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The Computer Science Program for the MS in Computer and Information Sciences is designed to add breadth and depth to a typical bachelor's degree program in computer science. Breadth must be demonstrated in the areas of computer networks, operating systems, algorithms, and databases. Depth must be accomplished in the areas of graphics/interfaces, networks, advanced systems, and data/language paradigms. Overall mastery of the discipline is demonstrated by submission of a Masters thesis.

Generally, the student should have selected their thesis advisor and committee byt the time of completion of 30 credit hours of the graduate course of study.


Computer Science Program Requirements

All course work applied to the student's program of study must be completed with grades of B or better. The overall graduate average at UNF must be 3.0 or higher for the degree to be awarded. The course CEN 6016: Engineering of Software I must be included on the program of study if the student's undergraduate coursework does not include a course equivalent to CIS 4251: Software Development.

Breadth Requirement: (0-12 hours)
Any of the following courses must be taken if its equivalent was not covered in undergraduate studies:
CNT 5505: Networks and Distributed Processing
    or COP 5819: Internet Programming
COP 5615: Operating Systems
COP 5716: Data Modeling and Performance
COT 5405: Algorithms and Complexity

Depth Requirement: (12 hours)
Select 1 of
CAP 6100: Interface Design and Implementation
CAP 6400: Graphics Image Recognition and Manipulation
Select 1 of
CNT 6707: Network Architecture & Client/Server Computing
CIS 6302: Distributed and Internet Systems
Select 1 of
COP 6611: Advanced Operating Systems
COP 6616: Parallel Computing
Select 1 of
COP 6735: Developments in Database Structures
COP 6557: Programming Language Design Paradigms

Major: (0-12 hours)
combined Breadth + Major must be at least 12 hours
select 0-4 from among:
CAP 6671: Intelligent Systems
CDA 6011: Web Engineering
Any course listed for the Depth Requirement, but not taken for that purpose

Elective:
select 2 (6-8 hours)
Chosen from among 5000/6000-level Computer and Information Sciences courses (subject to restrictions); with approval, up to 2 graduate courses supportive of the degree program may be transferred from elsewhere.

Note: CEN 6016: Engineering of Software I must be elected if the student's undergraduate coursework does not include a course equivalent to CIS 4251: Software Development.

Thesis: (6 hours):
The thesis requires that the student work under the direction of a thesis advisor drawn from the School of Computing graduate faculty. Normally, the student approaches a faculty member who has research interests in an area that the student is interested in. If the faculty member is willing to work with the student as thesis advisor, then the student and advisor identify a problem with research elements suitable for a Masters thesis and the student enrolls in the thesis course
CIS 6970: Thesis (3)
to develop the problem. The student reviews the work of others who have addressed elements of the thesis topic, preparing a short thesis prospectus which reviews this work and which describes the thesis problem. When the work has progressed sufficiently, the student and advisor identify two additional graduate faculty members to form a thesis committee. The student presents the prospectus to the thesis committee, which reviews the scope of the material and suggests ways to both focus and improve the thesis work. This may require 1 or more iterations before the thesis committee is satisfied. The student must prepare the thesis in accord with the School of Computing Thesis Guidelines and defend the thesis in a presentation attended by at least 5 members of the School of Computing graduate faculty.

The student must enroll for at least 6 hours of CIS 6970, and must enroll for any term in which actively working with the thesis advisor (including the term that the thesis is defended). Since thesis work is research-oriented, no set time for completion is stipulated, so students pursuing this option must discipline themselves to make proress without the help of defined milestones. Thesis work orients towards "proof of concept" software development rather than a defined deliverable, and is expected to advance the state of the discipline.

Course descriptions are included in the Graduate Course Descriptions.

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