School of Computer and Information Sciences Graduate Program Orientation University of South Alabama

1
School of Computer and Information
SciencesGraduate Program Orientation University
of South Alabama

• David L. Feinstein, Ph.D.
• Dean, School of CIS
• R. J. Daigle, Ph.D.
• Director of CIS Graduate Studies
• Information Systems Coordinator
• M. V. Doran, Ph.D.
• Computer Science Coordinator
• J. Harold Pardue, Ph.D.
• Information Systems Advisor
• David Langan, Ph.D.
• Computer Science Advisor
• Ms. Melissa Smith
• Internship Coordinator

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Two CIS Specializations (Majors)

• Computer Science (CSC)
• for students interested in the theoretical
  aspects of the discipline with an emphasis on the
  construction of system software or the
  development of scientific applications using
  software engineering principles.
• Coordinator Dr. Michael V. Doran
• Advisor Dr. David Langan
• Information Systems (ISC)
• for students interested in business and
  organizational applications and information
  systems management
• Coordinator Dr. R. J. Daigle
• Advisor Dr. J. Harold Pardue

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What you should know about...the Computer
Science major

• What is Computer Science all about?
• What kind of projects do Computer Science majors
  work on?

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What should you know about the Information
Systems major

• What is Information Systems all about?
• What kind of projects do Information Systems
  majors work on?

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The choice of a major you make today is important!

• Not all core courses in CSC (ISC) may be used as
  electives in ISC (CSC) respectively

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The choice of a major you make today is important!

• If you decide to change after one semester,
• Prerequisites to the major are not the sameyour
  transcripts will be re-evaluated for prerequisite
  and CIS foundation courses for the new major
• Only one ISC core course can be used as an
  elective in the CSC curriculum
• No CSC core courses can be used as an elective in
  the ISC curriculum
• All course grades will be applied to determine
  your GPA and graduate status
• This could result in more time and greater cost
  for your degree!

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The choice of a major you make today is important!

• Former students can give you information about
  what they like and what has been useful for them.
  You are not same as those who have come before
  you!
• Its your future!

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Overview Placement

• Individual Student Graduate Study Plan consists
  of
• Pre-Graduate Program Requirements
• (Hour requirement varies according to prior
  academic work)
• Placement Areas
• CIS Foundation Courses
• Course placement is according to review of
  academic work in Computing
• Required/Supporting Courses
• Course placement is according to review of
  academic work in Mathematics, Statistics,
  Business Grad Specialization
• Graduate Program (36 Semester Hours)
• Core Courses
• Required Courses
• Plan of Study Thesis, Project, Course-Only
• Electives

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Required/Supporting Courses

• Computer Science
• Calculus I and II
• (MA 125, 126)
• Discrete Mathematics (MA 267)
• Statistics
• (ST 315)

• Information Systems
• Discrete Mathematics or Survey of Calculus
• (MA 267 or MA 120)
• Organization Behavior
• (MGT 320)
• Business Management Elective (Approval Required)
• Two semesters equivalence of Applied Statistics

Required/Supporting courses prescribed as needed
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Core Courses

• Computer Science
• CORE
• CSC 520
• Computer Architecture
• CSC 522
• Performance Evaluation of Algorithms
• CSC 525
• Complexity Theory
• CSC 527
• Software Engineering

• Information Systems
• CORE
• ISC 551
• Human Computer Interface Design
• ISC 560
• IS Analysis and Design
• ISC 561
• IS Database Management
• ISC 565
• Project Change Management

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Rest of the Courses

• Computer Science
• Required
• CIS 518
• CIS Research Methods
• Electives
• 7 approved electives
• Comprehensive Examination on CORE
• Thesis or Project oral exam
• Course Only written examination

• Information Systems
• Required
• CIS 518 CIS Research Methods
• ISC 559 Apps Design Implementation
• ISC 545 Management Info Systems
• ISC 567 IS Function Integration
• Electives
• 4 approved electives
• Comprehensive Examination on CORE
• Thesis or Project oral exam
• Course Only written examination

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Our Expectations of CIS Graduate Students

• Professional Attitude and Pride
• Higher Expectations for Quality of Work
• Assignments professional looking and on time
• Attendanceon time from the first day
• Self-Motivated
• Development of Individual Creativity, Knowledge,
  and Skills
• Responsible, Dependable, Honest, Trustworthy in
  interactions with CIS Faculty, Staff, and fellow
  students
• Professional and Academic Integrity

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Status and Performance Information

• Admission statushow you were accepted into the
  program
• Regular
• Provisional
• Reviewed after 9-15 graduate cis courses
• Must have a GPA in graduate courses in the
  program gt 3.0 or dismissed
• Academic Status
• ProbationGPA is lt 3.0
• If Regular Statustwo semesters to remove
  probation or dismissed.
• If Provisional StatusMust have a GPA in graduate
  courses in the program gt 3.0 or dismissed
• Prerequisites and foundation courses
• Do not count towards degree
• Do count towards probation
• CORE courses
• Must be completed with a minimum grade of B
• Must be completed before comprehensive examination

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What you should know about Advising/Registration

• Advising is
• Deciding
• Which semester should a course be taken?
• What are some good supporting electives for your
  special interests
• Mandatory
• Spring advising occurs during the Fall semester
• Summer Fall advising occurs during the Spring
  Semester
• Registration blocks are set automatically each
  semester
• Registration
• is done through PAWS
• PAWS can also give you advising information
  through the Degree Audit option.

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What you should know about Student Advising
Responsibilities

• Study the catalog for specialization requirements
• contains descriptions of all programs and
• all courses in all programs
• Online at http//www.southalabama.edu/bulletin/
• Prepare a plan for completing your degree
• Visit the School of CIS advising web page
• http//www.cis.usouthal.edu/advising.php
• Use the long-range planning document and adjust
  the plan each semester as necessary
• http//www.cis.usouthal.edu/advising_old/long.html
  
• Focus on CORE courses
• Grade of B is required
• Knowledge of rotation of courses
• http//www.cis.usouthal.edu/Rotation.pdf
• I didnt know it was required!
• will NOT help you graduate

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Contact Us!Main Office Phone [phone]

• Dean David L. Feinstein
• dfeinstein_at_usouthal.edu
• Graduate Program or Information Systems
• Roy Daigle rdaigle_at_usouthal.edu
• Computer Science
• Michael Doran mdoran_at_usouthal.edu
• Graduate Advising
• Computer Science
• David Langan dlangan_at_usouthal.edu
• Information Systems
• Harold Pardue hpardue_at_usouthal.edu

• School of CIS
• http//www.cis.usouthal.edu
• University of South Alabama
• http//www.usouthal.edu or
• http//www.southalabama.edu
• Graduate Assistantships
• Dr. Daigle (rdaigle_at_usouthal.edu) or
• Dr. Doran (mdoran_at_usouthal.edu)
• Internships
• Ms. Melissa Smith (msmith_at_usouthal.edu) or
• Dr. Feinstein (dfeinstein_at_usouthal.edu)
• Work Study
• Ms. Kathy Ford (kford_at_usouthal.edu)

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Contact Us!Main Office Phone [phone]

• Dean David L. Feinstein
• dfeinstein_at_usouthal.edu
• Graduate Program or Information Systems Roy
  Daigle
• rdaigle_at_usouthal.edu
• Information Systems Advising
• Harold Pardue hpardue_at_usouthal.edu
• Computer Science Michael Doran
• mdoran_at_usouthal.edu
• Computer Science Advising
• David Langan dlangan_at_usouthal.edu
• School of Computer and Information Sciences
• http//www.cis.usouthal.edu
• University of South Alabama
• http//www.usouthal.edu or
• http//www.southalabama.edu