Fall 2010

 Computer Science Department  Bachelor, Masters, Ph.D. program  Office: DH 209  Our Web page: ◦

 All our faculty  Cheryl Hayes – Rm 209 Lenatha Hunt – Rm 209  Julia Campbell – Rm 216A  Aregahegn Negatu (Sys. Admin) -- Rm 224 ◦

 Master’s Program  Ph.D. Program  Other important stuff

 34 credits ◦ = 11 courses + 1 credit of COMP 7950  Main points ◦ 4 core courses ◦ Maximum 6-hr of non-coursework (project/thesis/independent studies etc.) ◦ Area requirement ◦ At most level courses ◦ Some courses (UNIX, Models and 6000-level software engineering, Applied CS) do not count  Especially pre-requisties

COMP 7012Software Eng. COMP 7212Operating Sys. COMP 7612Foundations COMP 7712Algorithms COMP 7950Research Methods (1 credit) COMP 6/7xxx COMP 7xxx COMP 7980Research Seminar Total requirements: 34 credits Pre-requisites courses does NOT count towards the degree

COMP 7012Software Eng. COMP 7212Operating Sys. COMP 7612Foundations COMP 7712Algorithms COMP 7950Research Methods (1 credit) COMP 6/7xxx COMP 7xxx COMP 7980Research Seminar Core courses Must be taken by all students Finish at least 3 out of 4 by 18 th hour If full-time, finish 3 out of 4 by 2 nd semester If part-time, finish 3 out of 4 by 3 rd /4 th semester Must obtain B- or better in 3 of the 4 courses

COMP 7012Software Eng. COMP 7212Operating Sys. COMP 7612Foundations COMP 7712Algorithms COMP 7950Research Methods (1 credit) COMP 6/7xxx COMP 7xxx COMP 7980Research Seminar Research Methods in Computer Science Learn how to do research, make presentation etc. Must be taken by the end of 2 nd semester Always offered at Thu 4:15 – 5:15pm

COMP 7012Software Eng. COMP 7212Operating Sys. COMP 7612Foundations COMP 7712Algorithms COMP 7950Research Methods (1 credit) COMP 6/7xxx COMP 7xxx COMP 7980Research Seminar Elective courses At most level courses The 7000-level courses must be from 2 different areas Foundations/Algorithms Software/Language/Databases Network/Security Intelligent/Bio-inspired computing Must be lecture-based (independent studies don’t count) May count non-CS course(s), BUT ASK FIRST!

COMP 7012Software Eng. COMP 7212Operating Sys. COMP 7612Foundations COMP 7712Algorithms COMP 7950Research Methods (1 credit) COMP 6/7xxx COMP 7xxx COMP 7980Research Seminar Research seminar Research project with a faculty Described later

Masters Programs Requirement – Other options COMP 7012Software Eng. COMP 7212Operating Sys. COMP 7612Foundations COMP 7712Algorithms COMP 7950Research Methods (1 credit) COMP 6/7xxx COMP 7xxx COMP 7901Independent study COMP 7980Research Seminar COMP 7012Software Eng. COMP 7212Operating Sys. COMP 7612Foundations COMP 7712Algorithms COMP 7950Research Methods(1 credit) COMP 6/7xxx COMP 7xxx COMP 7996Thesis (6 credits)

 First semester ◦ Any required pre-requisites ◦ 1-2 core courses ◦ Other electives ◦ COMP 7950 ◦ Suggest to start with 10 credits  Second semester ◦ 2 core courses ◦ Electives for your major area  Third semester ◦ Any core course left over ◦ Electives ◦ 1-credit of COMP 7980  Fourth semester ◦ Any elective left ◦ 2-credit of COMP 7980

 COMP 7950 (Research Methods) ◦ Students MUST take it by their second semester ◦ Credit giving ◦ Overview of research skills, presentation skills, as well as individual presentation ◦ Typically offered at 4:15 – 5:15pm Thursday ◦ Contact course coordinator if you have problem (e.g. full-time work), but we expect you to come

 You must choose between ◦ COMP 7980  A 3-hr credit project course (unless he/she takes a thesis)  Individual project with a professor  Require write-up (12-page paper)  A 3-member committee for a final presentation ◦ COMP 7996  A 3 or 6 hr Master Thesis  Similar to COMP 7980  A longer write-up (but more solid, and more likely to be publishable)

 COMP 7980 ◦ 3-credit, taken over two semester ◦ If you want to graduate in Spring/Summer (Fall)  Take the one credit section (section 301) in the Fall (Spring) before you graduate  Take the two credit section under your advisor (section 012 – 192), during the semester you plan to graduate ◦ The one credit section is a regular section  Meets regularly (typically Tues or Thur 4:15 – 5:15)

 In general ◦ Plan ahead. ◦ It is ok to extend a class project, but expect extra effort ◦ Presentation skills counts! ◦ Don’t stretch your project too long  You may lose interest  Faculty may lose interest  If you fail to finish on-time, you’ll continue to pay tuition until all is done ◦ It’s over when your advisor say it is  Not when you get a job  Not when you need to save a dollar

 Independent study courses (COMP 7/8901) ◦ Usually taken in the second year (or beyond) ◦ A directed study with a professor ◦ Can be a pre-cursor of a project/thesis ◦ CANNOT use to satisfy area requirements  Courses from other departments ◦ Talk with your advisor first!

