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Welcome

admin — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:07:05 -0700

Welcome to the Web home of the Computer Science Department at Montana State University. Montana State University is nestled in the Rocky Mountains of the Gallatin Valley of South Central Montana. The Department offers the Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Computer Science. Nine members with varying teaching interests, research projects, and expertise comprise the faculty. Studies leading to each of the degrees can be combined with outdoor recreational activities that include hiking, biking, camping, downhill and cross-country skiing, whitewater sports, fishing, and hunting in the many neighboring national forests and wilderness areas. Yellowstone Park is close by, as are three major ski areas: Bridger Bowl, Big Sky, and Moonlight Basin. Please feel free to peruse our web site and contact us with any questions you might have about studying Computer Science at Montana State University or joining our faculty.

2009 Annual Meeting

paxton — Sat, 7 Nov 2009 14:34:11 -0700

2009 Annual Meeting Information

Date: Friday, February 27th, the day after the Almost Spring Career Fair
Location: CS Conference Room (EPS 347)
Start Time: 9 a.m.
Lunch will be catered
Estimated Finish Time: 4 p.m.
Optional, dutch-treat social outing at Plonk: 7:30 p.m.
2008 Advisory Board Meeting Summary

Agenda

Welcome and Introductions
Dean's Report - Robert Marley (9 a.m.)
Department Update and Discussion
Accreditation Discussion
Faculty Research Overview - John Sheppard
Brief Faculty Research Updates - Rafal Angryk, Brendan Mumey, Jian Tang
Student Report on Interdisciplinary Option- Derek Hammons and Rick Fox (1 p.m.)
Security Presentation - Jason Taylor
KUSM Tour - Eric Hyyppa

CS 140CS

paxton — Mon, 2 Nov 2009 10:27:41 -0700

CS 140CS SPINNING WEBS
S 3 cr. LEC 3

ACM Regional Programming Contest

paxton — Mon, 2 Nov 2009 10:24:18 -0700

Brandon Norick, Michael Paulson and Randall Reynolds represented MSU at the ACM Regional Programming Contest at Colorado University on October 31, 2009. The team was the top team at the CU site and finished 16th out of 65 teams in the region. Congratulations! Final standings.

CS Seminar: 11/9/09 - Neeraj Gurdasani

starkey — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:26:40 -0600

Start: 11/09/2009 - 4:10pm

End: 11/09/2009 - 5:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-6

Abstract TBA

CS Seminar: 11/16/09, Rance Harmon

starkey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:15:11 -0600

Start: 11/16/2009 - 4:10pm

End: 11/16/2009 - 5:00pm

Timezone: Etc/GMT-6

Rance will be describing his MS project. Abstract TBA.

Application Procedure

ross — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:18:57 -0600

Application Procedure

Applicants to the MS program in Computer Science are required to

become familiar with the requirements for Masters students of the the Division of Graduate Education, the College of Engineering, and the Computer Science Department by reading their respective web sites; check the Master's admission requirements page of our website for details.
complete an application, available on the Division of Graduate Education web site.

Unless it is not possible for you to do so, we require that you fill out the online application rather than the paper application.

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Summary and Timeline for Master's Degree Completion

ross — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:07:40 -0600

This page provides a table that summarizes in succinct form the various procedures and deadlines you must meet on the way to the Master's degree.

