1. M.S in CS Introduction & more How do I select a concentration area? by Xudong Yu What is a concentration area? What is a topic paper? Thesis...is that hard? 500 vs. 400 level classes? How many hours do I need to graduate? Is my thesis really worth 7 hours? Who is my advisor? When should I start my thesis? How do I start my thesis? Why did the graduate student cross the road? What concentration areas are available? How do I apply for an assistantship? What GPA must I maintain? Where can I park?

2. Not that I’m in, how do I get out? What courses should I take? Are there any new courses to take? What is a Course Concentration and how do I get one? What is a Topic Paper and how do I complete it? So there are two options, Thesis and Non-Thesis, how do I decide which one to do? What is a Graduate Portfolio?

3. What courses should I take? Everyone needs 35 hours to graduate. Required courses: –CS 456 Advanced Algorithms (Spring & Fall) –CS 500 Graduate Seminar (Fall) –CS 516 Advanced Computer Architecture (Fall) –CS 514 Advanced Operating Systems (Spring) –CS 598 Topic Paper (Independent, any time) Elective Courses –24 Hours –12 Hours must be at the 500 Level

4. CS 423-3 Compiler Construction CS 434-3 Database Management Systems CS 438-3 Artificial Intelligence CS 447-3 Networks and Data Communications CS 454-3 Theory of Computation CS 482-3 Computer Graphics CS 525-3 Principles of Simulation CS 530-3 Software and Systems Management CS 534-3 Advanced Database Systems CS 535-3 Advanced Software Engineering CS 547-3 Network Programming CS 550-3 Object Oriented Design CS 565-3 Numerical Computation CS 582-3 Topics in Computer Graphics CS 583-3 Topics in Programming Languages CS 584-3 Topics in Artificial Intelligence CS 587-3 Topics in Computer Networking CS 590-3 Seminar in Computer Science CS 595-3 Independent Study

5. Can I take courses not on this list? Yes, two possibilities: –You can take two of the following courses: ECE 438 – Image Analysis & Computer Vision (~5 slots) ECE 439 – Digital Image Processing (~5 slots) ECE 577 – Advanced Network Engineering (10-15 slots) CMIS540 – Management of IS Development (5 slots) CMIS565 – Oracle Database Administration (10-15 slots) –You can take one additional courses from the above list if it is approved by your graduate program director as part of your Course Concentration.

6. Are there any new CS courses to take? Spring 2008 –CS 423: Compiler Design –CS 584: Topics in AI – Machine Learning –CS 590-02: Visual Analytics

7. What is a Course Concentration and how do I get one? Three elective courses that are related to an area of study or research. Intent is to give you a deep understanding of one area that you can do your Topic Paper and/or Thesis in. You are encouraged (but not required) to do a topic paper in your area of concentration. A Concentration Area must be approved by one faculty member and the Graduate Director (Forms available in the office).

8. Concentrations Currently Available Area1 st Course2 nd and 3 rd Courses (Semesters currently offered) Networks and Data Communications CS 447 (F & S) (Fall & Spring) 2 of the following CS 547 (F), CS 587 (S), ECE 577 – Advanced Network (S) Software Engineering CS 535 (F)2 of the following CS 530 (S), CS 550 (S), CMIS515 (F & S) Artificial Intelligence: Robotics CS 438 (S)2 of the following (1 must be Robotics): Machine Learning (F), Data Mining (F), Robotics (F) Computer Gaming (S), CS 584 - Expert Systems (Su), Artificial Intelligence: Machine Learning CS 438 (S)2 of the following: CS 567 - Expert Systems (Su), Machine Learning (F), Data Mining (F), Computer Graphics/ Imagine Processing CS 482 (F)2 of the followings: Virtual Reality (S), Computer Gaming (F), Image Processing (F), CS 582, ECE 438 – Digital Image Processing (S), ECE 439 – Computer Vision (F) DatabaseCS 434 (S)2 of the following (1 must be CS534): Expert Systems (Su), Machine Learning (F), Data Mining (F), CMIS 565 – Oracle Database Administration, CS534 Database: Data Mining CS 434 (S) 2 of the following (1 must be Data Mining/Machine Learning): CS 567 - Expert Systems (Su), CMIS 565 – Oracle AB ADM Machine Learning (F), Data Mining (F), Computation and Simulation CS 456 (S)2 from the following (1 must be 500 level) CS 454, CS 404, CS 525, CS 565,

9. Faculty’s Area of Interest Faculty MemberAreas of Interest Dr. Daniel DoolyLearning Theory, Machine Learning, Algorithms and Complexity Dr. Dennis J Bouvier Psychology of Programming, Scientific and Information Visualization Human Computer Interaction, Bioinformatics Dr. Bryon Ehlmann Object-Oriented Databases, Data Models, Software Engineering, Scientific Databases, Computer-Human Interactions Dr. Hiroshi Fujinoki Communication Networks, Operating Systems, Graph Theory Dr. Jerry WeinbergArtificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Mobile Robotics, Robotics in Education, HCI Dr. William WhiteComputer Graphics, Virtual Environments, Data Communications Dr. Trong WuPetri Nets, Numeric Computation, Simulation and Modeling, Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining, Computer System Performance Evaluation, Ada Programming Language Dr. Xudong YuArtificial Intelligence, Knowledge-Based Systems, Data Mining, Database

10. What is a Course Concentration and how do I get one? Examples –Andrew CS 490 Mobile Robotics, ECE 438 Digital Image Processing, ECE 538 Computer Vision Topic Paper/Thesis: Filtering Transient Objects to Improve Robot Localization in High Traffic Areas –Naveen Veluri CS447, CS587, ECE577 Topic Paper/Thesis: TBA

11. What is a Topic Paper and how do I complete it? A research paper that covers either –current and specific area of research interest in computer science, or –a new technology development (not necessarily research) topic, beyond what is already covered in class Demonstrates that you have an understanding of the topic and illustrate with your own examples. Includes an extensive literature survey with sufficient number of referred paper (see Topic Paper Guideline)

12. What is a Topic Paper and how do I complete it? Write a brief description of what you plan to cover in your topic paper and create a title. Ask a CS professor to approve your topic paper subject and to serve as your committee chair. Find two additional faculty members who will serve on your advisory committee. Sign-up for CS 598

13. What is a Topic Paper and how do I complete it? Start your topic paper the next to last semester (not the last one!) Work with your committee chair to develop the paper. Upon completion of your topic paper, you will be required to do an oral examination on your topic paper.

14. So there are two options, Thesis and Non-Thesis, how do I decide which one to do? Non-Thesis: Do 6 additional credits of graduate course work Thesis: Do 6 credits of research –Interested in independent work –Interested in publishing –Interested in attending a conference –Interested in pursuing a Ph.D.

15. Any questions?