New CS/CIS Master Student Orientation Spring 2009 Presented by: Dr. Bun Yue Chair, Division of Computing and Mathematics January 22, 2009 (Thursday) 4:00pm to 5:30pm University of Houston - Clear Lake

Table of Contents  Welcome!  Opportunities  Resources  Foundation Courses  Advising and CPS  Planning your study  Research and Capstone Projects  Controlled and Full Courses  Academic Honesty  TA Applications  Questions and Answers

Welcome!  Welcome aboard!  UHCL: four schools  School of Science and Computer Engineering (SCE): three divisions.  Division of Computing and Mathematics (DCM): four programs. Computer Science (CS) Computer Information Systems (CIS) Mathematics Statistics

Opportunities: UHCL CS/CIS Programs  ABET Accredited!  Small class sizes  Friendly faculty and staff  Teaching-oriented faculty  Student research  High tech environment  Close ties with surrounding high tech industry  Balance between theory and practice

Opportunities: Some Goals  Better study  Better career preparation  Better professionalism  Better networking

Resources: Personnel  SCE: Dean: Dr. Sadegh Davari Associate Dean: Dr. Dennis Casserly  Academic Advisors: Ms. Barbara Coleman Ms. Dorothy Hogg  DCM: Division Chair: Dr. Bun Yue

Personnel  Program Chairs: CS: Dr. Sharon Hall CIS: Dr. Andrew Yang  DCM secretaries Ms. Janet Brecheen (division’s secretaries):  Delta building access pan code

Personnel  Faculty suite secretaries: Ms. Kim Edwards: D161 (all other CS/CIS faculty members)  TA applications  Control courses  Waiting list for courses Ms. Jeanne Leslie: D101 (Drs. Yang, Hall and Giarratano)

Faculty  Faculty members Ms. Krishani Abeysekera Dr. Hisham Al-Mubaid Dr. Said Bettayeb Dr. Gary Boetticher Dr. Sadegh Davari Dr. Terry Feagin Dr. Joseph Giarratano

Faculty  Dr. Sharon Perkins Hall  Dr. Dan Kim  Dr. Morris Liaw  Dr. Perez Perez-Davila  Dr. Andrew Yang  Dr. Bun Yue

Faculty

Staff  Technology Specialist: Mr. David Webb Academic software purchase Laboratories  Systems Administrator: DCM and SCE accounts DCM laboratories Unix server and laboratories

Some Resources  SCE/DCM Accounts: SCE Web server DCM laboratory accounts  UHCL Neumann Library  UHCL Writing Center  Low cost academic software: contact Mr. David Webb  CS/CIS Blog:

Scholarship and Work  Be aggressive and try hard.  UHCL: tal/FAO/FAO_New/Scholarship tal/FAO/FAO_New/Scholarship  SCE specific: tal/FAO/Scholarships/Scholarship_S chools/SCE tal/FAO/Scholarships/Scholarship_S chools/SCE  Campus jobs

Foundation Courses  Required to fulfill background for the Master program.  Listed explicitly in the admission letter.

Example of An Admission Letter

An Admission Letter

Foundation Courses  They should be taken as soon as possible.  Dangling foundation courses: May not be able to enroll in some courses, especially controlled courses. May adversely affect your TA and RA applications. May make your study harder.

Foundation Courses  Two kinds: Technical courses: CSCI, MATH, CENG, etc. Writing courses: WRIT 3035, WRIT  Must be completed before graduation.

Foundation Courses  May request wavering.  There is a waiver committee.  To apply: Submit completed waiver request form. Consult advice from the faculty advisor. Submit as much evidence as possible. Burden of proof on students.

Foundation Courses  Waiver requests should be made as soon as possible: Take time to process.  Completing a course with the foundation course as a prerequisite is not a valid reason for waiving the foundation course.  Writing foundation courses were usually not waived.

Advising and CPS  Each student has two advisors: Academic Advisor: general issues. Faculty Advisor: subject matter issues.  They are your coaches!

Persons to contact (admission letter)

Faculty Advisors  Help you to Set up your candidate plan of study. Provide advice on your study plan. Provide help to prepare for your future career. Approve electives.

Candidate Plan of Study  Your study plan ‘contract’.  Clarify what is needed to achieve your degrees.  Protect you from future changes.  Should be set up as soon as possible.

CPS (admission letter)

CPS Process  Contact your faculty advisor after you arrive and seek advice.  Schedule an appointment with your faculty advisor at the middle of your first semester.  Before the appointment, construct an initial list of elective courses you want to take.  You may send this information and other personal information (name, student id, , phone, address) to the faculty member before the meeting.

CPS Process  Good opportunity to develop a study plan (when to take what courses).  Your faculty member can set up a draft CPS with both of you signed.  The school will set up a formal CPS for you to sign later.

Sample Draft CPS: Foundation Requirements

Sample Draft CPS: Electives

Sample Draft CPS: Thesis or Capstone

Planning Your Study  Devise a study schedule as early as possible: Realistic Helpful to your established career goal Adapted if necessary. Work with your advisors along the way.

Planning your study  What courses to take first? Foundation courses (must be taken care of as soon as possible) Courses in the critical path (such as prerequisites of other desirable courses.) Core courses (you have no flexibility here). Courses that are not offered frequently.

Planning your study  Do not over-commit.  Do not take too many courses in your last semester. Capstone or thesis are demanding. Need effort for graduation and job hunting.

Thesis and Capstone  Thesis A two semester sequence. 33 hours instead of 36 hours Learnt a lot!  Innovative work in your future career is like research. May take an independent study first. Need to plan for it in the first semester.

Thesis and Capstone  Capstone Real world team projects mentored by industrial partners. Viewed as very useful in career preparation. Demanding and very different. Must not miss the first class. Consider attending capstone project presentations

Controlled Courses  Need approval before registration. CSCI 6530 Research Methods  Completed all writing requirements  Taken enough computer science courses. CSCI 6838 Capstone Projects  Within last 12 hours of study (including foundation courses)  Return application forms to Ms. Kim Edwards.

Full Courses  May need override approval to register Considered in a case by case manner  Look for more information for a new procedure next semester.

Academic Honesty  UHCL has strict academic honesty standards.  UHCL has well defined academic honesty violation (AHV) policy and procedure.  AHV due process will be followed by the division.

Academic Honesty Violation  Cheating is simply not worth it. It is costly!  AHV: Appear in student records Will not be hired by the programs in any capacity (e.g. TA) Impact scholarship opportunities  2 AHV may result in suspension from the university, or even expulsion.

Academic Honesty  Check class policy and instructions carefully.  Do not fall for peer pressure.  May have cultural difference.  Use common sense.  In case of doubt, check!

TA  Excellent opportunity to improve yourself!  You are encouraged to apply.

TA Applications  GPA is not the only consideration factor.  Much more complicated than most can imagine. Scheduling is NP-complete!  Many factors considered.

TA Applications  Is competitive.  To improve your chance: Let the faculty members know your ability and work ethics Have good faculty recommendations (not generic one) Differentiate yourself! Make yourself ‘useful’!

TA Applications  Deadline: April 23 rd.  Ensure eligibility. Eg. CPS formally filed. Must be able to start working on day one. Must be able to attend TA orientation. No AHV  Fill application form carefully

Questions?