Master of Science in Computer Science

Master of Science in Computer Science University of Paderborn Gerd Szwillus, Head oftheExaminationCommitteeApril 2010

Outline • Elements ofthe Master Programme • Classes • Seminars • Project Group • Master‘s Thesis • German Language Course • Structure • Areas • Modules • Scope • Examinations

Elementsofthe Masters Program • Class + Exercises(Vorlesung mit Übungen) • 2 hrslectureand 1 hrexercises per week(V2+Ü1) • Lecture • all studentsmeet • teachertalks • Exercise • studentsmeet in subgroups • tutor moderates discussionwithstudents • studentspresentpreparedhomework

Elementsofthe Masters Program • Seminar (Seminar) • 2 meetinghrs per week(S2) • Teacherproposestopics(Seminarthemen) • Every student • selectsonetopictowork on • prepares a talk withslides(Seminarvortrag) • submits a writtenelaboration(Ausarbeitung)

Elementsofthe Masters Program • Project Group (Projektgruppe) • Workload: Half-time foroneyear • New PG topicsarepresentedtothe Master students in a publicevent(Projektgruppenvorstellung) • Interestedstudentsapplyfor PG and … • … 8 to 16 studentsareaccepted • Working fortwosemesters on a project(often: conceptandimplementationofsomesoftware) • Highlyself-organized

Elementsofthe Masters Program • Master‘s Thesis (Masterarbeit) • Workload: Full-time foronesemester • Whathastobedone? • Literaturereview • Research • often: implementationofsomesoftware • Writing a thesis (~ 80-120 pages) on scientificlevel • All this: within 6 months (formallychecked!) • First a planningphase (typically 1 month) • Thentheperformingphase (5 months)

Elementsofthe Masters Program • Master‘s Thesis (Masterarbeit) • Finding an advisor(Betreuer) • adressprofessorsworking in an interestingarea • adressprojectgrouporganizer • askfriends • Finding a topic(Thema) is an interactiveprocessbetweenstudentandadvisor • ownideas? • projectgrouptopic? • discussionwiththe (potential) advisor!

Elementsofthe Masters Program • German Language Course(Deutschkurs) • Hostedbythe International Office (Akademisches Auslandsamt) • Obligatory(noMaster‘sdegreewithout!) • May cover the „Studium Generale“ part • Paidbythe Computer Science Institute

Structure • Fourareas(Gebiete) • SWT&IS: Software Technology & Information Systems (Softwaretechnologie und Informationssysteme) • MuA: Models & Algorithms(Modelle und Algorithmen) • ESS: Embedded Systems & System Software(Eingebettete Systeme und Systemsoftware) • MMWW: Human-Machine-Interaction(Mensch-Maschine-Wechselwirkung) • Every studentchoosesoneofthefourasareaofspecialization(Vertiefungsgebiet)

Structure • Modules (Module) • Every module • belongstoonearea(ofthefour) • contains a catalogofclassesorseminars(fromthatarea) • isdescribed in themodulehandbook(Modulhandbuch) • isstudiedbytakingtwoclassesfromthatcatalog • Every studenthasto • studythreemodules in her/hisareaofspecialization • onemoduleeach in thethreeotherareas • (Henceeverystudenthastotakesixmodulesoverall)

Structure • Handbook ofmodules(Modulhandbuch, MHB) • available on-line as PDF fromhttp://www.cs.uni-paderborn.de/cshome • exists in twoversions • „old“ = 2004 • „new“= 2009 • since winter 09/10 only2009 is relevant!

Structure • Currentlyexistingmodules

Structure • Example: Module III.2.1 „Algorithms 1“ • Studyingthismodulemeans:takingtwooftheseclasses!

Scope • Every studenthasto … (ECTS credits) • studythreemodules in her/hisareaofspecialization(24) • includingoneseminarin somemodule • studyonemodule in eachoftheotherthreeareas(24) • onemoreseminar(insteadof a class)isallowed • successfullytakepart in a projectgroup(30) • write a Master‘sthesis(30) • completethe German languagecourse(if not yetdonebefore)orstudy a sidesubjector do „generalstudies“ (12)

Scope - Example • Possiblestructure(but notobligatory!): everythingelsebeforethesis(minimumof 54 ECTS beforethesis)

Scope - Example • Modules, PG (eventhesis) canbeshifted

Scope - Example • Modules neednottobedonewithinonesemester!

Scope - Example • MuA1 & MuA2 in onemodule • Same forSWT1 & SWT2 and MMWW1 & MMWW2 • ESS1…ESS6 must bematchedtothreemodules, e.g. ESS1 & ESS4 ESS2 & ESS3 ESS5& ESS6

Examinations • Modules • one oral examaboutthetwoclasses (resp. a seminar) • Project group • permanent evaluationthroughouttheproject • Master‘s Thesis • evaluationfromtheadvisorand a co-advisor • Language Course • DSH certificate after thecourse

Examinations • Repetition • Oral exams (modules) canberepeatedtwice • Master‘s Thesis canberepeatedonce • Project groupcanberepeatedtwice • German Language Coursecanberepeatedinfinitely

Examinations • Compensation(appliesto oral moduleexamsonly) • Based on conceptof an examcontainer • Size: 16 ECTS creditsortwomodules • Successfulorfailed oral exam • canbeplacedintothecontainer • retrysomethingelsewith a „clean“ situation • e.g. a secondmodule in oneofthe non-specializedareas • e.g. a fourthmodule in thespecializedarea • swapcontainerexamsand non-containerexams • e.g. toimprovethedegree • e.g. toeliminateoneortwomoduleexamfailures

Examinations - Example • Student failsthreetimes in oral examofmodule ESS-2 • nomorerepetitionpossible • ESS-2  Container • Student succeeds in ESS-4 

Examinations - Example • Student succeeds, but performsweak in oral moduleexam MMWW-A for MMWW (degree: 3,0) • MMWW-A exam Container • Student tries oral exam MMWW-B for MMWW • succeedswith 1,0 (has 1,0 asdegreefor MMWW !) • or: succeeds, but evenworse (4,0)  MMWW-A exam  ContainerMMWW-B exam  Container(studentcanonly fall back on degree 3,0 for MMWW!)

Examinations • Final failure • Container isfull (2 modules) • Neitherbyswappingnorbyfurtherexamscanthestudentfulfilltherequirements • 3modules in thespecializationarea • onemodule ineachoftheotherareas • OR • Twoattemptsfor a Master‘sthesisfailed • 

Examinations • Final failure • Container isfull (2 modules) • Neitherbyswappingnorbyfurtherexamscanthestudentfulfilltherequirements • 3modules in thespecializationarea • onemodule ineachoftheotherareas • OR • Twoattemptsfor a Master‘sthesisfailed •  But this will NEVER happen, ofcourse!!!!!

Anyquestions? • Thankyoufortheattention!

Master of Science in Computer Science