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Catalog Index Search the 2000-2001 Catalog: |
School of Information Technology & Engineering
Computer ScienceFacultyProfessors: DeJong, Denning, Hamburger
(Chair), Menasce, Michalski, Rine, Sood, Tecuci, Wechsler Course WorkComputer science is the discipline concerned with the design, implementation, and maintenance of the computer systems used in almost all other professions. Computer scientists must be well grounded in the technologies needed for the acquisition, representation, storage, transmission, transformation, and use of information in digital form and must be capable of working closely with members of other professions associated with computing. The Computer Science Department offers courses designated CS and INFT in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog. The computer science program is accredited by the Computer Science Accreditation Board.
In addition to the general IT&E degree requirements for a B.S. degree, the following courses are required:
Students should obtain and consult the sample schedule published by the department and must ensure that course prerequisites are satisfied. Students should obtain computer-generated audits periodically to ensure that degree requirements are met. Students requesting a change of major to computer science must have a GPA of at least 2.750 and have successfully completed two of these courses: CS 112, 211; MATH 113, 114, or 125. Advanced Placement and Credit by Examination Some students may receive credit for CS 103,
112, 211, or 265 by passing departmentally administered examinations.
In addition, a score of 3 on the Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science
examination qualifies the student for credit in CS
112. An AP score of 4, together with demonstrated competence in the
programming language used in CS 211, qualifies
for credit in that course. Computer science majors complete the writing-intensive requirement through a planned sequence of projects and reports integral to the following computer science courses: CS 105, 211, 332, 421, 471, 480, and 490. In all these courses, faculty provide feedback from the perspective of professional expository writing. A student must earn a C or better in any course intended to satisfy a prerequisite for a computer science course. Computer science majors may not use more than one course with a grade of D toward the above departmental requirements. A computer science major may participate in the George Mason cooperative education program or in a work-study program in the Washington, D.C.-Northern Virginia area. Combined B.S./M.S. in Computer ScienceThe combined B.S./M.S. in Computer Science program is for those interested in immediately continuing on to graduate studies in computer science. Students in the B.S. program can apply for the combined B.S./M.S. in Computer Science program if they have earned 90 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.000. Criteria for admission to the combined B.S./M.S. program are identical to the criteria for admission to the M.S. program. Students have to complete 144 credits that satisfy both the requirements for the B.S. program and those for the M.S. program, with six credits overlap. Students register for six credits of CS 500-level core courses in place of the corresponding CS 400-level courses. That is, students must register for two of the following courses: CS 540, 571, 580, or 583, in place of the corresponding 400-level courses. Students in the combined B.S./M.S. program are permitted to take additional graduate core courses in their undergraduate program. In such cases, the students must satisfy the core requirements for the M.S. by taking more advanced courses from the same areas of emphasis. For example, if CS 580 and CS 583 are the two overlapping core courses, and the student also takes CS 540 as part of his or her B.S. program, then the student needs to take a more advanced course from the concentration area corresponding to CS 540 Systems, to satisfy the core requirements for the M.S. Students in the combined B.S./M.S. program may apply to have the B.S. degree conferred during the semester in which they expect to complete the B.S. requirements. At the completion of the M.S. requirements, a master's degree will be granted. Minor in Computer ScienceA minor in computer science requires the completion of 17 credits. Required courses are CS 105, 112, 211, and 310. In addition, two computer science courses are needed, selected from CS 265, 330, 332, 362, 363, 365, 421, 450, 455, 480, and 483, with careful attention to prerequisites. Double Major in Computer Science and Computer EngineeringComputer science majors can earn a double major in computer science and computer engineering if they complete an additional 17 credit hours of courses, beyond the 120 credits required for the computer science degree, according to an approved plan of study. Details are available at the IT&E website accessed through main university website at http://www.gmu.edu. Graduate ProgramsIn addition to offering the M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science, the department participates in the Ph.D. in information Technology. Computer Science, M.S.The M.S. in Computer Science is for those interested in computer software technology. The program encompasses the depth of knowledge needed to pursue more advanced work in computer science or allied areas. Graduate classes are offered in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate the professionally employed student. Financial aid in the form of graduate assistantships may be available for full-time, degree-seeking students. The department offers courses in the core areas of computer science with optional M.S. concentrations in artificial intelligence, software engineering, parallel/distributed computing, image processing/graphics, computer systems, and networks. A list of the courses in each of these concentrations is obtainable in the department office. A student can specialize by taking at least 12 noncore credits, including M.S. thesis or project, from one concentration. A certificate in software systems engineering is also available with an M.S. in Computer Science. For information on this certificate, please refer to the software systems engineering program. Appropriate courses may be transferred, with advisor approval, into the George Mason degree program. Students may take courses through the Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program. The department actively participates in the program leading to the Ph.D. in Information Technology in IT&E. Students seeking admission to the M.S. in Computer Science program must satisfy the following requirements:
