DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Course Descriptions

The graduate program in Computer Science prepares students for professional employment or further study at the doctoral level. Computer Science may be selected as the major for the Master of Science degree. Computer Science may also be selected as a minor for MS and MA degrees in related areas.

The Computer Science program's 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.

Research areas include software engineering, networking, programming languages, language translators, artificial intelligence, database, parallel processing, real time systems, digital forensics, security, data mining and the application of theory to practical problems in industry. The quality of Computer Science graduates is widely recognized by industry. Graduates are employed within the state of Texas, the United States, and many foreign countries.

The Digital Forensics curriculum prepares students for service in a variety of public and commercial arenas as digital forensics or network security professionals. In particular, graduates from the Digital Forensics program will be able to effectively plan, establish and administer security and information assurance systems in commercial settings and in law enforcement. The Digital Forensics program utilizes state of the art facilities through the Sam Houston State University Center of Excellence in Digital Forensics, a federally funded training and research facility. These facilities include a Network Security Lab, accommodating training in data and network security as well as cyber security intrusion detection, prevention and tracing, and a Data Recovery Lab that will provide training in the identification, recovery, and preservation of data for legal purposes.

Both programs reflect a diverse student body with applicants from Texas, the United States, and a host of foreign countries. SHSU Computer Science graduates have been employed by IBM, Microsoft, Dell, HP, Texas Instruments, and internet and communication companies. Many graduates also find positions in energy related fields. Firms employing SHSU graduates include major oil, transportation/distribution, and waste disposal companies.

Additional information concerning the Department of Computer Science and its graduate program offerings can be found at www.shsu.edu/~csc_www. For further information concerning the digital forensics program and continuing education opportunities visit df.shsu.edu.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the graduate program in Computer Science must submit the Graduate Studies Application for Admission with the one-time application fee to the Office of Graduate Studies, and official transcripts of all college-level work (including the transcript that shows the date the undergraduate degree was conferred). In addition the following are required:

A holistic review of each student's application file will be completed upon a competitive basis.

A. COMPUTER SCIENCE

Graduate study in Computer Science is accessible both to students who have completed undergraduate Computer Science majors or minors and to those with baccalaureate degrees in related fields with the equivalent of a Computer Science minor in formal course work or professional experience. As a minimum, candidates are expected to present a background comparable to that provided in CS 164, 165, 334, 362, 431, 482, MTH 299, and MTH 379 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. This requirement covers the stem work courses that are taken at Sam Houston State University as well.

Degree Plans

There is a thesis and non-thesis option available for a Master of Science degree in Computer Science. The graduate advisor will review each applicant's background and assist in developing individual study plans including any required stem work. The selection of a minor and the choice of electives must be approved by the Computer Science Department Chair to ensure the student's plan is a properly balanced program.

Master of Science, 36 hours without thesis and 39 hours with thesis.

Common Requirements:

1. A 15-hour core consisting of CS 531, 536, 564, 566, and 584
2. An oral examination over core courses
3. Six semester hours of approved Computer Science courses
4. One of the following:

A. CS 561 (a practicum project, and oral presentation of the project)
B. CS 698 and CS 699 ( research and thesis)

Additional Requirements:

The degree program may include a 12-semester hour minor in a field approved by the Chair of the Computer Science Department, or 12 additional semester hours of approved Computer Science courses. The 12-semester hour minor in an approved field may only be chosen if the student’s plan of study provides for a minimum of 48 semester hours (total graduate and undergraduate) in Computer Science or the student has extensive professional experience in Computer Science.

Other Scholarly Requirements

A committee advisor is assigned to each student at the time the student registerd for either CS 561 (programming practicum) or 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 possibly one from the minor area, if applicable. The oral comprehensive examination, required by the University of all Master’s degree candidates, as well as the CS 561 project presentation or the CS 698 thesis defense, will be administered by this committee. Students must be enrolled the semester in which they take comprehensive examinations. Once enrolled in a thesis class, a student must be continually enrolled until graduation.

