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New CS/CIS Master Student Orientation Spring 2009

New CS/CIS Master Student Orientation Spring 2009. University of Houston - Clear Lake. Presented by: Dr. Bun Yue Chair, Division of Computing and Mathematics January 22, 2009 (Thursday) 4:00pm to 5:30pm. Table of Contents. Welcome! Opportunities Resources Foundation Courses

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New CS/CIS Master Student Orientation Spring 2009

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  1. New CS/CIS Master Student OrientationSpring 2009 University of Houston - Clear Lake Presented by:Dr. Bun YueChair, Division of Computing and MathematicsJanuary 22, 2009 (Thursday) 4:00pm to 5:30pm

  2. Table of Contents • Welcome! • Opportunities • Resources • Foundation Courses • Advising and CPS • Planning your study • Research and Capstone Projects • Controlled and Full Courses • Academic Honesty • TA Applications • Questions and Answers

  3. Welcome! • Welcome aboard! • UHCL: four schools • School of Science and Computer Engineering (SCE): three divisions. • Division of Computing and Mathematics (DCM): four programs. • Computer Science (CS) • Computer Information Systems (CIS) • Mathematics • Statistics

  4. Opportunities: UHCL CS/CIS Programs • ABET Accredited! • Small class sizes • Friendly faculty and staff • Teaching-oriented faculty • Student research • High tech environment • Close ties with surrounding high tech industry • Balance between theory and practice

  5. Opportunities: Some Goals • Better study • Better career preparation • Better professionalism • Better networking

  6. Resources: Personnel • SCE: • Dean: Dr. Sadegh Davari • Associate Dean: Dr. Dennis Casserly • Academic Advisors: • Ms. Barbara Coleman • Ms. Dorothy Hogg • DCM: • Division Chair: Dr. Bun Yue

  7. Personnel • Program Chairs: • CS: Dr. Sharon Hall • CIS: Dr. Andrew Yang • DCM secretaries • Ms. Janet Brecheen (division’s secretaries): • Delta building access pan code

  8. Personnel • Faculty suite secretaries: • Ms. Kim Edwards: D161 (all other CS/CIS faculty members) • TA applications • Control courses • Waiting list for courses • Ms. Jeanne Leslie: D101 (Drs. Yang, Hall and Giarratano)

  9. Faculty • Faculty members • Ms. Krishani Abeysekera • Dr. Hisham Al-Mubaid • Dr. Said Bettayeb • Dr. Gary Boetticher • Dr. Sadegh Davari • Dr. Terry Feagin • Dr. Joseph Giarratano

  10. Faculty • Dr. Sharon Perkins Hall • Dr. Dan Kim • Dr. Morris Liaw • Dr. Perez Perez-Davila • Dr. Andrew Yang • Dr. Bun Yue

  11. Faculty

  12. Staff • Technology Specialist: Mr. David Webb • Academic software purchase • Laboratories • Systems Administrator: • DCM and SCE accounts • DCM laboratories • Unix server and laboratories

  13. Some Resources • SCE/DCM Accounts: • SCE Web server • DCM laboratory accounts • UHCL Neumann Library • UHCL Writing Center • Low cost academic software: contact Mr. David Webb • CS/CIS Blog: http://sce.uhcl.edu/cs/blog/

  14. Scholarship and Work • Be aggressive and try hard. • UHCL: http://prtl.uhcl.edu/portal/page/portal/FAO/FAO_New/Scholarship • SCE specific: http://prtl.uhcl.edu/portal/page/portal/FAO/Scholarships/Scholarship_Schools/SCE • Campus jobs

  15. Foundation Courses • Required to fulfill background for the Master program. • Listed explicitly in the admission letter.

  16. Example of An Admission Letter

  17. An Admission Letter

  18. Foundation Courses • They should be taken as soon as possible. • Dangling foundation courses: • May not be able to enroll in some courses, especially controlled courses. • May adversely affect your TA and RA applications. • May make your study harder.

  19. Foundation Courses • Two kinds: • Technical courses: CSCI, MATH, CENG, etc. • Writing courses: WRIT 3035, WRIT 3135. • Must be completed before graduation.

  20. Foundation Courses • May request wavering. • There is a waiver committee. • To apply: • Submit completed waiver request form. • Consult advice from the faculty advisor. • Submit as much evidence as possible. • Burden of proof on students.

  21. Foundation Courses • Waiver requests should be made as soon as possible: • Take time to process. • Completing a course with the foundation course as a prerequisite is not a valid reason for waiving the foundation course. • Writing foundation courses were usually not waived.

  22. Advising and CPS • Each student has two advisors: • Academic Advisor: general issues. • Faculty Advisor: subject matter issues. • They are your coaches!

  23. Persons to contact (admission letter)

  24. Faculty Advisors • Help you to • Set up your candidate plan of study. • Provide advice on your study plan. • Provide help to prepare for your future career. • Approve electives.

  25. Candidate Plan of Study • Your study plan ‘contract’. • Clarify what is needed to achieve your degrees. • Protect you from future changes. • Should be set up as soon as possible.

  26. CPS (admission letter)

  27. CPS Process • Contact your faculty advisor after you arrive and seek advice. • Schedule an appointment with your faculty advisor at the middle of your first semester. • Before the appointment, construct an initial list of elective courses you want to take. • You may send this information and other personal information (name, student id, email, phone, address) to the faculty member before the meeting.

  28. CPS Process • Good opportunity to develop a study plan (when to take what courses). • Your faculty member can set up a draft CPS with both of you signed. • The school will set up a formal CPS for you to sign later.

  29. Sample Draft CPS: Foundation Requirements

  30. Sample Draft CPS: Electives

  31. Sample Draft CPS: Thesis or Capstone

  32. Planning Your Study • Devise a study schedule as early as possible: • Realistic • Helpful to your established career goal • Adapted if necessary. • Work with your advisors along the way.

  33. Planning your study • What courses to take first? • