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ApplyProgram Description | Admission | Degree Requirements | Courses
Program Description
The Computer and Information Science curriculum utilizes state-of-the-art software, software development methodologies, project management techniques, and hardware. Emphasis is placed on preparing students for an environment where change is the norm. Computer and Information Science may be selected as the major for the Master of Science degree. Computer and Information Science may also be selected as a minor for MS and MA degrees in related areas.
Admission
Applicants seeking admission to the graduate program in computing and information science must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
- Graduate Application
- Application fee
- Official transcript(s) of all previous college work
- Official GRE scores
- Two letters of recommendation that address the applicant's qualifications for graduate study
- International Applicants Only: TOEFL or IELTS scores. The minimum requirement for TOEFL is 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, and 79 internet-based. The minimum requirement for IELTS is 6.5.
Graduate study in computing and information science is accessible to students who have completed undergraduate computer science majors or minors and to students with baccalaureate degrees in related fields with the equivalent of a computer science minor in formal coursework or professional experience.
At the minimum, candidates are expected to present a background comparable to that provided in the following courses as described in the Undergraduate Catalog of Sam Houston State University.
Applicants with less preparation will be required to complete additional stem work as part of the graduate program.
In general, applicants whose GRE score exceeds 1000 will likely be able to complete the master's degree successfully. Admission preference is given to those applicants with an undergraduate GPA in excess of 3.0. However, please note that a holistic review of each student's application file will be completed, and admission will be granted on a competitive basis.
Degree Requirements
The MS in Computing and Information Science requires a minimum of thirty-six hours of graduate credit. There are two plans leading to the degree; neither plan requires a thesis. Plan 1 allows the student to take twelve hours in a secondary field that logically supports the major.
A committee advisor is assigned to each student at the time the student registers for COSC 6347 <CS 561> Programming Practicum or COSC 6348 <CS 698> (thesis). Committee appointments are made by the Chair of the Computer Science Department based upon recommendation from the Computer Science Graduate Advisor. The advisory committee consists of graduate faculty from the Computer Science Department and, where applicable, one from the minor area. Students are required to complete a written comprehensive examination prior to registering for COSC 6347 Programming Practicum or COSC 6348 Thesis. Students may be also be required to supplement their written responses in an oral examination. Students must be enrolled the semester in which they take comprehensive examinations. Once enrolled in COSC 6347 Programming Practicum or COSC 6348/6349 Thesis a student must be continually enrolled in each major semester until graduation.
Plan 1 - M.S. in Computing and Information Science (Non-thesis)
|
Item
|
Requirement
|
Options
|
Hours
Required |
| 1 |
Specified
Courses |
Choose all from: COSC 5327 <CS 531> Operating Systems COSC 6319 <CS 536> Software Engineering COSC 6318 <CS 564> Programming Languages COSC 5318 <CS 566> Database Systems COSC 5326 <CS 563> Networks and Data Communications COSC 5319 <CS 574> Data Structures COSC 6347 <CS 561> Programming Practicum1 |
21
|
| 2 |
Elective
|
Choose one from: Graduate courses in COSC or DFSC2 |
3
|
| 3 | Secondary Field | Choose four from: Graduate courses in a secondary field that logically supports the major2 |
12
|
|
TOTAL
|
36
|
||
| Notes: |
| 1 | Once enrolled in COSC 6347 <CS 561>, the student must enroll in this course until graduation. |
| 2 | Courses should be selected in consultation with the Graduate Advisor. |
Plan 2 - M.S. in Computing and Information Science (Non-thesis)
|
Item
|
Requirement
|
Options
|
Hours
Required |
| 1 |
Specified
Courses |
Choose all from: COSC 5327 <CS 531> Operating Systems COSC 6319 <CS 536> Software Engineering COSC 6318 <CS 564> Programming Languages COSC 5318 <CS 566> Database Systems COSC 5326 <CS 563> Networks and Data Communications COSC 5319 <CS 574> Data Structures COSC 6347 <CS 561> Programming Practicum1 |
21
|
| 2 |
Electives
|
Choose five from: Graduate courses in COSC or DFSC2 |
15
|
|
TOTAL
|
36
|
||
| Notes: |
| 1 | Once enrolled in COSC 6347 <CS 561>, the student must enroll in this course until graduation. |
| 2 | Courses should be selected in consultation with the Graduate Advisor. |
Courses
Computer Science (COSC)
Digital Forensics (DFSC)
Senior Courses Open to Graduate Students
With departmental approval, a maximum of six hours of the following senior (4000-level) courses may be taken for graduate credit toward the MS in Computing and Information Science. Course requirements in senior courses must be appropriately modified for graduate credit.
