2020-2021 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Master of Science in Applied Computer Science
Requirements for the M.S. in Applied Computer Science
All candidates for the degree must complete a total of 33 credits, indicated as follows:
- Foundation courses (6 credits)
- Core courses (9 credits)
- Concentration course (9 credits)
- Electives (3 or 6 credits)
- Capstone (3 or 6 credits)
Foundation Courses (6 credits)
All candidates are expected to complete the two foundation courses: CIS 500 and CIS 501. However, a placement exam can be taken to demonstrate proficiency in the topics covered by the foundation courses. A successful score on the placement exam will result in waiving the requirement of the foundation courses (33 credits are still required for the degree).
- CIS 500 - Fundamentals of Software Practice (3 credits)
- CIS 501 - Fundamentals of Modern Computer Systems (3 credits)
Core Courses
Students are required to complete one course in three of the following areas for a total of nine credits:
1. Data Engineering
- CIS 660 - Information Management and Science (3 credits)
- CIS 673 - Principles of Database Design (3 credits)
2. Management of Systems Development
2. Software Engineering
- CIS 611 - Introduction to Software Engineering (3 credits)
- CIS 612 - Requirements Specification (3 credits)
- CIS 613 - Software Testing (3 credits)
- CIS 622 - Software Design Methodologies (3 credits)
3. Networking
Concentrations
All candidates are required to complete one of the following concentrations:
1. Biomedical Informatics
AND two of the following:
- CIS 635 - Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (3 credits)
- CIS 660 - Information Management and Science (3 credits)
- CIS 665 - Clinical Information Systems (3 credits)
- CIS 671 - Information Visualization (3 credits)
- CIS 677 - High-performance Computing (3 credits)
- CIS 678 - Machine Learning (3 credits)
2. Cybersecurity
AND two of the following:
- CIS 518 - Secure Software Engineering (3 credits)
- CIS 555 - Applied Cryptography (3 credits)
- CIS 616 - Data Security and Privacy (3 credits)
- CIS 617 - Digital Forensics and Investigations (3 credits)
- CIS 619 - Data Analytics for Cybersecurity (3 credits)
3. Database Management
AND two of the following:
- CIS 635 - Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (3 credits)
- CIS 660 - Information Management and Science (3 credits)
- CIS 665 - Clinical Information Systems (3 credits)
- CIS 671 - Information Visualization (3 credits)
- CIS 676 - Database Management Systems (3 credits)
- CIS 679 - Special Topics in Database Management (3 credits)
4. Distributed Computing
- CIS 654 - Computer Networking (3 credits)
- CIS 656 - Distributed Systems (3 credits)
- CIS 658 - Web Architectures (3 credits)
5. Information Systems Management
- CIS 641 - Systems Analysis and Design (3 credits)
- CIS 642 - IS Project Management (3 credits)
- CIS 643 - Information Systems Policy and Strategy (3 credits)
6. Software Design and Development
- CIS 611 - Introduction to Software Engineering (3 credits)
- CIS 641 - Systems Analysis and Design (3 credits)
AND elective (choose one):
- CIS 657 - Mobile Application Development (3 credits)
- CIS 673 - Principles of Database Design (3 credits)
7. Software Engineering
Choose three of the following:
- CIS 611 - Introduction to Software Engineering (3 credits)
- CIS 612 - Requirements Specification (3 credits)
- CIS 613 - Software Testing (3 credits)
- CIS 518 - Secure Software Engineering (3 credits)
8. Web and Mobile Computing
AND one of the following:
- CIS 654 - Computer Networking (3 credits)
- CIS 656 - Distributed Systems (3 credits)
- CIS 673 - Principles of Database Design (3 credits)
Additional Elective Courses
Any 500- or 600-level CIS course (other than foundations courses) can be used as an elective toward the M.S./CIS degree. Current electives include:
- CIS 623 - Graphical User Interface Design (3 credits)
- CIS 672 - Computer Systems Architecture (3 credits)
- CIS 675 - Compiler Construction (3 credits)
Capstone
Each candidate must complete either the Capstone course, the project course, or the thesis sequence. Please contact the graduate program director one semester prior to starting any of these.
- CIS 690 - Thesis Research Preparation (3 credits)
- CIS 692 - Master's Capstone (3 credits)
- CIS 693 - Master's Project (3 credits)
- CIS 695 - Master's Thesis (3 credits)