1. CSE 5194: Orientation Seminar Fall 2008
Bahram Khalili
Class website:
Fall 2008

2. CSE Grad Website Where? http://www.cse.uta.edu/graduate What?
Contacts and Advising Hours
MS Guide
All Electronic forms
Announcements
Course Descriptions
Fall 2008

3. Other Resources Grad School Website: http://grad.uta.edu
Graduate Catalog
Graduate Calendar
Funding Opportunities
Thesis/Dissertation Guidelines
Virtual Graduate Advisor:
Grad School Forms
we will use your cse account (exclusively) for announcements which are also posted on the Announcements tab of the CSE grad webpage
Fall 2008

4. Personnel Graduate Secretary (Camille Costabile) Graduate Advisors
Her office is the one-stop clearinghouse for all things MS
Graduate Advisors
Bahram Khalili
General Advising – MS & PhD
In charge of S/W Eng. curriculum
Mike O’Dell
General Advising - MS
In charge of MSCS and MSCSE curriculum
Darin Brezeale
Fall 2008

5. CSE Degree Options MS CSE
Must have Undergraduate degree in Engineering
MS CS
Exact same degree program as MS CSE
MS SFWE
Curriculum pre-dominantly Software Engineering
*MS CS and CSE have Thesis or Non-Thesis (Structured) options
Fall 2008

6. Definitions
Core Courses – These are mandatory courses that all students MUST take
Major (Specialty) Track Courses – Three courses in a subject area including at least one at 6000 level. Areas:
AI, Database, Systems and Architecture, Networks, S/W Engineering, Graphics and Multimedia, Theory and Algorithms, Bioinformatics.
Breadth Courses – Courses outside of your major/specialty track(s)*
*Courses in chosen Major/Specialty Track cannot be used for breadth
Fall 2008

7. Non-Thesis (Structured) Degree Plan
Orientation Seminar (5194)
2 core courses: 5311, One of {5306, 5317}
3 breadth courses
Only two may be in the same specialty area
3 courses in major area 1 (one 6000-level)
3 courses in major area 2 (one 6000-level)
1 Elective (can be in area of Major/ Specialty or outside the Department, with prior approval by advisor)
Fall 2008

8. Thesis Orientation Seminar (5194)
2 core courses : 5311, One of {5306, 5317}
3 courses in Major area (one 6000-level)
2 Breadth courses
The two have to be in two different areas
1 Elective (can be in area of Major or outside the Department, with prior approval by advisor)
Thesis I (5398) (Repeat if necessary)
Thesis II (5698) Must be taken in graduating semester.
NOTE: Thesis II requires preparatory research work (CSE 5398, Thesis I) in a prior semester. This requirement may only be waived with the permission of your thesis supervisor.
Fall 2008

9. MS Software Engineering
Orientation Seminar (5194)
5 Core courses: CSE 5311, 5324, 5325, (5328 and 5329)
2 Courses from: CSE 5326, 5392, 6324, 6392
5 Electives, including three from CSE
Fall 2008

10. MS CS MS CSE Distance Learning program in Database and Information Technology
Must be UG CS/CSE
36 hours
Courses (Fixed):
CSE Advanced Algorithms
CSE Operating Systems II
CSE Design and Construction of Compilers
CSE Computer Networks I
CSE Computer Architecture II
CSE Software Testing
CSE Software Engineering I
CSE Software Engineering II
CSE Database Systems
CSE DBMS Models and Implementation Techniques
CSE Advanced Topics in Database System
CSE Techniques for Multimedia Databases
Fall 2008

11. Important Notes
You can use one, and only one, course outside the department (i.e., a non-CSE course) in your Degree Plan.
NO waivers for Core will be granted even if you have taken Compilers/Advanced OS in your Undergrad. DO NOT ASK
Directed Study (5393) is not allowed under the non-thesis (structured) option.
Fall 2008

12. Planning Courses
Make sure your Program of Work is complete… it is your responsibility
Register early.
Plan “Major” sequences for a three semester stretch.
Thesis students - Do not wait to complete all courses before registering for Thesis.
Several 5392/6392 classes can be taken.
Fall 2008

