regard to catalogue selection.

PROFESSIONAL COMPONENT
All 300- and 400-level courses require the Professional Component Standing (PCS). PCS is awarded after a student completes all required 100- and 200-level courses in their specialization with a grade of "C" or better. This includes courses in CIS and all required supporting courses.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COMPUTER SCIENCE SPECIALIZATION

1. Complete a course of study with a minimum of 192 credit hours in prescribed and elective courses.
   
2. COMMUNICATION - Three (3) courses are required from this area as follows: (a)_One (1) course in basic English Composition EH 102 or the equivalent. (Freshmen who do not satisfy the ACT English and Composite scores to be exempt from EH 101 must take EH 101.) (b) Advanced written communication - EH 387. (c)_Communication Arts - (select one) CA 110, 210, 211, 230, or 275.
   
3. THE FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES - (Art, Drama, Foreign Languages, History, Literature, Music, and Philosophy.) Sixteen (16) credit hours are required from these areas with a maximum of twelve (12) credit hours in one field.
   
4. THE SOCIAL SCIENCES - (Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.) Twenty (20) credit hours are required from these areas with a maximum of twelve (12) credit hours in one field.
   
5. THE NATURAL SCIENCES
   (a) One sequence chosen from the following:
   A. BLY 141, 142, 143
   B. CH 114, 115, 116
   C. GY 101, 102, 103
   D. PH 215, 216, 217
   (b) Three (3) additional courses chosen from the above sequences.
   
6. PHYSICAL EDUCATION - Six (6) credit hours of activity courses or ROTC are required.
   
7. REQUIRED SUPPORTING COURSES - (a) PHL 121 (may not be used to satisfy the Fine Arts/Humanities elective), (b) MA 131, 132, 233, 267 or 367, and one (1) course chosen from: MA 215, 318, or 331, (c) ST 315.
   
8. MINOR - Students must complete an approved minor in the College of Arts and Sciences or College of Business and Management Studies.
   
9. REQUIRED CORE COURSES - CIS 110, 140, 141, 142, 244, 245, 247, 261, 263, 265, 497, 498, and CSC 340, 446, and 453.
   
10. Choose two of the following sequences:
    A. Numerical Analysis - CSC 371, 436
    B. Advanced Hardware Systems-CSC 346,447
    C. Modeling and Simulation - CSC 331, 332
    D. Advanced Algorithms and Graphics - CSC 422, 472
    E. Artificial Intelligence - CSC 474, 475
    F. Advanced Topics (choose two of three) - CSC 421, 457, 473
    

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INFORMATION SCIENCE SPECIALIZATION

1. Complete a course of study with a minimum of 192 credit hours in prescribed and elective courses.
   
2. COMMUNICATION - Four (4) courses are required from this area as follows: (a)_One (1) course in basic English Composition EH 102 or the equivalent. (Freshmen who do not satisfy the ACT English and Composite scores to be exempt from EH 101 must take EH 101), (b) Advanced written communication - EH 387, (c)_Communication Arts CA 110 and 275.
   
3. THE FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES - (Art, Drama, Foreign Languages, History, Literature, Music, and Philosophy.) Sixteen (16) credit hours are required from these areas with a maximum of twelve (12) credit hours in one field.
   
4. THE NATURAL SCIENCES - Choose (a) or (b):
   
   1. 1. One (1) sequence chosen from the following:
      A. BLY 141, 142, 143
      B. CH 114, 115, 116
      C. GY 101, 102, 103
      D. PH 111, 112, 113
      E. PH 215, 216, 217
      One (1) additional science course or
      
   2. Twenty (20) credit hours chosen from Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Physics.
      
5. PHYSICAL EDUCATION - Six (6) credit hours of activity courses or ROTC are required.
   
6. REQUIRED SUPPORTING COURSES - (a) PHL 121 (may not be used to satisfy the Fine Arts/Humanities elective), (b) MA 287, (c) ST 175 and 275.
   
7. PROFESSIONAL CONCENTRATION IN BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT STUDIES - Required courses: ACC 211, 212; ECO 214, 215; FIN 341; MGT 322, 332.
   
