SFSU Computer Science Department Advising Day

1. 08/21/08 SFSU Computer Science DepartmentAdvising Day August 2008 Prof. D. Petkovic dpetkovic@cs.sfsu.edu

2. WELCOME

3. Outline • SW trends driving markets, jobs and education • About CS Department • What is NEW • About the program • About this semester • QA • For specific questions see advisors today

4. Trends in Computer Science R&D and jobs • Global development of computer software through international cooperation and outsourcing are the main characteristics of current and future software engineering development process • Increased emphasis on building SW from components and services developed globally • Everything is getting connected with WWW and wireless • Critical need for making systems easy to use, on time and budget, and with adequate performance, with geographically dispersed teams • Open source software community is another example of global collaborative approach to SW development. • New areas: games, sensor networks, biotech, personal devices…

5. Mission and Objectives • To prepare students for careers as software professionals • To prepare students for graduate studies in Computer Science • Important learning objectives used in order to achieve the above goals • http://cs.sfsu.edu/mission.htm

6. About the Department • Main CS WWW site www.cs.sfsu.edu • Mission and Objectives • http://cs.sfsu.edu/mission.htm • About 400 undergrads and about 100 graduates • 12 full time faculty and about 9 lecturers • http://cs.sfsu.edu/People/people.html • Strong accomplishments and nationally recognized faculty • http://cs.sfsu.edu/RecentAccomplishments.htm • Strong links with local industry • Strong research activity http://cs.sfsu.edu/externalpubs/2004pubs.htm • Center for Computing for Life Sciences http://cs.sfsu.edu/ccls/index.html

7. Motivation for updating the curricula with new types of skills • ACM study on SW outsourcing and globalisation specifically mentions the need to train SE students in so called “soft skills”, teamwork, communication, SE process organization and issues related to globalisation Aspray W., Mayadas F., Vardi M.Y., Editors: “Globalisation and Offshoring of Software, A Report of the ACM Job Migration Task Force”, ACM 2006, http://www.acm.org/globalizationreport/

8. Jobs • Jobs are plenty • Demand very strong! • CS one of the best careers • http://education.yahoo.net/degrees/articles/featured_8_sure_fire_hires.html BUT • New skills are needed

9. Motivation: more than technical skills required – example job adv. • Sr. Software Engineer • Job DescriptionThe Software Engineer will work as part of an agile multi-disciplinary team to develop the software components of an enterprise-scale hospital information system. The individual must be a team-player and willing to function as a designer, developer, tester, and an analyst as required to achieve the goals of the team. • Specific Responsibilities: • • 5+ years of professional experience developing commercial or enterprise-scale software products• 3+ years of development experience with Java and J2EE (EJB, Servlets, and JSP) • XP, Agile development experience is preferred• Healthcare domain knowledge is preferred• Exposure to multiple DBMS systems is preferred • Understands concepts of the software development lifecycle • Ability to function as a designer, developer, tester and to some degree, an analyst • Must possess strong organization and communication skills • Must exhibit a sense of and demonstrate responsibility, focus on delivery, and ability to work independently with appropriate technical direction• Comfortable in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment• Strong written and verbal skills from both business and technical perspectives

10. Some basics • CS Office TH 906 • CS WWW site – must visit regularly www.cs.sfsu.edu • Read office e-mail and newsletters • If questions, look at CS WWW, then ask office • Classes start 08/26/08 • Get advising often, there is also mandatory advising checkpoint for CSC 213, CSC 413 enrolment • 1 unit = 2 hours of work/week

11. New in Fall and recently • Initiatives in serious games and sensor arrays • Lab remodeling and lab Committee and student helper • Student Advisory Board • WWW site redesign • Grad program • MS Concentration in Computing and Business • Revision of all other MS concentration  better coverage and flexibility • Group Project Cluster requirement to ensure you get SW development team experience

12. Group Project Cluster • Ensures that all students starting Fall 08 graduate by taking at least one of the team-intensive courses: • CSC 630, Computer Graphics Systems DesignCSC 631, Multiplayer Game DevelopmentCSC 640, Software EngineeringCSC 658, Programming CaféCSC 667, Internet Application Design and DevelopmentCSC 668, Object Oriented Programming Satisfies the learning objective: “Students will be able to solve problems working in group settings”.

