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Master of Science Degrees - Columbus State University

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Academics

Master of Science Degrees

MS Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science offers the Master of Science in applied computer science, with multiple tracks to allow students with different backgrounds to benefit from and be successful in the program. The program is designed to take advantage of Columbus State University's various undergraduate computer programs and allows professionals from various backgrounds to upgrade their skills and broaden their base of knowledge and understanding of computing principles. The program strives to serve the local business community by meeting its current needs, and by anticipating its future needs and developing a work force capable of leading the industry into the next century. The program offers concentrations in systems and software engineering. Students interested in pursuing a PhD in computer science should choose the systems concentration due to its more theoretical emphasis. Students wishing to upgrade their skills for employment in software development organizations should choose the software engineering concentration.

Admission

Admission requirements for the Master of Science program in applied computer science are:

  • undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university
  • a minimum of 2.5 undergraduate cumulative GPA
  • a minimum combined score of 800 on the verbal and math sections of the GRE
  • an undergraduate major in computer science, applied computer science, computer information science/systems, computer engineering or other closely related field, OR
    a score of 50 percentile on the GRE computer science subject test, OR
    satisfactory completion of preparatory courses as prescribed by the department (probationary acceptance until preparatory courses are completed)

Course Requirements

Area 1 - Program Core - Required Hours: 12

  • CPSC 6115 Models and Analysis
  • CPSC 6117 Theory of Algorithms
  • CPSC 6125 Advanced Operating Systems
  • CPSC 6155 Advanced Computer Architecture

Area 2 - Program Requirements - Required Hours: 24

Systems Concentration

  • CPSC 5135 Programming Languages
  • CPSC 5157 Computer Networks
  • CPSC 6116 Models of Computation
  • CPSC 6170 Systems Engineering
  • CPSC 6985 Research and Thesis (take twice)
  • CPSC 6*** elective
  • CPSC **** elective (graduate level)

Software Engineering Concentration

  • CPSC 5175 Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction
  • CPSC 6170 Systems Engineering
  • CPSC 6177 Software Requirements and Design Engineering
  • CPSC 6178 Software Testing and Quality Assurance
  • CPSC 6179 Software Project Planning and Management
  • CPSC 6475 Design Studio
  • CPSC **** elective (graduate level)
  • CPSC **** elective (graduate level)

Total Hours Required 36

Application for Graduation

Approval of an application for the Master of Science degree in applied computer science is contingent upon the successful completion of an approved program and recommendation for the degree by the College of Science. Applications for degree conferral must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than the semester prior to completion of degree requirements.

The following requirements must be met for the completion of the degree program:

  • Students must earn a 3.0 grade point average calculated on all graduate work attempted for which letter grades are awarded.
  • At least 27 of the hours required for the degree must be earned in residence. A maximum of nine semester hours with no grade lower than B may be accepted for transfer. Transfer credit will not be used in computing the student's grade point average.
  • A written comprehensive examination must be satisfactorily completed before graduation. The examination will be based on courses taken and normally will be taken in the last semester of enrollment. A candidate who fails the examination will not be eligible for re-examination before the following semester. In such instances, it will not be necessary for the student to be enrolled in order to be re-examined.
  • All degree requirements must be completed within six years of first enrollment.

MS Environmental Science

The Master of Science program in environmental science is designed to prepare graduates who can deal effectively with the increasing problems and questions related to environmental impacts and in planning for the maintenance and management of environmental quality in the face of population and industrial growth. The program builds upon an undergraduate science background and provides a foundation in pertinent areas of biology, chemistry, and geology, as well as social and philosophical issues related to the development of sound environmental policy and regulation.

Statement of Mission

The Master of Science program in environmental science provides advanced training, education and research opportunities to post-baccalaureate science students living primarily in the Georgia/Alabama region. Graduates of the program are trained to serve as environmental professionals in local, state, and federal environmental resource agencies; in the private sector, as environmental consultants; or are prepared to enter a doctoral program in environmental science or related fields. Primary emphasis is placed upon acquiring a sound background in the underpinning concepts in environmental science, designing and conducting an original piece of research, and effectively communicating the results, in both written and oral forms. These professionals will be able to critically assess a wide range of environmental issues and create a plan for sound maintenance and/or environmental management.

Admission

Minimum admission requirements for the MS program in environmental science are as follows:

  • Students must hold a baccalaureate degree in one of the natural sciences or engineering from an accredited college or university.
  • Students must have earned an undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale, calculated on all work attempted in which letter grades were awarded.
  • Students must present evidence of a minimum score of 800 on the verbal and quantitative (aptitude test) of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

Provisional Admission

Students who have earned an appropriate baccalaureate degree, but whose undergraduate grade point average is lower than 2.75 or whose Graduate Record Examination (GRE) aptitude tests score is lower than 800, will be given consideration by the graduate admissions committee of the College of Science and may be admitted provisionally.

Provisional students may be given specific coursework or independent study requirements in order to make up deficiencies but, at a minimum, must complete a minimum of 10 semester hours of program core courses with a grades of B or better. Provisional students will not be eligible for teaching assistantships until they have obtained full admission to the program.

Course Requirements

Area 1 - Program Core - Required Hours: 18

  • ENVS 5161 Introduction to Hydrology
  • ENVS 5255 Environmental Geology (incl. lab)
  • ENVS 6105 Environmental Issues
  • ENVS 6106 Environmental Law and Regulations
  • ENVS 6207 Ecological Methodology (incl. lab)
  • ENVS 7115 Environmental Chemistry

Area 2 - Program Electives - Required Hours: 12

  • Select 12 semester hours from the following:
    • BIOL 5515 Selected Topics in Cell and Molecular Biology
    • BIOL 5525 Selected Topics in Organismic Biology
    • BIOL 5535 Selected Topics in Ecological and Evolutionary Biology
    • BIOL 5899 Independent Study
    • CHEM 7165 Environmental Organic Chemistry
    • CHEM 7175 Atmospheric Physical Chemistry
    • CHEM 7185 Aquatic Chemistry
    • CHEM 7555 Selected Topics in Environmental Chemistry
    • ENVS 5165 Hydrology
    • ENVS 5225 Natural Environments of Georgia
    • ENVS 6109 Environmental Air Quality
    • ENVS 6206 Water Resources Management
    • ENVS 6271 GIS/GPS Applications
    • ENVS 7145 Land Use and Waste Management
    • ENVS 7555 Selected Topics in Environmental Science
    • GEOL 5115 Geochemistry
    • GEOL 5275 Vertebrate Paleontology
    • GEOL 7565 Special Topics in Environmental Geology
    • MATH 5175 Mathematical Statistics

Area 3 - Thesis Research - Required Hours: 6

  • ENVS 7999 Research in Environmental Science

Total Hours Required 36

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of this program, students admitted to this program will be expected to have completed courses in the following disciplines: physical and historical geology, introductory biology, introductory chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus, and introductory physics. At the discretion of the Environmental Science Advisory Committee, students without this background may be granted conditional acceptance. However, it is expected that these deficiencies will be removed within the first two semesters of graduate work. The Environmental Science Advisory Committee will provide guidance and approve these remedial courses.

The required thesis is to be a significant original contribution in environmental science. The topic must be approved by the student's advisory committee in advance of the beginning of the thesis research. At least one member of the committee will provide advice and guidance in the student's research and in development of the thesis. The full committee will evaluate the defense of the thesis upon its completion. Candidates must choose an advisor and committee members by the end of the first semester of enrollment in the program.

Application For Graduation

Approval of an application for the Master of Science in Environmental Science is contingent upon the successful completion of an approved program and recommendation for the degree by the College of Science. Applications for degree conferral must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar the semester prior to completion of the degree requirements.

The following requirements must be met for the completion of the degree program:

  • Students must earn a 3.0 grade point average calculated on all graduate work attempted for which letter grades are awarded and cannot include more than five hours with grades of C. At least 30 of the hours required for the degree, including the program core, must be earned in residence. A maximum of six semester hours with no grade lower than B may be accepted for transfer. Transfer credit will not be used in computing the student's grade point average.
  • A comprehensive examination must be satisfactorily completed before graduation. This examination will be based upon the content of the program core and, normally, will be taken within two semesters after completion of the core courses. The comprehensive exam may be in written or oral format, at the discretion of the environmental science advisory committee. The exam contains material covered in the core courses as well as a selection of critical topics that a student should have studied in his/her undergraduate career. A candidate who does not perform satisfactorily may be required to enroll in additional courses or, through a special topics class, review critical literature and techniques. In any case, a student who has unsatisfactory results will not be eligible for re-examination before the following quarter. In such instances, it will not be necessary for the student to be enrolled in order to be re-examined.
  • Each student must successfully defend the thesis as determined by the advisory committee.
  • All degree requirements must be completed within seven years of first enrollment.

Course Load

The maximum recommended course load for a graduate student in the College of Science in a given semester is 12 semester hours, except that the maximum course load for a student holding a graduate assistantship is nine semester hours.

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