CS Graduate Student Orientation

1
CS Graduate Student Orientation

• Welcome to EECS
• Abbreviated Whos Who
• Academic issues General
• Academic issues Termination
• MS and PhD requirements
• Important deadlines
• Helpful on-line resources
• Computer systems Labstaff

2
Abbreviated Whos Who

• Dr. Luther Wilhelm, EECS Interim Head
• Dr. Greg Peterson, EECS Graduate Chair
• Dr. Robert C Ward, CS PhD Admissions
• Dr. David Straight, CS MS Admissions GTAs
• Julia Elkins, CS Principal Secretary
• Dana Bryson, EECS Admin Support Secretary
• Dorsey Bottoms, EECS Accountant
• Randy Bond and many others, EECS Labstaff
• Plus many more faculty, staff and students

3
Academic Issues General

• Core courses 530, 560 and 580 or 581
• 530 Computer Systems Organization (fall)
• 560 Software Systems (spring)
• 580 Foundations (fall)
• 581 Algorithms (spring)
• Special topics courses (faculty research)
• Prerequisites must be followed
• CS credit for non-CS courses possible
• if pre-approved by Graduate Committee

4
Academic Issues Termination

• Any form of academic dishonesty
• Plagiarism (papers, software), cheating, etc
• Cumulative GPA
• Grades of D or F in 530, 560 or 580 and 581
• Grades of D or F in two or more grad courses
• PhD students insufficient progress
• Knowing the rules is your responsibility!

5
MS Specifics

• 30 credits required, max 6 credits at 400 level
• Option 1 24 course credits THESIS
• Option 2 30 course credits PILOT
• Option 3 30 course credits EXAM
• Committee advisor two other faculty
• If you fail either of the above you may switch to
  any of the other two. You can fail at most once.
  A second failed attempt leads to termination.

6
PhD Specifics

• MS degree required (or equivalent no. credits)
• 24 course credits, min 6 credits at 600 level
• Comprehensive exam written part (Sept)
• Material covered 530, 560, 580 or 581
• You may retake exam at most once
• Committee advisor three other faculty
• Comprehensive exam research proposal
• Dissertation (min 24 credits) plus defense

7
Important Deadlines

• Admission to Candidacy
• Must be filed prior to semester of graduation
• Comprehensive exam sign-up
• MS students late summer (Aug)
• PhD students late spring (May)
• Thesis/dissertation defense
• Approx. one month prior to commencement
• Knowing/meeting deadlines is your responsibility!

8
EECS Elec. Engr. Comp. Sci.

• CS and ECE merged to form new department
  effective July 1, 2007.
• Co-location planned for new building in 2010,
  sponsored by generous gift from Dr. Min Kao.
• Details of the merger are still to be worked out
  incl. course offerings and comprehensive exams.
• Note students can graduate under any catalog in
  effect up to six years prior to graduation.

9
Helpful On-line Resources

• CS Department http//www.cs.utk.edu
• Time tables, course information
• Announcements, event calendar
• Graduate Committee FAQ
• Graduate School http//web.utk.edu/gsinfo
• Deadlines, on-line forms
• Thesis/dissertation template files
• Graduate Catalog