B. DIGITAL FORENSICS

Graduate study in Digital Forensics is accessible both to students who have completed undergraduate Computer Science or Criminal Justice majors or minors and to those with baccalaureate degrees in technical fields with the equivalent of a Computer Science or Criminal Justice minor in formal course work or professional experience. Applicants who do not possess the appropriate academic, technical or experiential backgrounds may be required to take stem work courses to ensure a minimum standard of technical competence. Stem work decisions are made on an individual basis by the department chair .

Degree Plan

The Master of Science in Digital Forensics Program has a total of 36 semester credit hours. This hours total is derived from a need to provide appropriate coursework in two areas, Criminal Justice and Digital Forensics.

Criminal Justice (6 hours)
CJ 532 Perspectives in Criminology (3 hours)
CJ 634 Basic Research Methods and Planning Resources (3 hours)

Digital Forensics (21 hours)
DF 531 Principle and Policy in Information Assurance (3 hours)
DF 534 Digital Security (3 hours)
DF 561 Network Security (3 hours)
DF 583 Digital Forensics Investigation (3 hours)
DF 584 Software Forensic Evidence Management (3 hours)
DF 630 Cyber Law (3 hours)
DF 661 Cyber Warfare and Terrorism (3 hours)

Additional Requirements (6 hours)

CJ 637 Directed Management and Development Projects (3 hours)
CJ 670 Internship (3 hours)
DF/CJ Elective (3 hours)

Other Scholarly Requirements

A committee advisor is assigned to each student who has registered for either DF 637 (Directed Management and/or Development Project) or DF 670 (Internship). 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. Supervision of the Directed Management and Development Project, as well as the presentation of project findings will be administered by this committee. Students must remain continuously enrolled until graduation.

C. INFORMATION ASSURANCE AND SECURITY*

Graduate study in Information Assurance and Security is accessible both to students who have completed undergraduate Computer Science or Management Information Science majors or minors and to those with baccalaureate degrees in technical fields with the equivalent of a Computer Science or Management Information Science minor in formal coursework or professional experience. Applicants who do not possess the appropriate academic, technical or experiential backgrounds may be required to take stem work courses to ensure a minimum standard of technical competence. Stem work decisions are made on an individual basis by the department chair.

* Subject to action by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Degree Plan

The Master of Science in Information Assurance and Security program has a total of 36 semester credit hours drawn from Digital Forensics and Computer Science coursework and consists of 30 hours of prescribed coursework and 6 hours of elective coursework.

Prescribed Coursework (30 hours)
DF 531 Principle and Policy in Information Assurance (3 hours)
DF 561 Network Security I (3 hours)
DF 583 Digital Forensics Investigation (3 hours)
CS 534 Operating System Security (3 hours)
CS 537 Database Security (3 hours)
DF 564 Organizational System Security (3 hours)
DF 566 Risk Assessment and Financial System Investigation (3 hours)
CS 568 Cryptography and Steganography (3 hours)
CS 589 Disaster Recovery (3 hours)
DF 637 Directed Management and Development Project (3 hours)

Elective Coursework (6 hours). Select 6 hours from: CS 535 Malware (3 hours)
DF 568 Digital Fraud Examination (3 hours)
DF 661 Network Security II (3 hours)
DF 670 Internship (3 hours)

Other Scholarly Requirements

A committee advisor is assigned to each student who has registered for either DF 637 (Directed Management and/or Development Project) or DF 670 (Internship). 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. Supervision of the Directed Management and Development Project, as well as the presentation of project findings will be administered by this committee. Students must remain continuously enrolled in the Directed Management and Development Project until its completion and the completion of all required coursework.

Senior Courses Open to Graduate Students
(with the approval of the Graduate Advisor)

CS 430 Language Translators (Credit 3)
CS 431 Computer Operating Systems (Credit 3)
CS 437 Software Engineering (Credit 3)
CS 477 Simulation (Credit 3)
CS 482 Programming Languages (Credit 3)

A maximum of six hours of 400-level courses may be taken toward the completion of the master's degree. Course requirements in 400-level courses will be appropriately modified for graduate credit.

 

Course Descriptions: