Oct 15, 2024  
2017-2018 Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Computer Science and Information Systems (MS)


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Director: Dr. Michael E. Farmer
Program Manager: Susan Visser

Program Faculty: Professor Michael E. Farmer; Associate Professors Murali Mani, Stephen W. Turner, Suleyman Uludag; Assistant Professors Amal Alhosban, Mark Allison, Zahid Syed, Charlotte Tang Emeritus Associate Professor R. Shantaram

Program Mission

The mission of the Computer Science and Information Systems (MS)  program is to provide a solid understanding of the principles of computers and computing, not only in the context of problem solving, but also in technical support, education and training, and software/hardware management. Given a real world problem, the student should be able to understand the problem, analyze it, design a solution, and implement it on a computer with the tools available. The program has two concentrations; (i) Computer Science and (ii) Information Systems. The Information Systems concentration has two tracks; (i) Business Information Systems and (ii) Health Information Systems. The goal of the Computer Science concentration is to provide students with a thorough understanding of the theory and applications of traditional computer science. The goal of the Information Systems concentration is to provide students with a blend of computer science theory and business theory and applications.

Assessment

The program participates in the University-wide effort to assess its academic programs. Information on Assessment plans, including goals, methods and outcomes is available at http://www.umflint.edu/assessment.

Admission to the Program

The program has a rolling admissions policy, meaning that a student can apply at any time and be notified of admission within 2-4 weeks. The application deadline is August 15 for the following Fall term and December 1 for the following Winter term. Conditional admission may be granted. Application forms may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Programs.

Admission Criteria

  1. Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems or Computer Engineering from an accredited institution. Candidates with undergraduate degrees in these fields will be required to complete courses from the prerequisite list if they have not taken the equivalent courses in their undergraduate programs. Candidates with other undergraduate degrees are referred to the Fast Track description.
  2. Three letters of recommendation.
  3. Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale.
  4. Written statement indicating personal goals for graduate study.

Fast Track

For students with bachelor’s degrees in non-computer science disciplines, the department offers an accelerated “Fast Track” program consisting of the prerequisite courses listed below, assuming prior programming experience.  It consists of typically five courses, allowing students from any background to prepare themselves for success in the MS CSIS program coursework.  Students who do not possess a BS in a technical field, but rather a liberal arts or business field may be required to take some additional math and programming courses to prepare them for the rigors of the masters-level courses.  Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in each Fast Track course and must maintain a B (3.0) or better cumulative grade point average in all Fast Track courses.

Cyber-Classroom

Our program offers a truly unique and exciting educational experience through our newly developed multi-media cyber-classroom, which captures the entire classroom experience.  Coupled with our Blackboard® on-line content management software, it allows each student in our computer science and information systems classes to tailor their education from a completely virtual, on-line learning experience to a completely in-class, on-campus experience.

The Computer Science concentration of the Computer Science and Information Systems program can be completed entirely on-line.  Students will be limited to a maximum of 9 credit hours each semester.

Some courses in the Information Systems concentration are taken through the School of Management, which offers courses completely on-campus or in a “mixed-mode” format, which are on-line courses with on-campus residencies at UM-Flint on a Friday and Saturday every 6 weeks throughout the semester.  Additionally, distance learners have the option to take the minimum required 6 credit hours of Information Systems courses through another university and transfer those credits into the program with departmental approval to facilitate fully on-line learning.  Students will be limited to a maximum of 9 credit hours each semester amongst all of these course designations.

Academic Rules and Regulations

See College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)  and Graduate Study  for rules and regulations pertaining to all College of Arts and Sciences graduate programs.

Prerequisites


B. Programming


A minimum of eight (8) credits of programming courses.  Students may be required to take a programming proficiency test and, based on its score, take 3 credits of:

Requirements, Computer Science Concentration


The Computer Science concentration consists of 30 credits.  Students are limited to a maximum of 9 credits in fall and winter semesters and 6 credits in spring and summer semesters amongst all of these course designations.

B. Additional CSC/CIS Courses (12 credits)


  • Four additional 500-level CSC or CIS courses, with a minimum of 6 credits in CSC courses.

C. Option of Choice (6 credits)


One of the following options:

Thesis Option


Six additional credits in thesis research, consisting of a research project with a final thesis paper and an oral defense.  Note: No independent study courses are allowed toward program requirements under the thesis option.

Non-Thesis Option


Six additional credits in elective graduate-level CSC courses and satisfactory performance on the Master’s level exit examination.  Note: At most one independent study course is allowed toward program requirements under the non-thesis option. 

Requirements, Information Systems Concentration


The Information Systems concentration requires a total of 30 credits consisting of a blend of computer science, information systems, and management or health profession courses.  Students are limited to a maximum of 9 credits in fall and winter semesters and 6 credits in spring and summer semesters amongst all of these course designations.

B. Additional CSC/CIS Courses (9 credits)


Three additional CIS and/or CSC courses at the 500 level, excluding:

C. Track of Choice (9 credits)


One of the following tracks:

D. Option of Choice (6 credits)


One of the following options:

Thesis Option


Six additional credits in thesis research, consisting of a research project with a final thesis paper and an oral defense.  Note: No independent study courses are allowed toward program requirements under the thesis option.

Non-Thesis Option


Six additional credits in elective graduate-level CSC and CIS courses, excluding below, and satisfactory performance on the Master’s level exit examination.  Note: At most one independent study course is allowed toward program requirements under the non-thesis option. 

Transfer of Credit


With approval of the CSIS Graduate Committee, students may transfer in, or elect as a graduate non-candidate for degree (NCFD), up to six credits of graduate-level courses in computer science and information systems.

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