2010-2011 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Computer Science and Information Technology, MCST
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 Return to: Graduate Programs
The Master of Science in 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. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in systems development, consulting, network administration, systems support, and information resource management. 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.
Learning Outcomes
Student learning outcomes include:
- 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 master’s project for the information technology concentration.
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
- MCST Supplemental Application
- Official transcript from each institution where undergraduate or graduate work was completed
- Official report of GRE scores—General exam
- 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
- 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 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)
- 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.).
Application Deadlines
The deadline for receipt of all application materials is July 15th for Fall semester admission and November 15th for Spring semester admission.
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.
Grades
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.
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.
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. Students must select one of the following Capstone Activity Options: Computer Science concentration students may select the Thesis or Exam option. Information Technology concentration students may select the Master’s Project or Exam option.
Project Option: 33 semester hours
- The Project Option requires: 9 semester hours (SH) of core courses; 9 SH of required information technology courses; 12 SH of elective courses; and 3 SH of master’s project work.
Thesis Option: 30 semester hours
- The Thesis Option requires: 9 semester hours (SH) of core courses; 9 SH of required computer science courses; 6 SH of elective courses; and 6 SH of thesis research.
Exam Option: 33 semester hours
- The Exam Option requires: 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; and a comprehensive exam.
Course of Study
CORE COURSES
COMPUTER SCIENCE CONCENTRATION
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONCENTRATION
Electives:
- Thesis Option - 6 semester hours of CST courses.
- Project Option - 12 semester hours of CST courses.
- Exam Option - 15 semester hours of CST courses.
Faculty
| Mustafa Atay |
Assistant Professor of Computer Science |
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B.S., Hacettepe University, M.S., Faith University,
Ph.D., Wayne State University
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Specialization: XML Data Management, Database Systems,
Information Retrieval, Data Integration, Semantic Web |
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| Jinsuk Baek |
Assistant 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 |
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| Jaswant S. Bajwa |
Professor of Computer Science |
B.S., M.S., Punjab Agricultural University, M.S., Utah State University,
M.S., Atlanta University; Ph.D., Auburn University |
| Specialization: Software Engineering, Architecture, Programming Languages |
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| Christo Dichev |
Associate Professor of Computer Science |
| B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Sofia University, Ph.D., Kiev University |
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Specialization: Artificial Intelligence, Programming Languages,
Object Oriented Software, Knowlege-based systems, Heuristic Search,
Distributed AI, Information Retrieval, Web Mining and Information Extraction,
Decision Support Systems, Informatics and Pattern Recognition |
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| 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 |
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| Paul Fisher |
R.J. Reynolds Distinguished
Professor of Computer Science |
B.A., M.A., University of Utah;
Ph.D., Arizona State University |
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Specialization: Data Compression, Pattern Recognition, Image Processing,
Computational Theory |
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| M. Muztaba Fuad |
Assistant 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 |
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| Keith Irwin |
Assistant 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 |
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| Elva J. Jones |
Professor of Computer Science 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: Information Systems, Database Systems, Knowledge-based Systems,
Information Retrieval, Visualization and GIS, Imaging, Decision Support Systems, Electronic Commerce,
Robotics and Computer Science Education |
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| Shin Shan Jou |
Professor of Computer Science |
| B.S., National Taiwan University; M.A., Ph.D., University of Waterloo |
Specialization: Graphics, Imaging, Parallel Computing, Informatics and Pattern Recognition,
Computational Science, Simulation, Mathematical Modeling, Object Oriented Languages |
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| Jinghua Zhang |
Assistant 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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