January 4, 2005 1

School of Computer and Information Sciences

Graduate Program Orientation University of South Alabama

David L. Feinstein, Ph.D.Dean, School of CIS

R. J. Daigle, Ph.D.Director of CIS Graduate StudiesInformation 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 SmithInternship Coordinator

January 4, 2005 3

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?

January 4, 2005 4

What should you know about… the Information Systems majorWhat is Information Systems all about?

What kind of projects do Information Systems majors work on?

January 4, 2005 5

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

January 4, 2005 6

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 same—your

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!

January 4, 2005 7

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!

It’s your future!

January 4, 2005 8

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

January 4, 2005 10

Core CoursesComputer ScienceCORE CSC 520

Computer Architecture CSC 522:

Performance Evaluation of Algorithms

CSC 525: Complexity Theory

CSC 527: Software Engineering

Information SystemsCORE ISC 551:

Human Computer Interface Design

ISC 560: IS Analysis and Design

ISC 561: IS Database Management

ISC 565: Project & Change Management

January 4, 2005 11

Rest of the CoursesComputer 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 SystemsRequired 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

January 4, 2005 12

Our Expectations of CIS Graduate Students

Professional Attitude and Pride Higher Expectations for Quality of Work Assignments: professional looking and on time Attendance—on time from the first day

Self-MotivatedDevelopment of Individual Creativity, Knowledge, and SkillsResponsible, Dependable, Honest, Trustworthy in interactions with CIS Faculty, Staff, and fellow studentsProfessional and Academic Integrity

January 4, 2005 13

Status and Performance Information

Admission status—how 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 >= 3.0 or dismissed

Academic Status Probation—GPA is < 3.0 If Regular Status—two semesters to remove probation or dismissed. If Provisional Status—Must have a GPA in graduate courses in the program

>= 3.0 or dismissedPrerequisites 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

January 4, 2005 14

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.

January 4, 2005 15

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 didn’t know it was required!” will NOT help you graduate

January 4, 2005 16

Contact Us!Main Office Phone: (251) 460-6390Dean: David L. Feinstein dfeinstein@usouthal.edu

Graduate Program or Information Systems: Roy Daigle

rdaigle@usouthal.eduComputer Science: Michael Doran

mdoran@usouthal.eduGraduate Advising: Computer Science

David Langan dlangan@usouthal.edu

Information Systems Harold Pardue

hpardue@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@usouthal.edu) or Dr. Doran

(mdoran@usouthal.edu)Internships:

Ms. Melissa Smith (msmith@usouthal.edu) or

Dr. Feinstein (dfeinstein@usouthal.edu)

Work Study: Ms. Kathy Ford

(kford@usouthal.edu)

January 4, 2005 17

Contact Us!Main Office Phone: (251) 460-6390

Dean: David L. Feinsteindfeinstein@usouthal.eduGraduate Program or Information Systems: Roy Daiglerdaigle@usouthal.eduInformation Systems Advising: Harold Pardue hpardue@usouthal.edu

Computer Science: Michael Doranmdoran@usouthal.eduComputer Science Advising:

David Langan dlangan@usouthal.eduSchool of Computer and Information Sciences:http://www.cis.usouthal.eduUniversity of South Alabama:http://www.usouthal.edu or http://www.southalabama.edu