In addition to the general requirements of the university, completion of this program requires the following:
Ph.D. Study in Computer ScienceBecause research in computer science at George Mason is distributed across the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Information and Software Engineering, the Ph.D. program is coordinated by a committee drawn from these two departments. The program is designed for breadth, depth, flexibility, and interaction. In recognition of the diverse forms of preparation and experience that students may possess, the foundational breadth requirement takes the form of a qualifying examination rather than specified course work. Standard courses are available to help prepare for these exams but not all students need all the courses. In the next phase, individuals pursue unique combinations of courses, including individual study, selected with the guidance of their advisory committee. This advanced work leads to a comprehensive examination and culminates in a dissertation. The general doctoral requirements of George Mason University apply to this program. Admission Requirements Applicants are evaluated on an individual basis by the Ph.D. Admissions Committee. A master of science degree with a very strong background in computer science or a closely related field, such as software engineering or information systems, is required. The admission process includes submission of the application for admission, all postsecondary transcripts, Graduate Record Examination scores in computer science, three letters of reference, a resume, and a short statement of career goals and aspirations. Application forms are available online. Qualifying Examination Students take a written qualifying examination, given twice a year, in the fall and spring semesters. This must be done before continuing beyond 36 credits. Students must choose four areas in which to be examined, one of which must be algorithms and theory. The other three are chosen from among the following: language processing and formal models, artificial intelligence, computer systems, software engineering, and information engineering. The exams are pass/fail. To qualify, a student must pass all four examinations. A student who passes 3 of 4 at the first attempt is permitted to retake the one failed examination. A student who passes fewer than three examinations must retake an entire set of examinations. Any retaking must occur within a year of the original examinations. Failure in two attempts is grounds for dismissal from the program. Course Requirements In addition to courses taken to prepare for the qualifying exam, students must take at least eight courses, including
Planning and Advising The student forms a faculty advisory committee to advise in establishing and carrying out a Plan of Study that meets the above requirements and will prepare the student properly for the dissertation phase. The members and chair of this advising committee must qualify as a dissertation committee, as specified below. Normally some or all of the members will later belong to the student's dissertation committee, so these individuals will be able to ensure relevance of the plan of study to an emerging dissertation topic. Seminar Each Ph.D. student is required to attend a Seminar Series in the first year, at which faculty members present their own computer science research. The purpose of the seminar is to provide common experiences for new students, to familiarize new students with the computer science research done in the school, and to help them choose a dissertation director and committee. Comprehensive Examination Each student must take a combined written and oral comprehensive examination after completion of all course requirements. The purpose of this examination is to evaluate the student's knowledge and ability to complete a Ph.D. dissertation. The student must pass both the written and oral parts. Each can be retaken at most once if it is failed. Dissertation Committee Selection The student forms a dissertation supervisory committee consisting of four or five appropriately qualified individuals, three of whom must be tenured or tenure-track faculty in the Computer Science and/or Information and Software Engineering Departments. Committee membership must transcend a single department. It is recommended that the committee include a member outside the two departments. The chair of the supervisory committee, who is also the dissertation director, must be tenured or tenure-track in the School of Information Technology and Engineering. The committee must be approved by the chair of the Computer Science Department and the associate dean for graduate studies of IT&E. Dissertation Proposal Defense Each student prepares a written dissertation proposal, which is presented to the supervisory committee. The student may enroll in CS 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal to complete this effort. The committee assesses the proposal and assists the student in fulfilling his/her responsibility to have a clear topic with the potential to make a significant contribution to the field, along with a clear methodology. The committee also assesses whether the student has the intellectual background and the resources to have a good chance of completing a successful dissertation in a timely manner. After successfully completing this requirement, the student is formally advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. Dissertation and Defense The Ph.D. dissertation corresponds to a maximum of 24 credits from CS 998 and CS 999, at least 12 of them in CS 999, after advancement to candidacy. The work must represent an achievement in research; must be a significant contribution to its field; and should be deemed publishable in refereed journals or refereed conferences. The document must meet format guidelines specified by the Guide for Preparing Graduate Theses, Dissertations and Projects. The student prepares to defend the dissertation in consultation with the dissertation director. Normally, there is a predefense with only the committee members present. There must be a public defense at a date that is agreed upon by all members of the committee and is preceded by at least two weeks of public announcement by the program. The dissertation must be made available to the committee at least two weeks in advance. If the candidate successfully defends the dissertation, the committee recommends that the final form of the dissertation be completed, and that the graduate faculty of George Mason University accept the candidate for the Ph.D. degree.
George Mason University:2000-2001 University Catalog: Catalog Index: School of Information Technology & Engineering:Computer Science |
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