School of Information Technology & Engineering
- Information and Software Engineering
- Graduate Programs
Information and Software Engineering
Faculty
Professors: Gomaa, Jajodia (chair), Kerschberg,
Motro, Rine, Sandhu, Sibley
Associate professors: Ammann, Barbara, Baum, Offutt
Assistant professors: Bose, Brodsky, Wang
Adjunct professors: Alexander, Armour, Bechtold, Dinh, Fayad, Hanratty, Mills, Nguyen, Nidiffer
Course Work
The Department of Information and Software
Engineering (ISE) offers courses designated INFS and SWSE in
the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.
Although there is no undergraduate degree program in
information systems, courses are offered as electives in
other programs. Students may also elect an information
systems engineering emphasis in the systems engineering
degree program.
Graduate Programs
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The M.S. in Information Systems is a professional
degree program that focuses on the technical, managerial, and
policy issues associated with building computer-based
information systems for modern organizations. Information is the
lifeblood of every enterprise, both private and public, and
the M.S. program addresses the theoretical and practical
aspects of specifying, designing, implementing, and managing
information systems. The program prepares students for
research and professional practice in the above areas.
The M.S. program is unique in two respects: 1) it provides
a balance between the technical and management aspects
of information systems, and 2) it accepts students with
baccalaureate degrees in such disciplines as business, arts
and sciences, computer science, and engineering.
The M.S. student studies the core topics of computer
organization, programming languages, operating systems,
operations research and management, database
management, computer communication networks and distributed
applications, systems analysis and design, and information
systems policy and administration.
Through elective courses the student acquires
knowledge and skills in the areas of office information systems,
secure information systems, software engineering, information
systems engineering, data engineering, knowledge
engineering, information retrieval, decision support systems,
user interface design, artificial intelligence, network
management, and object-oriented analysis, design, and programming.
An M.S. graduate may pursue a career in areas such as
database administration, management and engineering,
database application programming, systems analysis and
design, information engineering, knowledge engineering,
network design and administration, systems integration, and
the management of information systems.
The program is offered by the faculty of the ISE
Department. All classes are scheduled in the late afternoon
and early evening to accommodate employed students.
Foundation Requirements
The M.S. program prepares students for research and
practice in information systems. The program emphasizes a
balance of technical and management skills. To ensure
that students have an adequate background in
mathematical methods, computer technology, and business knowledge,
the program requires the following four foundation courses,
or their equivalent:
INFS 310 Program Structure and Design for Business Applications
INFS 501 Discrete and Logical Structures for Information Systems
INFS 515 Computer Organization
INFS 590 Program Design and Data Structures
and a course in one of the three following
areas: accounting, management or marketing
When a prospective student applies to the M.S. program,
he or she is asked to fill out a departmental self-evaluation
form, indicating whether previously taken courses may
satisfy these foundation requirements. Upon acceptance, the
student is advised of the necessary foundation courses to
be satisfactorily completed to meet this requirement.
Foundation courses do not earn credit toward the M.S. degree;
however, they must be successfully completed with a grade of
B or better before enrolling in the core curriculum.
Students may take courses through the
Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program. Appropriate courses
may be transferred, with advisor approval, into this George
Mason degree program.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for the M.S. program should meet the
following minimum entrance requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited
institution.
- Have earned a GPA of 3.000 or better in the last 60 credits.
- Show proof of a satisfactory score on the Graduate
Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate
Record Exam (GRE). The applicable test should have been
taken within five years of applying for admission.
- Submit the appropriate application form with three
letters of recommendation from persons directly
knowledgeable of the applicant's professional and
academic competence; and a one-page goals statement and
work resume.
- Submit a departmental self-evaluation form that is
essential for evaluating foundation requirements by the
department faculty. This form may be obtained from
the department office.
Advising
Before the beginning of each semester, the ISE
Department holds an orientation meeting to advise newly admitted
and continuing students. Members of the faculty are present
to answer questions and to offer advice concerning
programs of study.
The department also provides an advising function to
students, as outlined in the Student Advising Form
available from the department. Each student is assigned a
faculty advisor with whom the student may confer on matters
related to degree requirements. A Plan of Study form for the
M.S. degree should be completed and submitted by the
student soon after admission to the program. The plan serves as
a planning guide for the student.
Degree Requirements
Completion of the M.S. program requires a minimum of
30 approved graduate credits (10 courses). To provide a
common background in the fundamentals of information
systems, the following five courses are required of all students:
OR 540 Management Science
INFS 601 Operating Systems Theory and Practice
INFS 612 Data Communications and Distributed Processing
INFS 614 Database Management
INFS 622 Information Systems Analysis and Design
Students must also take one of the following two courses:
INFS 790 Information Systems Policy and Administration
INFS 798 Research Project
The research project is intended for research-oriented
students who have discussed a project with a graduate
faculty member who has agreed to supervise the project.
Electives
In order for students to pursue their individual interests,
they may elect four courses. A list of preapproved qualified
electives is available from the department office. However,
students may choose other electives from offerings within
IT&E with the consent of the faculty advisor. A thesis option
is available; students may elect to complete a thesis for up
to six elective credits.
Students may earn a certificate in software systems
engineering by replacing the INFS 622 core course with
SWSE 620, and by taking the following SWSE courses as electives:
followed by two of the following as the remaining
two electives:
SWSE/CS 623 Formal Methods and Models in Software Engineering
SWSE/CS 625 Software Project Management
SWSE 630 Software Engineering Economics
SWSE/CS 631 Object-Oriented Software Development
SWSE/CS 632 User Interface Design and Development
SWSE 637 Software Testing and Quality Assurance
SWSE/CS 706 Concurrent Software Systems
SWSE/CS 720 Advanced Software Requirements
SWSE/CS 721 Advanced Software Design Methods
SWSE/CS 735 Concurrency
SWSE 763 Software Engineering Experimentation
Note: SWSE 620 should not be taken as an elective
unless the student is replacing INFS 622 as a part of the
software systems engineering certificate program. Credit is not
given for taking both INFS 622 and SWSE 620; only three
credits are awarded.
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The graduate certificate program in information
engineering (INFE) has been designed for persons who are
involved in the specification, design, implementation, and
management of data- and knowledge-intensive information
systems. The INFE program prepares students for research,
development, and professional practice in information
engineering by providing a hands-on set of courses designed to
provide theoretical knowledge and practical experience with
methods and tools associated with the areas of database
management systems, data modeling, knowledge acquisition,
data/knowledge representation, and information and
software engineering.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the INFE certificate program must have
earned a GPA of 3.000 or better in the last 60 credits.
Additionally, applicants must complete a self-assessment form, which
can be obtained from the ISE Department. This form
provides summary information concerning background and
preparation for the program.
Each applicant must possess knowledge equivalent to
that provided by the following courses:
INFS 501 Discrete and Logical Structures for Information Systems
INFS 515 Computer Organization
INFS 590 Program Design and Data Structures
Students not enrolled in a graduate degree program at
George Mason University should apply for the information
engineering certificate program through the Graduate
Admissions Processing Center of IT&E. Students enrolled in
a graduate degree program at George Mason should apply
to the ISE Department for admission into the certificate
program. Admission into the certificate program does not
guarantee acceptance into any M.S. program.
Certificate Requirements
Certificate candidates must complete five courses, with
an average grade of B or better, for a total of 15 graduate
credits. To obtain the certificate, a student needs to
complete the following:
INFS 612 Data Communications and Distributed Processing
INFS 614 Database Management
SWSE 620 Software Requirements and Prototyping
SWSE 621 Software Design
and one of the following:
SWSE 625 Software Project Management
INFS 770 Methods for Information Systems Engineering
Applicants may obtain more information by contacting
the ISE Department, Science and Technology II, Room
330, (703) 993-1640.
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The graduate certificate program in information
systems security (ISS) is intended for persons who are interested
in science and methods for ensuring secrecy, integrity,
and availability of information systems. The certificate in
information systems security may be pursued concurrently
with any of the graduate programs in IT&E.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the ISS certificate program must have
earned a GPA of 3.000 or better in the last 60 credits.
Additionally, applicants must complete a self-assessment form, which
can be obtained from the ISE Department. This form
provides summary information concerning background and
preparation for the program.
Each applicant must possess knowledge equivalent to
that provided by the following courses.
INFS 501 Discrete and Logical Structures for Information Systems
INFS 515 Computer Organization
INFS 590 Program Design and Data Structures
Students not enrolled in a graduate degree program at
George Mason University should apply for the information
systems security certificate program through the Graduate
Admissions Processing Center of IT&E. Students enrolled in
a graduate degree program at George Mason should apply
to the ISE Department for admission into the certificate
program. Admission into the certificate program does not
guarantee acceptance into any M.S. program.
Certificate Requirements
Certificate candidates must complete four courses
(subject to satisfying equivalents of INFS 601, 612, and 614),
with an average grade of B or better, for a total of 12
graduate credits. To obtain the certificate, a student needs to
complete the following:
- One compulsory course:
INFS 762 Information Security Principles
- Three additional courses from the following:
INFS 765 Database and Distributed Systems Security
INFS 766 Internet Security Protocols
INFS 767 Secure Electronic Commerce
INFT 862 Formal Models for Computer Security (restricted to Ph.D. students)
INFT 962 Advanced Topics in Computer Security (restricted to Ph.D. students)
Applicants may obtain more information by contacting
the ISE Department, Science and Technology II, Room
330, (703) 993-1640.
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The graduate certificate program in software systems
engineering provides knowledge, tools, and techniques to
those who are working in, or planning to work in, the field
of software engineering, but who do not want to complete
all the requirements for a master's degree in software
systems engineering. The certificate in software systems
engineering may also be pursued concurrently with any of the
graduate degree programs in IT&E.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the software systems engineering
certificate program must have earned a GPA of 3.000 or better in
the last 60 credits. Additionally, applicants must complete a
self-assessment form, which can be obtained from the
ISE Department. This form provides summary information
concerning background and preparation for the program.
Each applicant must possess knowledge equivalent to the
following undergraduate courses: structured programming in
a modern programming language, data structures,
discrete mathematics, and machine organization. The level of
knowledge may also be achieved by taking the following
George Mason University courses, which are referred to as
the SWSE foundation courses:
INFS 501 Discrete and Logical Structures for Information Systems
INFS 515 Computer Organization
INFS 590 Program Design and Data Structures
In addition, it is desirable, but not necessary, for
applicants to have at least one year of appropriate work experience
in building and/or modifying software systems.
Applicants are required to submit a brief (one- to
two-page) statement of educational and work experience in the
computing field that includes a statement of career goals in
software engineering.
Students not enrolled in a graduate degree program at
George Mason should apply for the certificate program through
the Graduate Admissions Processing Center of IT&E.
Students enrolled in a graduate degree program at George
Mason should apply to the ISE Department for admission into
the certificate program. Admission into the certificate
program does not guarantee acceptance into any M.S. program.
Certificate Requirements
Certificate candidates must complete five courses, with
an average grade of B or better, for a total of 15 graduate
credits. To obtain the certificate, a student needs to
complete the following:
- Three compulsory courses:
SWSE/CS 619 Software Construction
SWSE/CS 620 Software Requirements and Prototyping
SWSE/CS 621 Software Design
- Two additional courses (subject to satisfying
prerequisites) from the following:
SWSE/CS 623 Formal Methods and Models in Software Engineering
SWSE/CS 625 Software Project Management
SWSE 630 Software Engineering Economics
SWSE/CS 631 Object-Oriented Software Development
SWSE/CS 632 User Interface Design and Development
SWSE 637 Software Testing and Quality Assurance
SWSE/CS 706 Concurrent Software Systems
SWSE/CS 720 Advanced Software Requirements
SWSE/CS 721 Advanced Software Design Methods
SWSE/CS 735 Concurrency
SWSE 763 Software Engineering Experimentation
Computer science master's students who wish to obtain
the certificate in software systems engineering should
contact the ISE Department for special instructions. Applicants
may obtain more information by contacting the ISE
Department, Science and Technology II, Room 330, (703) 993-1640.
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The M.S. in Software Systems Engineering provides
specialized knowledge and experience in developing and
modifying large, complex software systems. It
emphasizes technical and management aspects of the software
engineering process. Software engineering is a young and
emerging discipline based on computer analysis, design,
construction, testing, maintenance, economics, and management
issues of software engineering. A pragmatic approach to
problem solving is the hallmark of a software engineer.
Software engineers are concerned with the theoretical and
practical aspects of technology, cost, and social impact of
software systems that are both effective and efficient.
Software engineers are in demand in every segment of
society affected by computing technology. Typical
employers include companies that build and sell computers,
software companies, research and development laboratories,
aerospace contractors, banks, insurance companies, and
manufacturing organizations. The master's program is
concerned with both technical and managerial issues, but
primary emphasis is placed on the technical aspects of building
and modifying software systems.
Foundation Requirements
Students entering the M.S. program must have course
work or equivalent knowledge in the following areas: a
modern, block-structured programming language such as Ada, C,
or Pascal; data structures and algorithms; machine
organization (e.g., as given in computer system architecture or
assembly language courses); and topics in discrete mathematics including sets, relations, functions,
trees, graphs, and inductive proofs. The level of
knowledge required in these areas is equivalent to that taught in
undergraduate courses in the indicated topics, and also may
be achieved by taking the following George Mason
University courses, which are referred to as the SWSE
foundation courses:
INFS 501 Discrete and Logical Structures for Information Systems
INFS 515 Computer Organization
INFS 590 Program Design and Data Structures
In addition, it is desirable, though not required, that
entering students have at least one year of work experience
in building and/or modifying software systems.
When a prospective student applies to the M.S. program,
he or she is asked to fill out a departmental self-evaluation
form, indicating whether previously taken courses may
satisfy these foundation requirements. Upon acceptance, the
student is advised of the necessary foundation courses to
be satisfactorily completed to meet this requirement.
Foundation courses do not earn credit toward the M.S. degree;
however, they must be successfully completed with a grade of
B or better before enrolling in the core curriculum.
Students may take courses through the
Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program. Appropriate courses
may be transferred, with advisor approval, to this George
Mason degree program.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general admission requirements of
the university, applicants to the M.S. program must meet
the following minimum entrance requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree in an appropriate
discipline from an accredited institution.
- Have earned a GPA of 3.000 or better in the last 60
credits of undergraduate study.
- Provide a brief (one- to two-page) statement of
educational and work experience in the computing field
that includes a statement of career goals in software engineering.
- Submit a departmental self-evaluation form, which
can be obtained from the department. This form provides
summary information concerning background and
preparation for the program.
- Show proof of a satisfactory score on the GRE. The
applicable test should have been taken within five years
of applying for admission.
- Submit the appropriate application form with three
letters of recommendation from persons directly
knowledgeable of the applicant's professional and
academic competence.
Acceptance into the M.S. program is based on an
overall assessment of the applicant's potential ability to
complete the program of study satisfactorily. Well-qualified
students with minor deficiencies may be admitted to the program
in provisional status, with specified course work to be
completed within a specified time.
Advising
Before the beginning of each semester, the ISE
Department holds an orientation meeting to advise incoming and
continuing students. Members of the faculty are present to
answer questions and to offer advice concerning programs
of study.
The department also provides an advising function to
students, as outlined in the Student Advising Form
available from the department. Each student is assigned a faculty
advisor with whom the student confers on matters related
to degree requirements. A Plan of Study form for the
M.S. degree should be completed and submitted by the
student soon after admission to the program. The plan serves as
a planning guide for the student.
Degree Requirements
The M.S. in Software Systems Engineering requires a
minimum of 30 graduate credits. The following six core
courses (18 credits) are required:
SWSE 619 Software Construction
SWSE 620 Software Requirements and Prototyping
SWSE 621 Software Design
SWSE 623 Formal Methods and Models
SWSE 625 Software Project Management
SWSE 626 Software Project Laboratory
and either the professional option, consisting of four
electives, or the research option, consisting of two electives
and a six-credit thesis, which is primarily intended for
students planning to pursue a Ph.D. with an emphasis on
software engineering.
Electives
Electives provide students the opportunity to gain
in-depth knowledge in a selected area, to gain breadth of
knowledge, or, by careful selection, to complete some of the core
course requirements for the Ph.D. program. A listing of
approved qualified electives is available from the department
office. However, students may choose other electives from
offerings within IT&E with the consent of the faculty advisor.
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Doctoral study in information systems and software
engineering is available through the Ph.D. in Information
Technology program, which offers advanced courses in
these disciplines. The doctoral program allows the student to
take a broad range of courses and research options. The
program is described in the Information Technology Doctoral
Program section.
George Mason University:1999-2000 University Catalog: Catalog Index: School of Information Technology & Engineering: Information and Software Engineering |
