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Computer Science Graduate Student Orientation

Computer Science Graduate Student Orientation. Fall 2010. Computer Science Overview. Computer Science Department Bachelor, Masters, Ph.D. program Office: DH 209 Our Web page: http://www.cs.memphis.edu/. People to know. All our faculty Cheryl Hayes – Rm 209 Lenatha Hunt – Rm 209

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Computer Science Graduate Student Orientation

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  1. Computer Science Graduate Student Orientation Fall 2010

  2. Computer Science Overview • Computer Science Department • Bachelor, Masters, Ph.D. program • Office: DH 209 • Our Web page: • http://www.cs.memphis.edu/

  3. People to know • All our faculty • Cheryl Hayes – Rm 209Lenatha Hunt – Rm 209 • Julia Campbell – Rm 216A • AregahegnNegatu(Sys. Admin) -- Rm 224 • http://www.cs.memphis.edu/~netadmin

  4. Agenda • Master’s Program • Ph.D. Program • Other important stuff

  5. Master Program: Requirements • 34 credits • = 11 courses + 1 credit of COMP 7950 • Main points • 4 core courses • Maximum 6-hr of non-coursework (project/thesis/independent studies etc.) • Area requirement • At most 2 6000-level courses • Some courses (UNIX, Models and 6000-level software engineering, Applied CS) do not count • Especially pre-requisties

  6. Master Program: Requirements Total requirements: 34 credits Pre-requisites courses does NOT count towards the degree

  7. Master Program: Requirements • Core courses • Must be taken by all students • Finish at least 3 out of 4 by 18th hour • If full-time, finish 3 out of 4 by 2nd semester • If part-time, finish 3 out of 4 by 3rd/4th semester • Must obtain B- or better in 3 of the 4 courses

  8. Master Program: Requirements • Research Methods in Computer Science • Learn how to do research, make presentation etc. • Must be taken by the end of 2nd semester • Always offered at Thu 4:15 – 5:15pm

  9. Master Program: Requirements • Elective courses • At most 2 6000-level courses • The 7000-level courses must be from 2 different areas • Foundations/Algorithms • Software/Language/Databases • Network/Security • Intelligent/Bio-inspired computing • Must be lecture-based (independent studies don’t count) • May count non-CS course(s), BUT ASK FIRST!

  10. Master Program: Requirements (NEW for Fall 2007!) • Research seminar • Research project with a faculty • Described later

  11. Masters Programs Requirement – Other options

  12. Master Program : Typical schedule (Full time student) • First semester • Any required pre-requisites • 1-2 core courses • Other electives • COMP 7950 • Suggest to start with 10 credits • Second semester • 2 core courses • Electives for your major area • Third semester • Any core course left over • Electives • 1-credit of COMP 7980 • Fourth semester • Any elective left • 2-credit of COMP 7980

  13. Master Program : COMP 7950 • COMP 7950 (Research Methods) • Students MUST take it by their second semester • Credit giving • Overview of research skills, presentation skills, as well as individual presentation • Typically offered at 4:15 – 5:15pm Thursday • Contact course coordinator if you have problem (e.g. full-time work), but we expect you to come

  14. Master Program : Project/Thesis Requirements • You must choose between • COMP 7980 • A 3-hr credit project course (unless he/she takes a thesis) • Individual project with a professor • Require write-up (12-page paper) • A 3-member committee for a final presentation • COMP 7996 • A 3 or 6 hr Master Thesis • Similar to COMP 7980 • A longer write-up (but more solid, and more likely to be publishable)

  15. Master Program : COMP 7980 (Research Seminar) • COMP 7980 • 3-credit, taken over two semester • If you want to graduate in Spring/Summer (Fall) • Take the one credit section (section 301) in the Fall (Spring) before you graduate • Take the two credit section under your advisor (section 012 – 192), during the semester you plan to graduate • The one credit section is a regular section • Meets regularly (typically Tues or Thur 4:15 – 5:15)

  16. Master Program : Project/Thesis Requirements • In general • Plan ahead. • It is ok to extend a class project, but expect extra effort • Presentation skills counts! • Don’t stretch your project too long • You may lose interest • Faculty may lose interest • If you fail to finish on-time, you’ll continue to pay tuition until all is done • It’s over when your advisor say it is • Not when you get a job • Not when you need to save a dollar

  17. Master Program : Requirements • Independent study courses (COMP 7/8901) • Usually taken in the second year (or beyond) • A directed study with a professor • Can be a pre-cursor of a project/thesis • CANNOT use to satisfy area requirements • Courses from other departments • Talk with your advisor first!

  18. Graduation Requirements • Criteria for graduation • GPA : should be at least 3.0 • Grades : should not have more than two “C+/C/C-” • No D or F • Core courses: At least 3 of the 4 has to be B- or better • Project presentation : Performance in the presentation • Overall performance : “whether I would hire you if you apply a job for me”

  19. Graduation Requirements • Comprehensive exam • Your final project/thesis presentation will also serve as comprehensive exam • ANY questions about the grad curriculum can be asked • All other criteria (e.g. GPA, GPA for major courses etc.) will be evaluated

  20. Graduation requirements: Forms • There are forms that are required from the Graduate School for graduation • Intent to graduate form • Degree Candidacy forms • http://academics.memphis.edu/gradschool/graduation.html • Check the graduate school website for deadlines! (usually 2nd week of class – 9/9/2010 for Fall 2010) • Other deadlines (For Fall 2009) • Thesis/Dissertation Defense: 11/19/2010 • COMP7980 presentation: 12/03/2010

  21. Ph.D. Program – Requirements • Course credits • Qualifying exams • Comprehensive exam/Dissertation Proposal • Final Dissertation defense

  22. Ph.D. Program – Course credits • 72 credits from Bachelor degree • If you do not come with a Master’s, then finish the master requirement first • If you come with a Master, talk to your advisor to determine how many credits you need. • We may exempt some number of credits based on the work you have done with your Master degree

  23. Ph.D. Program – Course credits • Other requirements • 9-15 credits of COMP 9000 (Dissertation) – must be consecutive • At least 6 credits belonging to one area • At least 18 credits of 8000-level courses • At most 15 credits of Independent studies • If you do not have a M.Sc, take COMP 7950 ASAP.

