Although no specific undergraduate major is required, applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited school. Preferred (but not required) for admission is some relevant work experience. Students will be admitted only if their academic accomplishments, work experience, and motivation predict the ability to complete the program successfully. (See the admissions requirements section of this catalog for specific admissions information and transfer of credit policies). Students with baccalaureate degrees from Southern Polytechnic State University should receive approval before taking graduate courses with content similar to that of undergraduate classes they have taken. Students may include a graduate course approved in advance that is taken in another department at S.P.S.U. or at another institution while admitted to this program. (Additional regulations about joint enrollment or transient status may apply).
The requirements are 36 hours of graduate work as designated below. Only grades of 'C' or better may be applied to meet the degree requirements (including transition coursework). An overall GPA of 3.0 ("B") or better is required over all graduate coursework attempted. A maximum of 2 'C's at the level of 6000 or above may be applied if offset by the same number or more of 'A's at the level of 6000 or above.
Students applying to the program who do not have a degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering may be accepted conditionally. Upon acceptance the student's transcripts will be evaluated by the admissions committee. If the committee determines necessary prerequisite courses the student must take before being fully admitted into the Master's Program, the student will be admitted with Conditionally Matriculated status. The required prerequisite courses are listed on the student's conditional acceptance letter and are required to make up deficiencies in the student's academic background. Upon completion of the prerequisite courses with a grade of "B" or better, the student will be fully admitted into the Computer Science program and eligible to register for regular Master's (6000 level) coursework. None of the prerequisite courses (5000 level) will count towards the Master's Program.
The department shall maintain a Graduate Student Handbook that reflects any updates that are effective since the publication of this catalog.
Transition Courses (none of these courses may be used to meet degree requirements)
| Hours | |||
| CS | 5123 | Advanced Programming and Data Structures | 3 |
| CS | 5153 | Database Systems | 3 |
| CS | 5183 | Object-Oriented Programming | 3 |
| CS | 5223 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CS | 5243 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CS | 5423 | Mathematical Structures for Computer Science | 3 |
Some students may need to start with the undergraduate Computer Science
I course.
Required Core Courses (18 hours)
| CS | 6023 | Research Methods and Presentations | 3 |
| CS | 6123 | Programming Language Concepts | 3 |
| CS | 6153 | Advanced Database Systems | 3 |
| CS | 6223 | Advanced Computer System Architecture | 3 |
| CS | 6423 | Algorithmic Processes | 3 |
| SE | 6623 | Software Engineering I | 3 |
Required Electives (one required from each group; 9 hours)
[SE 6743 may be used in at most one of the groups]
| a. | CS | 6323 | Human Factors | 3 |
| SE | 6743 | Object-Oriented Analysis and Design | 3 | |
| STS | 6643 | Issues in Information Management | 3 | |
| b. | CS | 6243 | Advanced Concepts in Operating Systems | 3 |
| CS | 6263 | Computer Networks | 3 | |
| CS | 6283 | Real-Time Systems | 3 | |
| c. | SE | 6723 | Software Engineering II | 3 |
| SE | 6743 | Object-Oriented Analysis and Design | 3 | |
| SE | 6883 | Formal Methods in Software Engineering | 3 |
Required: Project (3 hours) or Thesis (6 hours)
| CS | 7703* | Master's Project | 3 |
| CS | 7803* | Master's Thesis | 3 |
* May be repeated as needed. Usual enrollment is 3 hours at a time. Exactly 3 hours must be applied toward degree for project or 6 hours for thesis.
Electives:
The student may choose electives as needed to complete 36 hours. Any
CS/SE course at the 6000-level not taken to meet a requirement above but
approved by the department for the Computer Science program may be used.
Graduate Transition Certificate in Computer Science
The Graduate Transition Certificate in Computer Science prepares individuals
holding an accredited bachelor's degree in an area unrelated to computer
science and having an interest in computer science for Master's level computer
science programs or entry level positions in the industry. The focus is
on providing broad-based knowledge and skills. The required courses are
CS 5123, CS 5153, CS 5183, CS 5223, CS 5243, and CS 5423. Some knowledge
of programming (equivalent to CS 1301) and calculus are admission prerequisites.
Applicants with additional preparation may be allowed to substitute up
to two approved 6000-level courses for the same number of required courses.