Graduate Catalog - Shippensburg University

Shippensburg UniversityComputer Science DepartmentCarol A. Wellington, Ph.D., Chair (477-1424)Alice J. Armstrong Ph.D.Thomas H. Briggs, Ph.D.C. Dudley Girard, Ph.D.David A. Hastings, Ph.D.Jeonghwa Lee, Ph.D.David J. Mooney, Ph.D.Computer Science (M.S.)Computer science is a fast-moving field that continues to attractprofessionals whose undergraduate degrees are not in computer science.The M.S. in computer science is designed for those studentswho want to transition from another discipline into computer science.As such, it contains background material and the equivalent of aterminal master’s degree in computer science. While assuming littlecomputer science background, the program will provide studentswho intend to enter the job market upon graduation with tools thatwill enable them to successfully adapt to technologies that are everchanging.Full-time graduate students will take nine graduate credits persemester and graduate in two years. Part-time students can take onecourse in the evening during the fall and spring semesters and oneor two courses in the summer to graduate in three and a half to fouryears. Students are admitted in any semester.Admission RequirementsTo gain admission to the Master of Science degree in computerscience program, an applicant must satisfy the general admissionrequirements of the graduate school. Applicants whose overall qualitypoint average is below 2.75 will be required to take the GraduateRecord Examination (GRE) prior to admission. All international applicantswho have not graduated from a four-year American universitymust take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).Additionally, all such applicants must achieve a score of 237 on theTOEFL (computer based).Degree RequirementsAll students are required to take 30 credits consisting of:Core CoursesCSC501 Algorithm Design and AnalysisCSC502 Automata TheoryCSC520 Computer ArchitectureCSC521 Operating SystemsCSC523 High Performance ComputingCSC570 Database Management SystemsElectivesCSC514 Programming LanguagesCSC534 Computer SecurityCSC550 Scientific VisualizationCSC571 Advanced DatabasesCSC592 Advanced Topics in Computer ScienceGeography/Earth Science DepartmentWilliam L. Blewett, Ph.D., Chair (477-1685)Michael Applegarth, Ph.D.Sean Cornell, Ph.D.Scott Drzyzga, Ph.D.Alison Feeney, Ph.D.Thomas Feeney, Ph.D.Kurtis Fuellhart, Ph.D.Tim Hawkins, Ph.D., Graduate Coordinator (477-1662)Claire Jantz, Ph.D.Paul Marr, Ph.D.George Pomeroy, Ph.D.Janet S. Smith, Ph.D.Kay R.S. Williams, Ph.D.Christopher Woltemade, Ph.D.Joseph Zume, Ph.D.Geoenvironmental Studies (M.S.)Admission RequirementsAn applicant must meet the minimum standards of the School ofGraduate Studies and must have an undergraduate minimum of:a. 12 hours in geography or 12 hours in the earth sciences or acombined total of 18 hours in the two fields; or,b. 15 hours in the social sciences including 6 hours of geographyand 15 hours in the natural sciences including 6 hours in theearth sciences.Conditional admission may be granted by the departmental graduatefaculty committee for a student lacking the required level of entrancecredits with full admission granted after the deficiencies havebeen corrected and six hours of graduate work successfully completed.Applicants who do not have an overall quality point average of 2.75or greater will be required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)prior to admission. Each student will plan a program on an individualbasis with the graduate faculty ensuring a balanced natural/social sciencebackground.MissionThe Geography-Earth Science Department at ShippensburgUniversity is committed to student learning and personal developmentthrough innovative teaching, high quality field application, anduse of geotechnology in all aspects of departmental programs. Thesecommitments will deepen student appreciation of geography-earthscience, encourage life-long learning, and prepare graduates to besuccessful in their future endeavors. The geoenvironmental studiesgraduate program is designed to be flexible in order to meet thevaried needs of a wide range of students. The specific mission of thegraduate program can be summarized as follows:• Develop mastery of theoretical knowledge and provide experiencewith practical applications from a wide range of environmentaland geotechnical disciplines.• Provide further training and experience to increase competitivenessin the environmental and geotechnical job markets.• Provide continuing education to fulfill professional developmentrequirements.• Provide a solid foundation for continued graduate education.40