13. New advising polices (as of Spring 08) Advising has been shown to significantly increase success in studies NEW: • Attend Chair’s welcome group meeting at the beginning of each semester during CS Advising Day • No more general SFSU advising day • Mandatory advising for new and transfer students upon enrolment in 413and 213 – check with the office on who to see • Peer advising by CS students (does not replace faculty advising) • CS Advising page http://cs.sfsu.edu/advising.html

14. Reminder: plagiarism polices • Cheating and plagiarism policies http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/plagarism.html • Zero tolerance, policies will be enforced!

15. Important links • Undergraduate WWW page • http://cs.sfsu.edu/undergrad/undergraduate.html • Major program • http://cs.sfsu.edu/undergrad/under-major.html • Prerequisite chart • http://cs.sfsu.edu/undergrad/under-prereq.html • Suggested plan of study • http://cs.sfsu.edu/undergrad/under-rec-sequence.html • CS Advising page • http://cs.sfsu.edu/advising.html • DARS report: http://www.sfsu.edu/~admisrec/reg/dars.html • Cheating and plagiarism http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/plagarism.html

16. Internal job opportunities for students • CS WWW page for jobs: external (full time, part time), internal http://cs.sfsu.edu/jobs.html • Get involved in some project with graduate students • Check internal jobs: at SFSU, at CS Department (TAships, research grants) • Individual or team projects get you great experience and help you get the job • Center for Computing for Life Sciences – IT and cluster management - contact Mike Wong http://cs.sfsu.edu/ccls/index.html

17. Other developments • Student Advisory Board formed. http://cs.sfsu.edu/People/StudentAdvisoryBoard.htm • Excellent forum to give us feedback • Lab and faculties improved: • Improving lab management, WWW site for tracking problems admin@minkay.sfsu.edu • Lab committee, Student helper hired • Lab remodeling: TH 331, undergrad lab, grad lab

18. Join student chapter ACM • Meet new friends • Get tutoring • Attend seminars (I.e. on job search) • Get connections with industry during industry visits • Advanced Programming Studio club

19. Don’t forget to have fun and get to know other students Good luck Think of grad program too Tell your friends about us!

21. Welcome graduate students!

22. Outline • SW trends driving markets, jobs and education • About CS Department • What is NEW • About the program • About this semester • Foreign students • QA • For specific questions see advisors today

23. Mission and Objectives • To prepare students for careers as software professionals • To prepare students for graduate studies in Computer Science • Important learning objectives used in order to achieve the above goals • http://cs.sfsu.edu/mission.htm

24. MS Degree? • MS degree becoming a key for advancement • Combination of general CS skills, domain depth and “soft” skills is critical • Program concentrations ensure breath and depth. Thesis ensures ability to work independently, to write and to present • Ability to work with geographically dispersed teams and multidisciplinary teams is increasingly important

25. About the Department • Main CS WWW site www.cs.sfsu.edu • Mission and Objectives • http://cs.sfsu.edu/mission.htm • About 400 undergrads and about 100 graduates • 12 full time faculty and about 9 lecturers • http://cs.sfsu.edu/People/people.html • Strong accomplishments and nationally recognized faculty • http://cs.sfsu.edu/RecentAccomplishments.htm • Strong links with local industry • Strong research activity http://cs.sfsu.edu/externalpubs/2004pubs.htm • Center for Computing for Life Sciences http://cs.sfsu.edu/ccls/index.html

26. Some basics • CS Office TH 906 • CS WWW site – must visit regularly www.cs.sfsu.edu • Read office e-mail and newsletters • If questions, look at CS WWW, then ask office • Classes start 08/26/08 • Get advising often • Clear conditions early (including English proficiency) • 1 unit = 2 hours of work/week • Foreign students: observe OIP rules

27. New in Fall and recently • MS Concentration in Computing and Business • Revision of all other MS concentration  better coverage and flexibility • Lab remodeling and lab Committee and student helper • Initiatives in serious games and senor arrays • Student Advisory Board • WWW site redesign

28. Trends in Software Development • Global development of computer software through international cooperation and outsourcing are the main characteristics of current and future software engineering development process • Increased emphasis on building SW from components and services developed globally • Everything is getting connected with WWW and wireless • Critical need for making systems easy to use, on time and budget, and with adequate performance, with geographically dispersed teams • Open source software community is another example of global collaborative approach to SW development. • New areas: games, sensor networks, biotech, personal devices…

29. Motivation for updating the curricula • ACM study on SW outsourcing and globalisation specifically mentions the need to train SE students in so called “soft skills”, teamwork, communication, SE process organization and issues related to globalisation Aspray W., Mayadas F., Vardi M.Y., Editors: “Globalisation and Offshoring of Software, A Report of the ACM Job Migration Task Force”, ACM 2006, http://www.acm.org/globalizationreport/

