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Description

The Master of Science program in Computing Sciences will prepare the next generation of technology specialists to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The curriculum allows students to first build foundational skills through a coherent set of courses categorized under information systems, programming, and security. Students will then further hone their skills by taking advanced courses in areas like Cybersecurity, Human Computer Interaction, and Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. Finally, they will apply their knowledge through either a thesis or a practicum option. The program is designed to prepare graduates for career advancement in a range of areas within the discipline.

Admission to the Program

Students are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Computer Information Systems/Cybersecurity or its equivalent from a regionally accredited college or university. International students with degrees issued outside the U.S. must meet the standards for a U.S. baccalaureate degree. Those without the necessary undergraduate preparation must remedy any deficiencies. Students who are admitted without the necessary undergraduate academic preparation may be admitted conditionally and complete a configuration of undergraduate courses as pre-requisites (these could comprise of Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Cybersecurity, and/or Math courses) for specific graduate courses.

Two options of study are available to students – a thesis option and a practicum option. Both options require the students to first complete 15 credits at the 500-level. Students must declare their choice at the point of admission into the graduate program.

Program Requirements

Students must meet the University’s standards for graduate study.

Major Departmental Requirements (30 credits)


Core Courses (15 credits)

Any five 500-level courses from the following:

Information Systems

  • CIS 504 Multimedia and Human-Computer Interaction (3 credits)
  • CIS 527 Project Management and Practice (3 credits)
  • CIS 542 Electronic Commerce Systems (3 credits)
  • CIS/CSC 546 Principles of Cloud Computing (3 credits)
  • CIS 572 Enterprise Architecture and IS Strategy (3 credits)

Programming (Algorithm/System/Software/Intelligence)

  • CSC 506 Algorithms and Data Structures (3 credits)
  • CSC 514 Operating Systems and Parallel Computing (3 credits)
  • CSC 527 Software Systems Engineering (3 credits)
  • CSC 529 Object-Oriented Software Development (3 credits)
  • CSC 534 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (3 credits)
  • CIS/CSC 535 Data Analytics and Predictive Modeling (3 credits)

Security

  • CYB 501 Ethical hacking (3 credits)
  • CYB 503 Enterprise Security & Firewalls (3 credits)
  • CYB 505 Database & Web Security (3 credits)
  • CYB 518 Information Assurance & Incident Response (3 credits)
  • CIS 521 Computer and Network Security (3 credits)
  • One 500-level course may be taken outside of Computing Sciences by advisement (3 credits)

Option 1: Thesis Option (15 credits)

Requires the preparation and oral defense of a substantial research project planned and completed under the guidance of a graduate faculty committee.

Any one of the following (6 credits)

  • CIS 698 Graduate Thesis in Computer Information Systems (6 credits)
  • CSC 698 Graduate Thesis in Computer Science (6 credits)
  • CYB 698 Graduate Thesis in Cybersecurity (6 credits)

Any three courses from the following (9 credits)

  • CSC 602 Deep Learning (3 credits)
  • CSC 618 Computer Vision (3 credits)
  • CYB 619 Advanced Cryptography (3 credits)
  • CYB 621 Advanced System & Network Security (3 credits)
  • CIS 618 User Experience Design and Research (3 credits)

  • CIS 620 Advanced Interface Design (3 credits)

OR

Option 2: Practicum Option (15 credits)

Requires the completion of either an Independent Study or an Internship. The student will register for either the CIS or CSC or CYB instance of the Independent Study or Internship based on the focus of their work.

Independent Study option*: Any one of the following (3 credits)

  • CIS 699 Independent Study in Computer Information Systems (3 credits)
  • CSC 699 Independent Study in Computer Science (3 credits)
  • CYB 699 Independent Study in Cybersecurity (3 credits)

Internship option*: Any one of the following (3 credits)

  • CIS 692 Computer Information Systems Internship (3 credits)
  • CSC 699 Computer Science Internship (3 credits)
  • CYB 699 Cybersecurity Internship (3 credits)

Any four* courses from the following (12 credits)

  • CSC 602 Deep Learning (3 credits)
  • CSC 618 Computer Vision (3 credits)
  • CYB 619Advanced Cryptography (3 credits)
  • CYB 621 Advanced System & Network Security (3 credits)
  • CIS 618 User Experience Design and Research (3 credits)
  • CIS 620 Advanced Interface Design (3 credits)

Notes:

  1. If a student does two internships totaling 6 credits (cannot take more than 3 credits per semester), one 600-level course will be waived.
  2. If a student does one Independent study AND one Internship (cannot do both in the same semester), one 600-level course will be waived.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  1. Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
  2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
  3. Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
  4. Apply computing skills in a research project and/or internship experience in the context of the program’s discipline.