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. A grade of "B" or better for each course is required.
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 MSCS 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.
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 in C++ | 3 |
| CS | 5223 | Computer Architecture | 3 |
| CS | 5243 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CS | 5424 | Mathematical Structures for Computer Science | 4 |
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 | 6643 | Issues in Information Management | 3 | |
| SE | 6743 | Object-Oriented Analysis and Design | 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 | 7701-7703* | Master's Project | 1 to 3 |
| CS | 7801-7803* | Master's Thesis | 1 to 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 MSCS may be used.
Note: A maximum of 9 semester hours of work from transfer credit or credit by examination may be counted toward the degree.