30. Jobs • Jobs are plenty • Demand very strong! • CS one of the best careers • http://education.yahoo.net/degrees/articles/featured_8_sure_fire_hires.html BUT • New skills are needed

31. Motivation: more than technical skills required – example job adv. • Sr. Software Engineer • Job DescriptionThe Software Engineer will work as part of an agile multi-disciplinary team to develop the software components of an enterprise-scale hospital information system. The individual must be a team-player and willing to function as a designer, developer, tester, and an analyst as required to achieve the goals of the team. • Specific Responsibilities: • • 5+ years of professional experience developing commercial or enterprise-scale software products• 3+ years of development experience with Java and J2EE (EJB, Servlets, and JSP) • XP, Agile development experience is preferred• Healthcare domain knowledge is preferred• Exposure to multiple DBMS systems is preferred • Understands concepts of the software development lifecycle • Ability to function as a designer, developer, tester and to some degree, an analyst • Must possess strong organization and communication skills • Must exhibit a sense of and demonstrate responsibility, focus on delivery, and ability to work independently with appropriate technical direction• Comfortable in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment• Strong written and verbal skills from both business and technical perspectives

32. Graduate program descriptionhttp://cs.sfsu.edu/grad/grad_program.html • General; SW. Engineering; Computing for Life Sciences Concentrations • Breadth 9 units • Concentration core 9 units • Electives 6 units • Practicum option 3 units • Culminating Experience 6 units • Total 30-33 units • PLUS NEW in Computing and Business starting this Fall

33. NEW MS Concentration in Computing and Business – with SFSU BUS school – starting NOW • 3 core CS courses • 3 required CS courses as designated in the General Concentration • 1 CS elective course • 1 Business elective course, approved by advisor. These are drawn from 700- or 800-level courses in Business, Management, Finance, Decision Sciences, or Marketing (3 units) • 3 required business courses (8 units) • BUS 780- Accounting • BUS 788 Mng. Principles • BUS 784 Political, Social and legal Environment OR BUS 787 Marketing • Equivalent of 2 courses for thesis/project; the thesis/project must have a business component. The student’s culminating experience committee will be composed of 2 CS faculty and one Business faculty. Total 38-41 units

34. Benefits of new MS Concentration in Computing and Business Graduates with this concentration will have the skills to • Perform R&D in the computing field • Possess the skills and knowledge to manage software development teams or start their companies • Assume management responsibilities in organizations that require managers who understand both the computing and business aspects of information technology. • Assist with high-tech entrepreneurship ventures - assist in understanding and relating the technical feasibility of new ideas • Speak to both high-tech groups, and communicate technical ideas and concepts to non-technical groups in the business organization • Contribute to organizations that provide strategy consulting services to high technology companies (staff at these companies needs to have strong backgrounds in both technology and business)

35. Revision of MS Concentrations: General, SW Eng, Comp. For Life Sciences • To ensure better coverage and flexibility • SW Eng, Conc. requires a PM course from BUS School CSC 663 • Details • http://cs.sfsu.edu/grad_2008_revisions.html • New students must take this new program, old students can chose, see grad advisor

36. Some areas of focus • Data management, databases, informatics • Visualization • HCI, usability • Internet applications • Global and practical SW Engineering, teamwork • Bioinformatics, computing for life sciences • Image processing, multimedia, AI • Games • Computing and Business • Sensor networks

37. Center for Computing for Life Sciences (CCLS) • CCLS is an official multidisciplinary SFSU Center for addressing problems in broad area of Computing for Life Sciences such as: bioinformatics, imaging, collaborative tools, UI, visualization, databases, computational biology and chemistry, applications in drug discovery, collaborative tools, algorithms etc. • Goal is to develop CCLS into signature “marquee” program of SFSU • CCLS is joint collaboration between Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Math, Physics and Astronomy • http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/ccls/index.html

38. Serious Games for Nursing Education - NEW • NEW CCLS project between CS Department, School of Nursing and Industry and design • Combines CS, graphics, game concepts • Faculty contact Prof. I. Yoon, M. Wong (CCLS) • Money for research work and culminating experience projects available

39. Cluster Computing • New 40 node DELL Cluster operational in CCLS • http://ccls.lab.sfsu.edu/bin/view/Cluster/DellPowerEdgeCluster • For projects in computational biology and life sciences • For education (distributed and parallel computing, data mining…)

