COMPUTER SCIENCE
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Contact: Graduate Program Director
Application Deadlines:
For domestic classified status, the deadline is approximately a month before the start of classes (Definite dates are on the application itself). International students, please see the FAQs #16 for your deadline. NOTE: If you are a new graduate student and you intend to apply for a Competitive Graduate Award (CGA), the deadline for having all of your application materials turned in moves up to January 15th. If you apply for the CGA but your SIUE application is incomplete, your application for the Competitive Graduate Award will be removed from consideration.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
The Department of Computer Science in the School of Engineering offers a Master of Science degree in Computer Science. The CS program embodies both applied and theoretical components, but focuses solidly on applied areas of computer science such as software engineering, computer system architectures, data communications, computer networks, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence. The program is designed to meet the needs of both full-time and part-time students. In order to accommodate those students that work full time, all core courses and the majority of elective courses are offered in the evening. In addition, some electives are also offered on line.
Students who complete the degree program will be prepared for positions such as software developer, consultant, systems programmer, project leader, application software specialist or for advanced graduate work.
In addition to the master’s degree, the CS program offers specialized course sequences for those who are not pursing an advanced degree, but wish to update their knowledge of computing in specific areas.
ADMISSION
The requirements for admission to the graduate major in computer science are:
1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. An undergraduate major in science, engineering, mathematics, or computing is desirable, but individuals with other backgrounds who are interested in the program are invited to discuss their career objectives with the program director.
2. An undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 (A=4.0) or above.
3. GRE general test scores taken within 5 years from the term for which admission is sought. An applicant should have a minimum of 650/800 in the Quantitative section. Under some circumstances this requirement may be waived in lieu of extensive work experience in the computer science field. To apply for a GRE waiver, an applicant should submit letters of recommendation and evidence of work experience in the field. Completion of prerequisite and required courses with grades of B or better within two years prior to the term for which admission is sought may also be considered in place of the GRE scores as supporting eligibility to enter the program.
4. An international applicant whose native language is not English is required to demonstrate adequate proficiency in English. Applicant should have scored at least 550 on the TOEFL paper exam with a minimum of 50th percentile in all three sections or at least 217 on the TOEFL computer exam. TOEFL scores older than two years from the term for which the admission is sought are not valid.
5. Submission of a statement detailing the applicant’s background and career plans to the CS Graduate Program Director, Campus Box 1656, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), Edwardsville, IL 62026.
PREREQUISITE COURSES
Students entering the program will need the specific background detailed below. Normally a grade of B or above is required in each of the prerequisite courses. For those students who do not have all of the necessary background, some of the prerequisite courses may be completed after enrolling in the program. Students who have completed these courses but received their undergraduate degree from a non-ABET-accredited program will be required to take CS 501. Please note that none of the prerequisite courses actually count toward the MS in CS.
Proficiency in CS Courses:
C++ Language CS 140, CS 150, and CS 240
Algorithms and Data Structures CS 340
Computer Organization CS 312
Operating Systems CS 314
Math Courses
Calculus I MATH 150
Discrete Mathematics MATH 224
Two Additional Math Courses Selected from: Calculus II (MATH 152), Linear Algebra (MATH 321), Statistics (STAT 244), Combinatorics and Graph Theory (MATH 423), or other approved courses
PROGRAM OF STUDY
The program requires 34 semester hours and consists of four core courses and completion of either a Thesis option, a MS Project, or passing of the Final Exam. The Thesis option requires six elective courses with 6 semester hours of thesis. The MS Project option reguires seven elective courses and 3 semester hours of MS project. The Final Exam option requires eight elective courses and successfully passing the Final Exam. At least 19 of the 34 hours must be 500-level courses or above. For the purposes of assessment, students are also expected complete 2 anonymous graduation surveys at the conclusion of their graduate program here. Students in the program must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 in all graduate courses. Any course in which a grade below C has been earned will not count toward the graduate degree.
Students in the program must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 in all graduate courses. Any course in which a grade below C has been earned will not count toward the graduate degree.
Core Courses (10 hours)
CS 456-3 Advanced Algorithms
CS 500-1 Graduate Seminar in Computer Science
CS 514-3 Operating Systems
CS 516-3 Computer Architecture
Elective Courses
Twenty-four (24) hours is required for the Final Exam option; 21 hours together with 3 hours of CS596 is required for the MS Project option; 18 hours together with 6 hours of CS 599 is required for the Thesis option . Up to 6 hours of courses not listed below may be taken for graduate credit with the approval of the CS Program Director.
CS Elective Courses:
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 535-3 Software Engineering
CS 547-3 Network Programming
CS 550-3 Object Oriented Design and Programming
CS 582-3 Advanced 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 Topics in Computer Science
CS 595-3 Independent Study
CS 596-3 MS Project
CS 599-6 MS Thesis
A student may take two elective courses (see list below) from outside the CS department. He/she can take an additional outside elective if the course is considered part of the concentration as approved by the graduate program director.
Other Elective Courses:
ECE 438-3 Computer Vision
ECE 439-3 Digital Image Processing
ECE 577-3 Advanced Network Engineering
ECE 592-3 Topics in Electrical Engineering
CMIS 540-3 Management of Information Systems Development
CMIS 565-3 Oracle Database Administration
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Thesis Option
The thesis will normally be completed during the last semester or two in the program, but selection of the advisory committee and the approval of thesis proposal must be completed before the final semester. The final examination will include an oral presentation of the thesis and an oral examination on the thesis conducted by the advisory committee.
Non-thesis Option
Students must complete one of the following two options:
A. Final Exam – This is a non credit exam, given once each semester (fall and spring), for students who have completed at least 21 hours of graduate credit. Refer to the Final Exam Guideline for additional information.
B. MS Project (CS596) – This is a 3 credit hour elective course whose oral exam will serve as the MS exit exam. Please refer to the MS project document for additional information.
COMBINED PROGRAM LEADING TO BACHELOR OF SCIENCE / MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE (3 + 2 program)
The Department of Computer Science offers a five-year program leading to the Bachelor of Science (BS) and the Master of Science (MS) degrees. Undergraduates with senior level status (at least 90 semester hours) and a grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) overall may be admitted to the BS-MS program. They may then take 35 semester hours of graduate level courses (400- and 500-level) during their combined senior and graduate years. An application for degree-seeking status as a graduate student must be approved by the Graduate School and the Graduate Committee in Computer Science following the procedures described under “Admission.” A program outline must also be submitted for approval by Graduate Records and the director of the graduate program in computer science prior to enrollment in any courses to be included as a part of the master’s program. Official admission to the program and to status as a classified graduate student is made only after the award of the baccalaureate degree. In no case will a graduate degree be conferred before all requirements for both degrees have been completed.