 Criteria for graduation ◦ GPA : should be at least 3.0 ◦ Grades : should not have more than two “C+/C/C-” ◦ No D or F ◦ Core courses: At least 3 of the 4 has to be B- or better ◦ Project presentation : Performance in the presentation ◦ Overall performance : “whether I would hire you if you apply a job for me”

 Comprehensive exam ◦ Your final project/thesis presentation will also serve as comprehensive exam ◦ ANY questions about the grad curriculum can be asked ◦ All other criteria (e.g. GPA, GPA for major courses etc.) will be evaluated

 There are forms that are required from the Graduate School for graduation ◦ Intent to graduate form ◦ Degree Candidacy forms ◦ ml  Check the graduate school website for deadlines! (usually 2 nd week of class – 9/9/2010 for Fall 2010)  Other deadlines (For Fall 2009) ◦ Thesis/Dissertation Defense: 11/19/2010 ◦ COMP7980 presentation: 12/03/2010

 Course credits  Qualifying exams  Comprehensive exam/Dissertation Proposal  Final Dissertation defense

 72 credits from Bachelor degree ◦ If you do not come with a Master’s, then finish the master requirement first ◦ If you come with a Master, talk to your advisor to determine how many credits you need.  We may exempt some number of credits based on the work you have done with your Master degree

 Other requirements ◦ 9-15 credits of COMP 9000 (Dissertation) – must be consecutive ◦ At least 6 credits belonging to one area ◦ At least 18 credits of 8000-level courses ◦ At most 15 credits of Independent studies ◦ If you do not have a M.Sc, take COMP 7950 ASAP.

 The 4 Master level core course acts as the qualifying exam  Must get at least B in all of them, before your 4 th semester here  In case of failure, an additional exam will be given  If you come with a Master, we may decide to waive some of your requirements

 Student should find a dissertation proposal advisor ◦ Settle for an advisor 2 years after BS/1 year after Ph.D ◦ No need to be your initial advisor  Prepare a dissertation proposal  Select a dissertation committee ◦ 4 members minimum  Set a date for comprehensive exam ◦ Include dissertation proposal defense ◦ Questions on areas of study

 Final defense with dissertation committee ◦ Have the final draft of the dissertation early to the committee  Follow graduate school guidelines “to the letter”

 If you’re a new Ph.D student ◦ Talk to your initial advisor ASAP  Talk to Ms Julia Campbell if you don’t have one ◦ Fill in a Ph.D Planning Form  Available from the department web site:  Have you advisor approve it and send it to the department ◦ If you are a current Ph.D. student (coming in from Fall 2008 onwards) and have not filled in the form, do it ASAP.

 For people who come in this semester  Held next Friday, 9/3, 10:30 – 12:30, Room TBA  Open book, no electronic material  Test your basic programming skills ◦ If you have actually written programs yourself, you should be able to pass  If you fail…. ◦ Your name will be forwarded to your advisor and all the instructor of your class ◦ Based on your remaining performance of the semester, you may be required to take a remedial programming class (that don’t count towards the degree)

 For Masters students: at most 12  For Ph.D. students: at most 36  Need to be CS relevant course that has not been used to fulfill another degree (we may ask for proof)  Notice that no UG level course can be transferred ◦ Even if those course can be used for the graduate degree at your previous school  Talk to your advisor ASAP.

 About getting a job before you graduate….. ◦ Follow rules (especially for international students) ◦ Only can count 3 credits for Internship credits for your degree ◦ Do not presume that getting a job = the school must graduate you ◦ We will help, but you must show that you have intention to finish the work PROPERLY

 GPA < 3.0 → Academic Probation  First semester: ◦ You must talk to your advisor and grad coordinator before registration ◦ You will lose your GA  Two consecutive semester: ◦ You will appear before a 3-member committee ◦ Make your case ◦ Committee may decide  Terminate your student status  Require you to take extra courses

 To avoid getting into trouble ◦ Work hard ◦ Don’t overload yourself ◦ Be careful about “easy courses” ◦ Remember only 6000 (or above) level courses count towards your GPA

 Academic advisor ◦ You MUST have an advisor  And you MUST have talked to him/her already ◦ Not signature person ◦ Need to let them know your academic plan ◦ Keep them informed on your changes ◦ Don’t wait till last minute to find them  You can change academic advisors ◦ No hard feelings ◦ Do contact Julia Campbell first

 Register early!  Late registration will lead to class being cancelled  Plan ahead for the semester

 Serious matter! Zero tolerance  Plagiarism: ◦ using others' ideas and words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information ◦ Unfair, dishonest  Cheating, Fabrication

 What ◦ Working on a “real job” and learning credits at the same time  Why ◦ Real life experience ◦ Get to know more employers ◦ Help in job-hunting ◦ $$$$$  You can take as much as you want, but only 3-credit will be counted.

 Warning ◦ Follow the rules. Especially international students. ◦ Don’t do it last minute! Plan in advance. (because your advisor might not be in town by the time you get the job) ◦ Make sure you satisfy all the University/Department course requirement ◦ Don’t get an out of town Internship if you still have other requirements to fulfill  Further details: contact Julia Campbell

 Julia Campbell (instructor/advising)  Dipankar Dasgupta  Lih-Yuan Deng  Marc Fisher  Stan Franklin  Max Garzon  Segun George  Santosh Kumar  King-Ip Lin  Kriangsiri Malasri (instructor)  Vinhthuy Phan  Vasile Rus  Linda Sherrell  Sajjan Shiva (on-leave)  Lan Wang  Qishi Wu

 Hongjun Song  Dan Sweeney  Andrew Neel

 CS Notice board : Outside the CS dept office  Departmental activities ◦ Fall: Social – have a bit of fun! ◦ Spring: Research day – show off your research  Computer Science Colloquium ◦ Fridays 1:30 – 2:30pm ◦ Free food and discussion session: 3:00 – whatever….

 Enjoy your time here! ◦ Last chance of school life before getting a job. ◦ Know more people. ◦ Build networks. ◦ Aim High. (No short-cut please) ◦ Work hard, be responsible, but still have some fun ◦ Absorb the culture here, but bring your own to the table