8. REQUIRED CORE CIS COURSES - CIS 110, 140, 141, 142, 244, 245, 247, 261, 263, 265, 497, and 498.
   
9. REQUIRED ISC and ITE COURSES - ISC 350, 355, 401, 412, 454, 456, 458, and ITE_454.
   
10. CONCENTRATION ELECTIVES - Two (2) courses chosen from one of the following sequences:
    (a) Management - BMS 300, MGT 320, 333, 396, 398, 430, 459, BMS 300
    (b) Artificial Intelligence - CSC 474, 475
    (c) Information Technology - ITE 451, 452, 453,
    

SUGGESTED FRESHMAN COURSES
Computer Science Specialization

Information Science Specialization

* Students who are not prepared to begin with MA 131 or MA 287 must take MA 120 or MA 171.

** Students who are not exempt from EH 101 must take EH 101.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MINOR IN COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES
Students completing a minor in CIS must choose one of the following options. All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of "C."

For students interested in Computer Science or Information Science:
CIS 110
CIS 140
CIS 141
CIS 142

Twelve (12) credit hours of approved CIS electives.

For students interested in Information Technology and end-user computing:

CIS 110 ITE 153
CIS 150 ITE 154
ITE 151 ITE 155
ITE 152

Twelve (12) credit hours of approved CIS, CSC, ISC, or ITE electives.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER ENGINEERING
Coordinators:
Electrical Engineering: Adel Sakla (460-6117)
Computer and Information Sciences: David L. Feinstein (460-6390)

The College of Engineering and the School of Computer and Information Sciences offer a program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. The degree is granted by the College of Engineering. This program is geared to students who are interested in the design of digital computing systems or the incorporation of digital computing systems in the design of engineering systems. Sequences of courses are chosen from Electrical Engineering and Computer Science that provide an in-depth treatment of digital logic and systems theory.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A DEGREE IN
COMPUTER ENGINEERING (CpE)

1. ENGLISH - EH 102 and 387. Students inadequately prepared in English Composition will be required to take EH 101 as a prerequisite to EH 102.
   
2. HUMANITIES/SOCIAL SCIENCE - A minimum of twenty-four (24) credit hours comprising at least six (6) courses of H/SS electives must be successfully completed. Must include PHL 121 and 324 and at least eight (8) or more credit hours in the Social Sciences. All H/SS electives must be APPROVED by the student's advisor.
   
3. MATHEMATICS - MA 131, 132, 233, 234, 267, 331, and 345.
   
4. STATISTICS - ST 315.
   
5. BASIC SCIENCE - CH 114, PH 215, 216, and 217.
   
6. REQUIRED CORE CIS COURSES CIS 110, 140, 141, 142, 244, 245, 247, 261, 263, and 265.
   
7. REQUIRED CSC COURSES - CSC 340 and 457
   
8. ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING - EE 221, 222, 225, 226, 263, 264, 267, 301, 321, 331, 332, 368, 460, 463, 466, and 467.
   
9. APPROVED TWO-COURSE CONCENTRATION IN EITHER CSC OR EE
   
10. OTHER ENGINEERING COURSES- EG 220 and 320.
    
11. PHYSICAL EDUCATION - Six (6) credit hours of activity courses or ROTC are required.
    
12. DESIGN - Either CIS 497 and 498 or EE 401, 402, and 403.
    

SUGGESTED FRESHMAN COURSES

* Students who are not prepared to begin with MA 131 must take MA 120.

** Students who are not exempt from EH 101 must take EH 101.

NOTE: All prerequisites must be passed with a minimum grade of "C."

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 Science (ISC) for students interested in business and organizational applications and information systems management.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION
Students are admitted each quarter. The following criteria supplement the Graduate School criteria (see Categories of Admission):

REGULAR ADMISSION
Students must satisfy either:

1. a. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in all undergraduate courses and a minimum score of 400 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination:
   
   b. A minimum total of 6000 Admission points 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

1. A minimum GPA of 2.5 in all undergraduate courses or a minimum GPA of 2.75 on the last 96 hours of college work and a minimum score of 400 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination.
   
2. A minimum total of 5500 Admission points using the following formula:
   Admission Points = (Undergraduate GPA total on last 96 hours 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. In addition to the regular degree requirements, they must first satisfactorily complete a set of foundation courses enumerated below with a minimum grade of B in all courses:

1. For students admitted to the Computer Science concentration: CIS 140, 141, 142, 244, 245, 261, 263, CSC 340, MA 131, 132, 267, and ST 315.
   