13. Managing YOUR Degree Plan
CSE Graduate Students can register in (almost) any course we offer… so BEWARE
Only special CSE courses require clearance (Directed Study, Thesis I, any web course)
YOUR plan is YOUR responsibility
Use MyMav Degree Audit capability
Ask questions of the graduate advisors if in doubt about progress or applicability of a specific course
Fall 2008

14. Managing YOUR Degree Plan with MyMav
MyMav degree audit feature
Your degree plan is associated with your id#
CS MS Non-Thesis, CS MS Thesis, CSE MS Non-Thesis, CSE MS Thesis, MS Software Engineering
Graduate advisor can change between Thesis and Non-Thesis
MyMav uses best-fit algorithm to apply your courses taken to your specified degree plan
Courses that do not fit will be shown as “not-applied”
Certain courses will require advisor action to apply in correct spot
Fall 2008

15. Important Dates (e.g., Fall 2008)
Current Student enrollment: June 4th
Open enrollment for all current/returning students
Regular Enrollment ends: August 24th
Late fees apply after this date
Students may add/drop courses
Late Registration ends: August 31st
Students may not add/drop after this date
Critical changes may be made by advisor
Census Date: September 12th
NO changes after this date
File for graduation: Sept. 28th
Refer to checklist for graduating semester:
Fall 2008

16. CSE 5194 Course Requirements
Thesis Critique
the author and title of the thesis to by Oct. 6th.
These are available in UTA Central Library and may be searched at
Your two-page critique is due Dec. 1st at CSE office.
Fall 2008

17. Thesis Critique Content
Identification (author, supervising faculty, title, etc.)
Classification (What focused area of computer science is addressed?)
Effort (How much effort/creativity appears to have been expended?)
Contribution (What are the most notable results?)
Bibliography (What are the author’s key references?)
Opinions (What do you think about the research?)
Fall 2008

18. … Requirements Two Defenses
Attendance: Defenses announced through cse website under seminars tab:
URL:
Complete and submit a Defense Attendance/ Comment form for each defense attended.
Blank forms are available at the class website. (One is in your handouts)
Get a faculty committee member’s signature, answer the questions, and turn it in to the CSE Office by Dec. 1st.
Please do not disturb defenses that you attend. Arrive on time.
Fall 2008

19. Academic Dishonesty
Do’s and Don’ts – Do the right thing. If you think it is wrong it probably is – so Don’t do it!
Ask your instructor what are acceptable and unacceptable practices for the course.
Plagiarism is dealt with more seriously than you may think it should be.
See Student Judicial Affairs Website:
Red Pill vs. Blue Pill
Form 1 - Admission of Guilt
Form 2 - Deny Allegation
Fall 2008

20. Thesis Is it for you? Sequence and Planning Work Expectations
Assistantship Obligations - GTAs and GRAs
Switching to and from structured
Grades
Fall 2008

21. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) - (Internship)
Purpose: enhance your education through work experience
F-1 Rules: see
Current good academic standing
Two semesters of graduate coursework complete
Currently enrolled in an appropriate UTA course (hours cannot be used for credit – CSE 5191)
Part-time CPT students (20 hours or less) must be enrolled as full-time student (9 credit-hours)
CSE Rules
CSE 5194 completed BEFORE internship
6 graduate-level courses completed (18 credit-hours)
Fall 2008

22. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) - (Internship)
Procedures:
Ensure that you meet all requirements:
Completion of 50% of graduate course work
GPA of 3.0 or better in graduate course work
Completion of CSE 5194
No probation of any sort
Obtain an offer letter from your employer
Must be on company letterhead signed by company official
Must state that it is an internship offer
Must specify dates of employment WITHIN the semester for which the offer is given
Must specify whether offer is for part-time (<= 20 hours/week) or full-time (> 20 hours/week) work
Enroll in CSE 5191
See Camille to complete CPT letter
Fall 2008