Mar 29, 2024  
2016-2017 Supplemental Graduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Supplemental Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Computer Science and Information Technology - MCST


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Master of Science in Computer Science and Information Technology


Program Description

The graduate Computer Science and Information Technology (MCST) curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for careers involving the development and support of processes that utilize computer science and/or information technology. The MS in Computer Science and Information Technology curriculum provides students who seek a master’s degree in a technical field the benefit of completing a program designed with a unique pedagogic composition—the combination of a traditional computer science core with applied courses in information technology. This combination develops a skill set for the application of computer technology resources to solve a variety of information need problems. Additionally, this program develops communication and leadership skills required in the corporate/government sector.

Designed to satisfy the post baccalaureate development of working professionals, most courses are offered in the evening. The program is delivered on the campus of Winston-Salem State University in the Elva J. Jones Computer Science Building. This multi-million dollar computer science facility provides an ultramodern instructional infrastructure including: computing instruction laboratories, undergraduate and graduate specialized laboratories, cutting-edge research laboratories, departmental servers and control rooms, faculty and graduate assistant offices, and student study areas.

Mission

The mission of the Master of Science in Computer Science and Information Technology program is to prepare graduates for careers in computer science and information technology, including: systems development and support, consulting, network administration, database administration, and information resource management.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the MS in Computer Science and Information Technology program, students will exhibit the following student learning outcomes:

  • Graduates will show evidence of a strong foundation of core computer science knowledge, including architecture, operating systems, and algorithms;
  • Graduates will show evidence of mastery of graduate level concepts associated with a selected concentration in computer science or information technology;
  • Graduates will exhibit the ability to conduct an independent capstone activity that will produce an original work in the field (thesis for the computer science concentration or project for the information technology concentration).

Application Deadlines
 

The deadline for receipt of all application materials is June 1st for Fall semester admission and October 1st for Spring semester admission. International students’ must submit application materials one month prior to the published deadline shown above.

Transfer Credits

Subject to the approval of the Department of Computer Science, up to six (6) semester hours of graduate transfer credit may be applied toward the MS in Computer Science and Information Technology degree. Graduate transfer credit will only be granted for courses completed with a grade of “B” or better. Transfer credit should be requested upon admission to the program.

Degree/Option Requirements

The MS in Computer Science and Information Technology requires 30-33 hours. No minor is required. Students must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 (“B” average). No more than two grades of “C” may be earned in the program.

The MS in Computer Science and Information Technology students must select one of the following concentrations and the culminating activity (project, thesis, or exam) for that concentration:

Project Option: 33 credit hours

  • 9 semester hours (SH) of core courses
  • 9 SH of required information technology courses
  • 12 SH of elective courses
  • 3 SH of project work.

Thesis Option: 30 credit hours

  • 9 semester hours (SH) of core courses
  • 9 SH of required computer science courses
  • 6 SH of elective courses
  • 6 SH of thesis research

Exam Option: 33 credit hours

  • 9 semester hours (SH) of core courses
  • 9 SH of required courses in the concentration—computer science or information technology
  • 15 SH of elective courses
  • comprehensive exam

Time Limits for Completion

The MS in Computer Science and Information Technology program can be completed within two years of full-time study. A student may not take longer than six years to complete the curriculum.

Progression Requirements

Students in the MS in Computer Science and Information Technology program must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 (“B” average). No more than two grades of “C” may be earned in the program.

Core Courses
 

  

  

  

Required Courses for the Computer Science Concentration

  

  

  

Required Courses for the Information Technology Concentration

  

  

  

Electives

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Additional Electives

  

  

  

  

  

  

Foundation Elective Courses

These graduate level electives present content typically found in an undergraduate computer science program.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Admission Requirements

  • An earned baccalaureate degree in a related field from an accredited college or university. In lieu of a baccalaureate degree in a related field, evidence of prerequisite course work or equivalent experience in high-level programming, architecture, operating systems, and data structures
  • Official application and application fee (see graduate admissions for the current fee amount).
  • Official transcript from each institution where undergraduate or graduate work was completed
  • Official report of GRE scores—General exam.
  • International applicants must submit a Sponsor’s Affidavit, Financial Certification and an Intent to Enroll Form
  • Three sealed recommendation forms and/or letters (at least two from faculty and one from a practicing professional)
  • A written personal statement (essay describing professional goals, experience, and research interests)
  • Resume reflecting work relevant experience
  • Documentation of prior learning which satisfies program prerequisite knowledge (in lieu of prerequisite courses—for applicants who do not hold the BS in computer science)
  • International applicants whose native language is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 550. Non-native speakers of English with international transcripts, regardless of U.S. citizenship, must validate proficiency in the English language. Applicants may submit a satisfactory score on the TOEFL language proficiency test. The minimum required TOEFL score depends on the form of the exam taken (Internet based = 79, or paper based = 550). The language requirement also may be fulfilled by completion of INTERLINK, the intensive English language program, such as the one located on the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) (www.uncg.edu/ipg/interlink/) through Level 5. The English language proficiency requirement may be waived if the applicant is a graduate of a university in a country where English is the official language.
  • Applicants who do not hold the BS in computer science must provide evidence of prerequisite course work or equivalent experience in high-level programming, and data structures (certificates, transcripts, etc.).