2. For students admitted to the Information Science concentration: CIS 140, 141, 142, ISC 501, MA 287, ACC 500, FIN 500, and MGT 545. Consult the section for the College of Business and Management Studies on page 113 for undergraduate equivalents for the business foundation classes.

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 exam (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.

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.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE
A foreign language is not required to fulfill the requirements of the Master of Computer and Information Sciences degree.

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 School office.

SCHEDULING OF COURSES
The graduate program for CIS is primarily an evening program. The courses are scheduled to accommodate full-time students (normally two (2) courses per quarter), and part-time students (one (1) course per quarter). Special topics, directed study, and thesis courses are available as they are needed.

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEGREE
A total of fifty-two (52) credit hours are required for the degree. Students must choose either the Computer Science (CSC) or Information Science (ISC) specialization and either the thesis or non-thesis option.

The non-thesis option is designed to allow students to receive a breadth of knowledge through formal course work. The thesis option is designed for students interested in a research-oriented career.

1. Core Courses - twenty (20) credit hours:
   A. Computer Science: CIS 518, 519, CSC 520, 522, 524, and 525
   B. Information Science: CIS 518, 519, ISC 506, 508, 509, and 526
   
2. Upon completion of CIS 519, all students must select and be approved for either the thesis or non-thesis option.

NON-THESIS OPTION
Comprehensive Examination:
All students in the non-thesis option must pass a comprehensive examination. Students must take the examination as soon as possible after successfully completing the core courses in the chosen specialization with a minimum grade of "B." Students wishing to sit for the examination must inform the Director of CIS Graduate Studies in writing by the first Friday of class in the quarter in which the examination is to be taken. A student may attempt the comprehensive examination a maximum of three times. The comprehensive examination is offered at least once a year. The policy regarding the comprehensive examination is available in the School office.

1. Computer Science
   Directed electives - thirty-two (32) quarter hours
   Suggested courses: CSC 535, 539, 542, 544, 546, 550, 552, 554, 556, or 560.
   
2. Information Science
   Required courses - twenty (20) quarter hours: ISC 527, 528, 545, 572, and 576.
   Directed electives - twelve (12) quarter hours:
   Suggested courses: ISC 543, 574, and CIS 590.
   A maximum of eight (8) quarter hours of CIS 594, 595, 598, or 599 may be applied toward the degree.

THESIS OPTION
A preliminary prospectus, which forms the basis for the proposed investigation, will be developed as part of the Research Methodology courses (CIS 518 and 519). Acceptance into the thesis option is based on this preliminary review and satisfactory completion of the core courses with a minimum grade of "B." Normally, a student will prepare the final prospectuses in the quarter following completion of CIS 519 while enrolled in CIS 595 (Research Development). Students must enroll in CIS 595 in the quarter during which they defend their prospectus. The thesis will normally be completed in two quarters while enrolled in CIS 599. Students must enroll in CIS 599 in the quarter during which they defend and/or submit their theses. A grade of "C" in CIS 595 or 599 will result in dismissal from the thesis option.

1. Computer Science
   Directed electives - thirty-two (32) quarter hours
   Suggested courses: CSC 535, 539, 542, 544, 546, 550, 552, 554, 556, 560, and CIS 595 or 599.
   
2. Information Science
   Required courses - twenty (20) quarter hours: ISC 527, 528, 545, 572, and 576.
   Directed electives - twelve (12) quarter hours:
   Suggested courses: ISC 574, CIS 595, & 599
   A maximum of twelve (12) quarter hours of CIS 594, 595, 598, or 599 may be applied toward the degree.

COURSES TAKEN OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL OF COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES
No more than three (3) graduate courses taken outside of the School of Computer and Information Sciences may be applied toward the degree. Any such courses must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies for Computer and Information Sciences and the student's advisor.

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/DPMA code of ethics.

DESCRIPTIONS OF COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSES ARE FOUND AS FOLLOWS:
Computer and Information Sciences (CIS)
Computer Science (CSC)
Information Science (ISC)
Information Technology (ITE)

University of South Alabama Colleges

Bulletin Home Page