The program of study is designed to provide a strong foundation in the core areas of Computer Science and many of its applications. Students are expected to learn and understand the concepts presented in the courses, and to be able to apply those concepts while developing software. Although the MS degree is good preparation for more advanced studies in the field, the primary emphasis is on practical skills applicable to industrial or government positions. As part of that emphasis, the degree includes a Cooperative Education option for those students interested in gaining experience applying their skills in a non-academic setting.
Currently faculty and students are working on research in fields as diverse as computer networks, data mining, mobile computing, bioinformatics, mathematical modelling, visualization, parallel algorithms, and programming languages. Some of these projects have involved local industry, governmental agencies, and health care facilities.
The complete set of requirements for admission to the Master of Science in Computer Science can be found at Admission Requirements . To summarize that information, the applicant is expected to have completed an undergraduate program of study with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4 point scale, including a year of Calculus and courses in the areas of Assembly Language, Data Structures, Discrete Structures, Theory of Programming Languages, Operating Systems, and Computer Architecture.
Although a degree in Computer Science is not a requirement for admission, it is the degree most commonly held by applicants. The majority of students admitted to the program have received some type of recognition as part of their degree (e.g., honors, distinction.)
Employers at the state, regional, and national level are looking for graduates with strong skills in Information Technology and software development. Our faculty and their students work in interdisciplinary projects involving the application of computer science concepts in new and diverse environments. These efforts better prepare students for subsequent employment or studies and provide the collaborating institutions with knowledge and/or systems to assist them in their own endeavors.
Our students are prepared for positions in industry or government that require a strong set of technical skills. These positions are typically in IT or e-commerce groups within the organization. Our graduates could have administrative duties for networks, computer systems, or database systems in addition to software development responsibilities. In conjunction with personnel from the Center for Career Management, we are able to assist our graduates in their search for suitable employment. Some of the companies in northeast Ohio that currently employ our MS graduates are Lockheed Martin, Progressive Insurance, J.M. Smucker Co., Infocision, Zylon International, Torr International, Aristar, Phillips Medical.
Some of our students choose to continue their academic progress in PhD programs, either in Computer Science or in a related discipline. We have graduates of our MS program who have continued their education at Ohio State, Penn State, and Akron.
Last update: March 2, 2005