Timeline

	Thesis Track	Project Track	Courses-Only Track
Before enrolling in your first class	Meet with the MS advisor, Dr. Ross.	Meet with the MS advisor, Dr. Ross	Meet with the MS advisor, Dr. Ross
During the first semester in which you take a course that you want to count towards your MS degree	Select an advisor from among the CS faculty.	Select an advisor from among the CS faculty.	Select an advisor from among the CS faculty.
By the end of the next semester thereafter	Turn a completed Program of Study in to Dr. Ross before enrolling in any courses.	Turn a completed Program of Study in to Dr. Ross before enrolling in any courses.	Turn a completed Program of Study in to Dr. Ross before enrolling in any courses.
At or before the start of the semester before the semester in which you plan to graduate	Determine a thesis topic with your advisor and begin research work on that thesis.	Determine a project topic with your advisor and begin work on that project.	NA
At or before the start of the semester in which you intend to graduate	Begin writing your paper for publication and your thesis as you finish your research.	Complete your project, leaving enough time to write the project paper.	NA
By the third Friday of the semester in which you intend to graduate	Complete and submit an Application for Advanced Degree (found in the CS office).	Complete and submit an Application for Advanced Degree (found in the CS office).	Complete and submit an Application for Advanced Degree (found in the CS office).
By the end of the third week of the semester in which you intend to graduate	1. Schedule a time and room with the secretaries for the date of your comprehensive/defense of thesis exam. This exam must be scheduled on or before the 21st business day prior to the end of the semester in order for you to graduate during this semester. 2. Schedule a time with the seminar coordinator in which you will present your thesis. The seminar must take place before your comprehensive exam.	1. Schedule a time and room with the secretaries for the date of your comprehensive exam.This exam must be scheduled on or before the 14th business day prior to the end of the semester in order for you to graduate during this semester. 2. Schedule a time with the seminar coordinator in which you will present your project The seminar must take place before your comprehensive exam.	1. Schedule a time and room with the secretaries for the date of your comprehensive exam.This exam must be scheduled on or before the 14th business day prior to the end of the semester in order for you to graduate during this semester.
By the end of the fifth week of the semester in which you intend to graduate	Take the part of the thesis that you have completed to this point to the division of graduate studies to have it reviewed for format.	NA.	NA
One week prior to your comprehensive examination	Submit your thesis and paper for publication to your committee.	Submit your project report to your committee.	NA
After your comprehensive examination	Make any last corrections to your thesis required by your committee. Once approved by your advisor, the thesis must be submitted to the Division of Graduate Education. Do this before the 14th business day prior to the end of the semester, because the Division of Graduate Education must actually check and approve your thesis before that date expires.	Make any last corrections to your project report, and turn it in to the secretaries.	NA

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Making Satisfactory Progress Towards the Master's Degree

ross — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:58:23 -0600

In order to remain in the MS program, a student must sustain satisfactory progress towards the degree, including maintaining grades in accordance with Division of Graduate Education standards.

Progress

The faculty as a whole will assess the progress of each graduate student at least once per year. The case for each graduate student will be presented by the student's advisor. Other faculty will then be able to discuss any issues with respect to the student's academic performance or professionalism. The faculty will then decide which of the following letters the student will receive:

congratulations on satisfactory progress
a warning of unsatisfactory progress and placement on academic probation
dismissal from the program

Grades

The Division of Graduate Education has standards for grades and grade point averages that must be maintained by graduate students. The standards are found here and should be reviewed by every graduate student. Essentially, to avoid academic probation and/or dismissal from the University, a student must

maintain a cumulative 3.0 or better GPA over all courses taken, including any deficiency courses you must take and any other courses not listed on your Program of Study.
maintain a 3.0 or better GPA over the courses listed on the Program of Study.
maintain a 3.0 or better GPA over the courses taken each semester.
ensure that a Program of Study has been submitted and approved by the deadline.
continue to make satisfactory progress towards the degree.

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Finishing the Master's Degree

ross — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:52:51 -0600

All Master's students must keep an eye on the end game. Be aware that there are some things to be done just before you graduate. You can also check the Timeline for a general overview.

The Seminar

Every MS student on the thesis or project track must present their results in a department seminar. The seminar must be held prior to the comprehensive exam (see below). Students on the courses-only track are not required to present a final seminar.

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The Comprehensive Examination

The Division of Graduate Education requires all MS students at MSU to take an exam called, the Comprehensive Examination, just prior to graduation. For project (Plan B) students, the Comprehensive Examination is the only exam required. Thesis (Plan A) students must also take another exam called the Defense of Thesis. These examinations must be scheduled in accordance with the rules and deadlines of the Division of Graduate Education.

The Computer Science Department has settled on the following examination structure to satisfy Division of Graduate Education requirements.

Both project and thesis students will take a single, two-stage final exam.
The two-stage exam consists of a public seminar in which a student presents the results of his or her project or thesis, followed by a closed-door oral exam on the same or a later day.
For project students, this two stage exam will constitute the required Comprehensive Examination.
For thesis students this two-stage exam will constitute both the Comprehensive Examination and the Defense of Thesis.

The oral component of the Comprehensive Examination will focus on two aspects:

the student's project or thesis
coursework on the Program of Study in which the student earned a B- or less

Carefully note, however, that students must be prepared to answer computer science specific questions that naturally arise during the examination of their project or thesis, providing them the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to synthesize knowledge of computer science and apply it to their project or thesis work. Thus, it is strongly recommended that students review their coursework and knowledge of the computer science fundamentals underlying their project or thesis work. For example, questions about the time complexity/computability issues involved in their work are likely to arise, as are questions about the content-specific nature of their work.

The examiners for the oral part of the exam will include all members of the student's graduate committee and any other faculty who desire to take part.

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