MS in Computer Information Sciences

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Computer Information Sciences provides a comprehensive foundation in computer science and cybersecurity. Students can choose from three concentrations: Scientific Computing, Software Engineering and Software Testing, or Cybersecurity. The program emphasizes hands-on experience through experiential courses and prepares graduates for careers in various computing fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Master of Science in Computer Information Sciences provides a solid foundation in the fundamental areas of computer science and cybersecurity. The program offers a challenging opportunity to pursue a versatile course of study reflecting the student's desires, background, and future responsibilities. The curriculum includes courses to acquaint the student with current advances in the discipline, and their applications in business, health care, and other areas. The program emphasizes the ability to devise and execute solutions, which involves integrating key design notions of data representation, algorithms, programming, knowledge in systems, data security, and software engineering in one unified framework. Graduates are prepared to integrate business, interpersonal, and team skills with computational skills that lead to professional employment or the pursuit of a doctoral degree in the field.

Outline:

The program requires a total of 36 semester hours, comprising 15 semester hours from core courses, 6 semester hours of experiential courses, and 15 semester hours of Concentration courses.

Core Courses:

• CISC 520 - Data Engineering and Mining (3 credits)
• CISC 525 - Big Data Architectures (3 credits)
• CISC 530 - Computing Systems Architecture (3 credits)
• CISC 603 - Theory of Computation (3 credits)
• CISC 610 - Data Structures & Algorithms (3 credits)
• GRAD 695 - Research Methodology & Writing (3 credits)

Experiential Courses:

Students must complete 6 semester hours of experiential courses, which may include internships, research projects, or other approved activities.

Concentration Courses:

Students can choose from three concentration areas:

• Scientific Computing
• Software Engineering and Software Testing
• Cybersecurity
Each concentration requires 15 semester hours of coursework, which includes a mix of required and elective courses.

Assessment:

The program utilizes various assessment methods to evaluate student progress, including:

• Exams (midterms, finals)
• Quizzes
• Projects
• Presentations
• Research papers
• Capstone projects

Teaching:

The program is taught by experienced full-time and adjunct faculty, including:

• Dr. Abrar Qureshi, Professor and Program Lead of Computer Science & Software Engineering
• Dr. Steve Hernandez, Corporate Faculty (CSMS)
• Dr. Ying Lin, Corporate Faculty (CSMS)
• Brian Grey, Instructor of Computer and Information Sciences and Program Lead of CISC Online
• Tom Sarihan, Instructor of Computer Science
• Dr. Sangwhan Cha, Associate Professor of Computer Sciences
• Ron Jones, Instructor of Cybersecurity
• Bruce Young, DIA, Academic Content Lead for SCE, Instructor and Program Lead of Cybersecurity & Information Assurance
• Glenn Williams, Instructor of Advanced Manufacturing, AR & Robotics
• Khaled Iskandarani, Instructor of Biostatistics & Computational Science
• Thomas Plunkett, Assistant Professor of Blockchain Technologies
The program employs a variety of teaching methods, including:
• Lectures
• Discussions
• Hands-on exercises
• Team projects
• Research projects

Careers:

Graduates of the Master of Science in Computer Information Sciences are prepared for a wide range of careers in the computing field, including:

• Software engineer
• Cybersecurity analyst
• Data scientist
• Research scientist
• Technical manager
• Systems analyst
• Database administrator
• Network administrator
• Web developer