MS Degree Program

Areas of Concentration  |  Overview  |  Degree Requirements

Admission Procedures |  Project Requirement  |  Comprehensive Examination

 

MS Degree Areas of Concentration

- Computer and Information Sciences (CIS)              with - Area of Concentration in Management Information Systems (MIS) - Area of Concentration in Bioinformatics (BI) - Area of Concentration in Computer-based Education (CBE) - Area of Concentration in Digital Art (DA) - Area of Concentration in Information Security (IS) - Area of Concentration in Knowledge Management (KM) - Area of Concentration in Computer Networks (CN) - Area of Concentration in Software Engineering (SE)

MS Degree Program in Computer & Information Sciences

Overview The use of computers in solving problems has increased dramatically in the last three decades. Professionals in all disciplines use computers in the organization of data as well as in the storage, manipulation and analysis of that data. KSI is actively engaged in the training of professionals to effectively use the level of computer sophistication available to them in the marketplace. KSI is involved in the continued research necessary to make efficient use of the advances in computer technology already available and to contribute to that level of computer sophistication. Knowledge Systems Institute offers coursework and research at the graduate level in the fields of computer and information sciences and management information systems. The certificate program enables students with no previous background in computer science to learn computer and information sciences. The MS degree program in computer and information sciences also has a concentration in management information systems, so that students with a background or interest in business management can specialize in that area. Assessment of Student Academic Achievement The purpose of the MS degree program is to make sure that the students learn to develop the following abilities: (1) solve problems related to computer and information systems, (2) design and carry out innovative research projects, (3) explore and exploit new knowledge, (4) demonstrate basic knowledge in the fields of computer science, information science and management information systems, and (5) communicate effectively in written and oral forms. In order to assess the student's academic achievement in learning and developing the above described abilities, the student is required to complete coursework with an average of 'B' or above, successfully pass the MS comprehensive examination, successfully complete an MS project, successfully complete the MS project report and give an oral presentation of the completed MS project. Degree Requirements The MS degree in Computer and Information Sciences requires twenty seven (27) credit hours of coursework (namely, nine (9) graduate courses), a nine (9) credit hour individual research project and a comprehensive examination. In addition, the MS Degree in Computer and Information Sciences with an area of concentration requires thirty (30) credit hours of coursework, a nine (9) credit hour individual research project and a comprehensive examination. Admission Procedures MS Degree Program Admission Requirements Applicants to the graduate program should have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Computer and Information Sciences from an accredited US college or university. Students without a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field may need to complete prerequisite courses to compensate for deficiencies in their computer science background. MS Degree Program Prerequisite Courses The need for prerequisite courses (if any) will be determined on an individual basis by the academic department and admissions committee. The number and area of prerequisite courses will vary, depending on the student's educational background, life or work experience, and on the desired area of concentration within the CIS degree. Students without a bachelor's degree who have completed at least two years of undergraduate coursework and wish to pursue an MS degree may be admitted on a conditional basis. Such applicants will be allowed into the graduate program after completing an adequate number of undergraduate courses in liberal arts, business, science, and/or engineering. Students should have a minimum of 120 undergraduate credits to begin the graduate program. This should include at least 24 credits of coursework in computer science or computer and information sciences. Most or all of these courses can be taken at KSI. Prerequisite course descriptions are given in the online catalog. These 300-level courses are listed under the Certificate Program. Such courses shall not be counted toward the fulfillment of MS degree requirements. Before a student may matriculate he/she must have an official transcript of previous college work on file in the registrar's office. International Student Admission Requirements International students can only be admitted as full-time students. International applicants must meet English Language Proficiency requirements. This requirement can be met in three ways; obtaining acceptable score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), completing non-credit courses in English as a Second Language (ESL), or a combination of the two. - Applicants may submit a TOEFL score of 213 or higher and waive all ESL courses, or - Students may complete 5 consecutive levels of ESL without taking the TOEFL, or - Students may complete 3 consecutive levels of ESL and then submit a TOEFL score of 180 or higher. How to Apply Students must send the completed application form, three reference letters and the application fee to the Admissions Office. Students must have official transcripts mailed to the Admissions Office. TOEFL grade reports should be sent directly to the school using the school's TOEFL test center code, which is 1379. When to Apply Applications for admission are accepted throughout the year. Classes begin at various times as indicated in the academic calendar. Transfer Students Transfer of credits from another institution will be considered on an individual basis. The MS Degree Program Project Requirement Both tracks leading to the Master of Science degree at KSI require an individual project. This MS project is the most important ingredient of the program. Courses at KSI are developed to aid in this project so that the skills and understandings of course work may be utilized and further developed. The MS project advisor will work closely with the student, so that he or she may acquire the skill to conceptualize, define the goals and objectives, work out the experimental design, and carry out the project in an organized, structured way. Three copies of the project report must be submitted. Detailed requirements of format, contents, and method of presentation are available. The student is required to give a project presentation in the monthly seminar series. All graduate students are required to attend the seminars.   MS Degree Program Comprehensive Examination A student can take the comprehensive examination only when he or she is about to complete all coursework in a designated program. The student should obtain the “Comprehensive Examination Request” form from the Administration Office and formally submit the request to the school. If the request is approved, the school will inform the student of the date of the examination (for an exam schedule listing refer to page 2). A written report will be mailed to the student after the comprehensive examination is graded. The student must follow the recommendation of the report, which may specify retaking certain courses or retaking the examination.

 

 

 

Knowledge Systems Institute is a Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences.
KSI offers an MS Degree in eight areas of concentration including:
Information Security  |   Bioinformatics  |   Knowledge Management
Software Engineering  |   Computer Networks  |   Management Information Systems  
Digital Art  |   Computer-Based Education