 

5-Year BS - MS (4+1) Admission Alternative

The Department of Computer Science offers a special program for high quality Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) Computer Science and Information Technology undergraduate students who desire to pursue graduate study. By taking certain Computer Science & Information Technology (MCST) graduate courses in their senior year in lieu of the corresponding undergraduate courses the student can obtain the B.S. degree in Computer Science (CS) or the B.S. in Information Technology (IT) and then, with an additional year of graduate study, obtain the M.S. degree in Computer Science and Information Technology. Successful completion of this program cuts a year off of the standard two-year time required to obtain an M.S. degree in Computer Science and Information Technology from WSSU.  By spending an extra year in school, you earn two degrees and may significantly increase your starting salary!

Eligibility

To be eligible for this program, the potential student should, by the end of the first semester of his/her junior year:

  • Have earned credit for (including courses received through placement or transfer) at least 75 hours of coursework applicable to the undergraduate CS or IT degree;
  • Have achieved a GPA of at least 3.2 overall Computer Science courses; and
  • Have met with the M.S. Program Coordinator to receive advising and approval for applying to the early-entry program.

Additional Information

  • First semester of junior year – meet with the M.S. Program Coordinator before mid-semester to receive advising about early-entry program; Identified and meet with a research mentor to make initial plans for the  MCST capstone thesis research or project;
  • Second semester of junior year – complete and submit early-entry application for graduate study in M.S. in Computer Science and Information Technology to Graduate Admissions;
  • Recommendation for the second semester of junior year- apply for a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) grant and/or academic year undergraduate research grant for the senior year;
  • Notification of acceptance will be made before the start of the senior year;
  • Senior year – enroll in MCST substitute courses;
  • End of senior year – successfully complete requirements for B.S. degree in CS or IT, at least 9 hours of undergraduate course work can be substituted with corresponding graduate courses (and these graduate courses can also be applied to the MCST degree program).

Approved Course Substitutions:

CSC U/G Courses

MCST Graduate Substitutions

  CSC 4350 Software Engineering

  CSC 4356 Web Programming

  CSC 4355 Database Design

 

CST 5322 Advanced Software Engineering (Core)

CST 6305 Internet Systems (IT Required/CS Elective)                         

CST 6306 Advanced Database Systems (Core)

       

 

All application materials should be submitted to:
 

Office of Admissions - Graduate
Winston-Salem State University
Suite 111 Anderson Center

Winston-Salem, NC 27110
Graduate Admissions Phone: (336) 750-2250
FAX: (336) 750-3042
EMAIL:
graduate@wssu.edu

 

Faculty

Mustafa Atay
Associate Professor of Computer Science
B.S., Hacettepe University, M.S., Faith University
Ph.D., Wayne State University

Specialization: Information Technology, XML Data Management, Database Systems, Information Retrieval, Data Integration, Semantic Web
 
Jinsuk Baek
Professor of Computer Science
B.Sc., M.Sc., Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Ph.D., University of Houston
Specialization: Scalable Reliable Multicast Protocols, Mobile Wireless Computing, Network Security Protocols, Proxy Caching Systems and Formal Verification of Communication Protocols 
 
E. Rebecca Caldwell
Associate Professor of Computer Science
B.S., University of North Carolina—Greensboro
M.S., Clark-Atlanta University
Ph.D. University of North Carolina—Greensboro

Specialization:  Computer Science Education, Robotics Education, and STEM Education
 
Debzani Deb
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
BS.C., Shajala University of Science and Technology
M.S., University of Adelaide
Ph.D., Montana State University
Specialization: Software Engineering, High Performance Computing, Data Mining, Computer Education
 
Christo Dichev
Professor of Computer Science
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Sofia University
Ph.D., Kiev University

Specialization: Artificial Intelligence, Programming Languages, Object Oriented Software, Knowledge-based systems, Heuristic Search, Distributed AI, Information Retrieval, Web Mining and Information Extraction, Decision Support Systems, Informatics and Pattern Recognition
 
Darina Dicheva
Paul B. Fulton Delta Sigma Theta Distinguished Professor of Computer Science
B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Sofia University
Specialization: Database systems, Intelligent Systems, Knowledge-based systems, Virtual Learning Environments, Information Retrieval, Data Mining, Semantic Web
 
Paul Fisher
R.J. Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Computer Science
B.A., M.A., University of Utah
Ph.D., Arizona State University

Specialization: Data Compression, Pattern Recognition, Image Processing, Computational Theory
 
M. Muztaba Fuad
Associate Professor of Computer Science 
BS.C., Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
MS.C., University of Adelaide

Ph.D., Montana State University
Specialization: Self-Adaptive Systems, Distributed and Parallel Systems, Software Engineering, Operating System and Programming Language
 
Keith Irwin
Associate Professor of Computer Science 
B.S., Carnegie Mellon University
M.S., Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Specialization: Information Security, Database Systems, Architecture, Operating Systems 
 
Elva J. Jones
Professor of Computer Science AND Chair, Department of Computer Science
B.S., Winston-Salem State University
M.S., University of North Carolina—Greensboro
M.S., Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Specialization: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Computer Science Education, Software Engineering, Database Systems, Knowledge-based Systems,
Information Retrieval, Visualization and GIS, Decision Support Systems
 
Jinghua Zhang
Associate Professor of Computer Science
B.S., Changchun University of Science and Technology
M.S., Ph.D., Michigan State University

Specialization: Computer Graphics, 3D Animated Geometry Compression, Collaboration Techniques, Simulation
 
Departmental Links
 

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