1. Transitioning to Semesters CSE MS Program Prof. Gagan Agrawal Grad Studies Chair

2. Quarters Vs. Semesters Quarter System – Academic Year Divided into 3 quarters Fall, Winter, Spring 10 weeks of classes in each, 1 week final exams Semester System – Academic Year Divided into 2 semesters Fall and Spring 14 weeks of classes, final exams

3. Basic Conversion Rule 1 quarter credit == 2/3 semester credit Follow all semester program requirements + conversion rules if you finish coursework Summer 2012 onwards Conversion rules designed to allow easy transition

4. CSE MS Programs Components of Requirements – Total Credit Requirements – Graded Credit Requirements – (Foundational) Core Requirements – Applied Core Requirements – Limit on Primarily Undergrad Classes – Outside CSE classes – MS Examination – Project Option

5. Credit Requirements (Quarters) MS thesis – 45 total, 30 graded MS Non-Thesis, W/O Project – 50 total, 45 graded MS Non-thesis, with Project – 50 total, 39 graded, 6 project credits

6. Credit Requirements (Semester) MS thesis – 30 total, 20 graded MS Non-Thesis, W/O Project – 33 total, 30 graded MS Non-thesis, with Project – 33 total, 24 graded, 6 project credits

7. For Students in Transition Apply Semester Credit Rules Credits = Semester Credits Taken + 2/3*Quarter Credits Apply this rule separately for total credits and graded credits Will allow shortfall of 1 graded credit during transition – Cannot do anything about total credit requirements

8. Types of Classes (MS students) Foundational Core Classes - 6xxx (see list) Applied Core Classes – 5xxx or 6xxx (see list) Primarily Undergrad Courses – 5xxx, 2 credits – Meets with a 3 credit 3xxx course – Mostly for making up deficiencies in background Other 5000 and 6000 level letter graded courses – 5xx9 replaces 788s, research-oriented but letter graded Research Credits – 888s replaced by 6xx9 – Independent Study (793) is now 8193 – 999s for MS students - 6998 and 6999

9. The Graduate (Foundational) Core Quarter System 5 classes form the graduate core – 725 (Theory of Computation) – 755 (Programming Languages) – 760 (Advanced Operating Systems) – 775 (Computer Architecture) – 780 (Algorithms) 3 credits each, each offered 2-3 times a year

10. MS Foundational Core in Quarters Must finish 3 foundational classes – Must include 780 – Must include at least one of 760 and 780 Masters comprehensive examination based on above – All non-thesis option students – 3 exams, 90 minutes each, offered twice a year

11. Foundational Core in Semesters Each Core Class Extended to be 3 Semester Credits – CSE 6321 - Theory – CSE 6331 - Algorithms – CSE 6341 - PL – CSE 6421 - Architecture – CSE 6431 – OS All MS Students Need to Take – CSE 6331 (Algorithms) – CSE 6321 (Theory) OR CSE 6341 (PL) – CSE 6421 (Architecture) OR CSE 6431 (OS) Masters Comprehensive: 2 hour exam in each area (6 hours total, over 1 ½ days)

12. Timing for Comprehensive Exmas August (2012 onwards) – Just before Fall Classes start March (2013 onwards) – During spring break (middle of spring semester) 2 days, 3 2-hour exams (August 2013 onwards) – Day 1 morning, Day 1 afternoon, Day 2 morning

13. Transition Plan for Foundational Core and Masters Examination Need 3 core classes – semester or quarter – Won’t enforce `theory or pl’ requirement during transition MS comps will follow old format for August 2012, March 2013 – 5 90 minute exams, take exam in 3 areas – Exams based on material covered in quarter courses Transition to New Format in August 2013 – 3 2-hour exams, based on semester courses – Can’t take both os and architecture any more – Best to be done before that!

14. Applied Core  Quarters: 6 classes in the list  3 or 4 credits each  Thesis students need 2, non-thesis need 3  Semester: 6 classes from the same areas  AI, High Performance, Graphics, Networking, DB, Compilers  All 3 credits each  See MS Program Document for Course numbers  Thesis students need 1, non-thesis need 2

15. Applied Core Transition Rules A 4 quarter credit class counts as 1 class in semester system – 681 or 756 A 3 quarter credit class counts as 0.67 class in semester system If graduating in a semester term, follow semester rules – 2 applied core (calculated above) for non-thesis – 1 applied core (calculated above) for non-thesis

16. Primarily Undergrad Courses 9 classes in quarters system – 616, 625, 630, 655, 660, 670, 675, 677, 680, – Can count at most 3 for MS degree 11 classes in semester system – See program document for numbers – 2 credit classes (a 2 credit 5xxx class meets with a 3 credit 3xxx or 2xxx class) – At most 6 credits or 3 classes Transition Rule: 3 classes at most (quarter or semester) from the group

17. Non-CSE Classes Limit of 9 credits in quarters Limit of 6 credits in semesters Must be on topics closely related to CSE – Check with advisor first! Transition Rule: At most 6 semester credits equivalent

18. Masters Examination Thesis Option – Thesis defense, no change in format/procedure Comprehensive Exams for Non-Thesis – See earlier slides Masters Examination for Project – See later slides for a new option

19. Project Option Quarter – 6 S/U credits over 2 terms – A 3-4 page project report – Must still take MS comprehensive exam Semester – 6 S/U credits over 2 terms – A 6-8 page project report – Might be able to take MS Examination in a different format (See Next Slide)

20. Project Option MS Exam (New) Only if you have a B average in core classes You take MS Examination Based on Project – Skip written comprehensive exam – A longer project report 10 single spaced pages – Form a committee with at least 2 CSE Faculty Including your project supervisor – Have a 1 hour oral examination Presentation and Q/A

21. Clarification/Questions Documents Your academic advisor Please do not e-mail me or ask to meet me – 350 graduate students to be managed in 10% of my time !! – Already dealing with 2300 grad program related e-mails annually – before semester conversion!! – I can answer clarification questions if approached by your advisor!