Graduate Student Orientation Fall 2008 Dr. Jan Chomicki Director of Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science & Engineering

Graduate Secretary Ms. Elizabeth (Liz) Lesny –Bell 233 or 234 – x 119 or 102 –

Important Things to Do Read the (new) Grad Handbook –dated August 2008 –handed out today – Make (and keep) an appointment with your academic advisor –Discuss your coursework Should do this at least each semester, or more often! –Can change advisors –Advisor will automatically change when: you do a master’s project or thesis you choose a major professor for your Ph.D.

More Things to Do Attend CSE colloquia Be sure that you are on the grad Listserv –Should be automatic Read your –and your –or else be sure that sent there is forwarded to where you really read !

M.S. Requirements: credits CSE 501 — Intro to Grad Studies in CSE 4 core courses: –1 Theory/Algorithms core course –1 Artificial Intelligence core course –1 Software and Information Systems core course –1 Hardware and Networked Systems core course 3 other CSE courses: –2 core area courses: 1 CSE 500- or 600-level course from any core area 1 CSE 600-level course from that core area –1 CSE 500- or 600-level course (free elective) 1 CSE seminar (1, 2, or 3 credits) 2 free electives (6 credits) –Can be any UB grad course, if approved by your advisor & Grad Studies Committee

M.S. Requirements (cont’d) Do a project or a thesis –Project can be from a CSE 600-level course that offers this option not all do; check with instructor grade has to be at least B+ Maintain a 3.00 GPA There are certain other restrictions –GPA requirements –certain courses can’t be used –see the Grad Handbook

M.S. Requirements (cont’d) What are the “core courses” & “core areas”? –see the Grad Handbook How to waive a requirement or transfer a course? –see the Grad Handbook! Can apply to Ph.D. program from M.S. program? –for details, see the Grad Handbook Other questions? –see the Grad Handbook!! :-)

Ph.D. Requirements Ph.D. Qualifying Process (24 credits) –3 required courses: CSE 501 — Intro to Grad Studies in CSE CSE 531 — Analysis of Algorithms CSE 596 — Intro to Theory of Computation –4 core courses, at least 1 each from: AI Software and Information Systems Hardware and Networked Systems –1 CSE 600-level course in your dissertation area Other requirements: –2nd CSE 600-level course (3 credits) –1 CSE seminar (1,2, or 3 credits) total = credits so far –Dissertation proposal + dissertation + oral defense typically 36 credits (Ph.D. is 72 credits total; 36 can be transferred in) can take other courses!

Ph.D. Requirements (cont’d) Maintain 3.00 GPA Restrictions, waiving, transferring credits, other questions? –see –the –Grad –Handbook!!!!!!!

Forms and petitions Discuss the issue with your academic advisor, fill out an appropriate form and obtain the advisor’s signature Leave the form with Liz Lesny: she will forward it to me Forms can be found opposite Liz’s office

Useful Websites CSE: Grad handbook: CSE grad programs: Grad course list (to be updated): Fall 2008 course description list :

Useful graduate resources (maintained by Bill Rapaport) Grad Studies – –info on: current & upcoming courses CSE computing facilities UB Grad School links & how to succeed in grad school academic integrity (don’t cheat, don’t plagiarize!) research, teaching, writing hints Buffalo & WNY language (oral presentation hints, ESL hints) cultural differences beyond grad school PHD comics!! How to Study –