  24. Ph.D. Program – Qualifying exam • The 4 Master level core course acts as the qualifying exam • Must get at least B in all of them, before your 4th semester here • In case of failure, an additional exam will be given • If you come with a Master, we may decide to waive some of your requirements

  25. Ph.D. Program – Comprehensive exam/Dissertation proposal • Student should find a dissertation proposal advisor • Settle for an advisor 2 years after BS/1 year after Ph.D • No need to be your initial advisor • Prepare a dissertation proposal • Select a dissertation committee • 4 members minimum • Set a date for comprehensive exam • Include dissertation proposal defense • Questions on areas of study

  26. Ph.D. Program – Dissertation defense • Final defense with dissertation committee • Have the final draft of the dissertation early to the committee • Follow graduate school guidelines “to the letter”

  27. Ph.D. Program – What to do NOW! • If you’re a new Ph.D student • Talk to your initial advisor ASAP • Talk to Ms Julia Campbell if you don’t have one • Fill in a Ph.D Planning Form • Available from the department web site: http://www.cs.memphis.edu/index.php?p=forms • Have you advisor approve it and send it to the department • If you are a current Ph.D. student (coming in from Fall 2008 onwards) and have not filled in the form, do it ASAP.

  28. Programming test for incoming students • For people who come in this semester • Held next Friday, 9/3, 10:30 – 12:30, Room TBA • Open book, no electronic material • Test your basic programming skills • If you have actually written programs yourself, you should be able to pass • If you fail…. • Your name will be forwarded to your advisor and all the instructor of your class • Based on your remaining performance of the semester, you may be required to take a remedial programming class (that don’t count towards the degree)

  29. Transfer credits • For Masters students: at most 12 • For Ph.D. students: at most 36 • Need to be CS relevant course that has not been used to fulfill another degree (we may ask for proof) • Notice that no UG level course can be transferred • Even if those course can be used for the graduate degree at your previous school • Talk to your advisor ASAP.

  30. Getting a job…. • About getting a job before you graduate….. • Follow rules (especially for international students) • Only can count 3 credits for Internship credits for your degree • Do not presume that getting a job = the school must graduate you • We will help, but you must show that you have intention to finish the work PROPERLY

  31. Academic Probation • GPA < 3.0 → Academic Probation • First semester: • You must talk to your advisor and grad coordinator before registration • You will lose your GA • Two consecutive semester: • You will appear before a 3-member committee • Make your case • Committee may decide • Terminate your student status • Require you to take extra courses

  32. Academic Probation • To avoid getting into trouble • Work hard • Don’t overload yourself • Be careful about “easy courses” • Remember only 6000 (or above) level courses count towards your GPA

  33. Advising • Academic advisor • You MUST have an advisor • And you MUST have talked to him/her already • Not signature person • Need to let them know your academic plan • Keep them informed on your changes • Don’t wait till last minute to find them • You can change academic advisors • No hard feelings • Do contact Julia Campbell first

  34. Class registration • Register early! • Late registration will lead to class being cancelled • Plan ahead for the semester

  35. Academic Fraud • Serious matter! Zero tolerance • Plagiarism: • using others' ideas and words without clearly acknowledging the source of that information • Unfair, dishonest • Cheating, Fabrication

  36. Internship • What • Working on a “real job” and learning credits at the same time • Why • Real life experience • Get to know more employers • Help in job-hunting • $$$$$ • You can take as much as you want, but only 3-credit will be counted.

  37. Internship (ctd) • Warning • Follow the rules. Especially international students. • Don’t do it last minute! Plan in advance. (because your advisor might not be in town by the time you get the job) • Make sure you satisfy all the University/Department course requirement • Don’t get an out of town Internship if you still have other requirements to fulfill • Further details: contact Julia Campbell

  38. Faculty • Julia Campbell (instructor/advising) • DipankarDasgupta • Lih-Yuan Deng • Marc Fisher • Stan Franklin • Max Garzon • Segun George • Santosh Kumar • King-Ip Lin • KriangsiriMalasri (instructor) • VinhthuyPhan • VasileRus • Linda Sherrell • Sajjan Shiva (on-leave) • Lan Wang • Qishi Wu

  39. Instructors (Part time) • Hongjun Song • Dan Sweeney • Andrew Neel

  40. Others • CS Notice board : Outside the CS dept office • Departmental activities • Fall: Social – have a bit of fun! • Spring: Research day – show off your research • Computer Science Colloquium • Fridays 1:30 – 2:30pm • Free food and discussion session: 3:00 – whatever….

  41. Above all • Enjoy your time here! • Last chance of school life before getting a job. • Know more people. • Build networks. • Aim High. (No short-cut please) • Work hard, be responsible, but still have some fun • Absorb the culture here, but bring your own to the table

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