40. Consult CS WWW page all the time • Before asking the office or advisors, check our WWW page • It has all the info, forms and policies • Check WWW page at least once a week • Check e-mail from the office and Chair’s welcome message from the WWW page • NEW: Read CS newsletters

41. Advising - NEW • Must see advisor upon start of the program • Must attend first Graduate Seminar during the first term (CS Chair will overview grad program and faculty will overview projects) – Wednesdays 5:30 • Should attend Chair’s welcome group meeting at the beginning of each semester • Get timely advising as often as you need • Those planning for Ph. D. program see CS Chair in the first semester • Advising page http://cs.sfsu.edu/advising.html

42. Graduate seminar (formerly Pernet) • Brings outstanding speakers from academia an industry. Every Wednesdays 5:30 in TH 331. Exposes students to great topics and great speakers, helps give ideas for projects and jobs • Each graduate student must attend all seminars in one Semester • First two seminars by Prof. D. Petkovic: about graduate program and about department research • CS faculty will overview their projects – excellent place to get ideas for culminating experience Starts mid September – check CS WWW page • http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/news/Fall-2004-Pernet-Requirments.html

43. Miscellaneous • Conditionally classified graduate students: please focus on clearing your conditions first. • Those who have SCI 614 as a condition must enroll in it during their first semester. Those with SCI 614 as a condition who wish to waive it must receive a grade PASS (not Marginal Pass) from GET test before enrolling in any graduate level courses.   • In case you need more depth in learning Java or basics of WWW development, we do recommend you take our “service” courses like CSC 203 and CSC 317 with cover Java and Intro to Web development, respectively. •  Due to popular demand, we are offering CSC 825 Advanced Automata Theory now. May not offer CSC 810 in Spring 09

44. Jobs • Consult our employment page for internal, TA and external openings http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/jobs.html • Attend ACM seminars on jobs search and use SFSU Career Center • Start looking for internships now! • Look also for SFSU jobs and research grant funded jobs in CS Department • Foreign students: there are rules that must be strictly observed. CS Department only recommends, SFSU OIP applies for, UC Government is the one which issues permits to work

45. Reminder: plagiarism polices • Cheating and plagiarism policies http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/plagarism.html • Zero tolerance. Policies will be enforced!

46. Important stuff • Visit WWW site and read e-mail • Program description http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/grad/grad_program.html • For new grads http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/grad/new_grad_helpnotes.html • Graduate page http://cs.sfsu.edu/grad/graduate.html • Check new schedule http://cs.sfsu.edu/schedules/07/sp07.htm • Importance of early advising. New students MUST see advisor http://cs.sfsu.edu/advising.html • Recommended sequence of study, selection of concentration – second semester; finding the advisor http://cs.sfsu.edu/grad/grad_recom_sequence.html

47. More… • Graduate seminar series requirement http://cs.sfsu.edu/news/Fall-2004-Pernet-Requirments.html • Internships – new polices on 893 (practicum) – important for foreign students • All steps in preparing culminating project forms http://cs.sfsu.edu/forms/aboutculminatingproject.html • Culminating experience http://cs.sfsu.edu/grad/new_grad_culminating_req.html • How to write culminating project report http://cs.sfsu.edu/grad/writing_cpr.html • Cheating and plagiarism http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/plagarism.html • International program – Fulda, Germany http://cs.sfsu.edu/news/SFSUFulda.htm • Forms http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/forms/forms.html

48. Join student chapter ACM • Meet new friends • Get tutoring • Attend seminars (I.e. on job search) • Get connections with industry during industry visits • Advanced Programming Studio club • President: Eric Gregory

49. Welcome foreign students! • Keep GPA and class load above the minimum - Overall GPA >= 3.0, class load 9 units minimum • Take CSC 893 for summer internships, must be at SFSU for at least 2 semesters. Covered by new “practicum option”. • See http://cs.sfsu.edu/forms/student%20forms/opt_cpt_letter_instructions.html • Post completion training allowed only when thesis is more than 95% complete, need confirmation by the advisor. http://cs.sfsu.edu/forms/student%20forms/opt_cpt_letter_instructions.html • Conditional graduate students should chose CR/NC option for conditional courses where possible: in case they get NC they do go on probation but do not lose work permit. Department will enforce conditions but this gives us greater flexibility • No external full time work approved in Fall and Spring • No CPT if on reduced course load (OIP rules)

50. Welcome foreign students! • Learn about USA: customs, culture, geography • Bay Area is one of the bets areas in USA: geographically, culturally, for education and technology • Get internships with local industry • Visit places, talk to people • Learn English (reading, writing) • Have fun!