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The Software Engineering Program for the MS in Computer and Information Sciences is designed to build upon a computing bachelor's degree program which has substantial content in software development. Core content for the program emphasizes hands-on software engineering as practiced in this day and time. Additional coursework in software engineering assures depth in one or more subject areas. Experience in the practice of software engineering is emphasized by participation in a "real-world" supervised group project. Overall mastery of the discipline is demonstrated by submission of a Masters thesis.

Software Engineering 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.

Core Requirement: (12 hours)
CEN 6016: Engineering of Software I
CEN 6017: Engineering of Software II
CEN 6070: Software Quality Assurance and Testing
COP 6711: Database Engineering and Administration

Major: (9 hours)
select 3 from among:
CAP 6100: Interface Design and Implementation
CDA 6011: Web Engineering
CIS 6302: Distributed and Internet Systems
CDA 6506: Network Architecture & Client/Server Computing
CIS 6101: Software Processes and Metrics
CIS 6516: Managing Software Projects and Personnel
COP 6735: Developments in Database Structures

Practicum: (3 hours)
"real-world" supervised group project
CEN 6940: Software Engineering Practicum

Elective:
select 2 (6-8 hours) or
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.

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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