Computer Science
Faculty
Professors: DeJong, Denning, Frieder, Hamburger (Chair), Menasce, Michalski,
Rine, Sood, Tecuci, Wechsler
Associate Professors: Carver, Norris, Pullen, Quammen, Richards, Wang
Assistant Professors: Chen, Duric, Huang, Setia, Simon, White
Instructors: Marchant, Nordstrom
Adjunct Professors: Ashton, Berlin, Erwin, Grossman, Mukherji, Robertson
Course Work
Computer 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
in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog.
Undergraduate Degree (B.S.) in Computer Science
In addition to the general IT&E degree requirements for a B.S. degree, the
following courses are required:
- Computer Science core: CS 105, 112, 211, 265, 310, 330, 365, 421, and 483. Total
credits: 26. Students should take CS 105 during their first semester at George Mason.
- Senior Computer Science: Any four of the following: CS 440, 450, 451, 455, 471,
475, 480, 490. Total credits: 12
- Mathematics: MATH 113, 114, 125, 203, 213; OR 481; STAT 344; and ECE 301 for
a total of 26 credits.
- Computer Science-related courses: 6 credits chosen from STAT 354; OR 435, 441,
442; ECE 285, 431, 442, 511, 512; SYST 471; PHIL 371, 376, 422; any MATH or CS course
numbered above 300. Students may need to choose electives to satisfy the prerequisites
of these courses.
- Natural Sciences: 12 credits in natural science courses intended for scientists
and engineers. Two of the courses for this requirement must have laboratory components
and must constitute a sequence. A list of relevant courses can be obtained from the
department office.
- COMM 100: Computer science students in this course must make a technical presentation.
The course counts for 3 credits of humanities within the humanities and social science
requirement of the School of IT&E.
Students are strongly encouraged to obtain and follow the sample schedule published
by the department to ensure that course prerequisites are satisfied. Students must
file a formal plan of study with the department and confer with their advisors each
semester to ensure that degree requirements are met.
Change of Major
Students requesting a change of major to computer science must have a GPA of at
least 2.750 and have successfully completed MATH 113 and either MATH 114 or MATH
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.
Writing-Intensive Requirement
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.
Grades
A student must earn a C or better in any course intended to satisfy a prerequisite
for a computer science course. A student may not use more than one course with a
grade of D toward the requirements for a computer science major.
Cooperative Education
A computer science major may participate in the George Mason cooperative education
program or in a work-study program in the Washington-Northern Virginia area.
Combined B.S./M.S. in Computer Science
The combined B.S./M.S. in Computer Science program is for those interested in
immediately continuing on to graduate studies in computer science.
Admission Requirements
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.
Degree Requirements
- 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, CS 571, CS 580, CS 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
concentration areas. For example, if CS 580 and CS 583 are the two overlapping core
courses, and the student takes also 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.
Degree Conferral
- 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 Science
A minor in computer science requires the completion of 17 credits. Required courses
are CS 105, CS 112, CS 211, and CS 310. In addition, two computer science courses
are needed, selected from CS 265, 330, 332, 362, 363, 365, 421, 440, 450, 451, 455,
471, 475, 480 and 483.
Graduate Degree (M.S.) in Computer Science
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, and computer systems. 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 area.
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 the School of IT&E.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the M.S. in Computer Science program must satisfy
the following requirements:
- Fulfill admission requirements for graduate study at George Mason University.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree that includes Computer Science III (CS 310), Formal
Methods and Models (CS 330), Assembly Language Programming (CS 265), and Computer
Systems Architecture (CS 365). Students also should have completed one year of mathematics
beyond first-year calculus, including a substantial course in discrete mathematics
(e.g., MATH 125). Students with some deficiencies in preparation may be admitted
provisionally pending completion of foundation courses in mathematics or computer
science. Undergraduate credit earned for this purpose may not be applied toward the
graduate degree.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.000 for the last two years of undergraduate work,
preferably with a major in a technical field such as computer science, mathematics,
physics, engineering, or information systems.
- Submit transcripts of all postsecondary education; a self-assessment form (normally
included in the application package or available from the department); three letters
of recommendation; and an official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) report, which
is strongly recommended and encouraged but not required.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the general requirements of the university, completion of this
program requires the following:
- 30 credits of graduate courses, including the following:
- For students electing the project or thesis option, presentation of the project
or thesis at an appropriate forum approved by the department graduate committee.
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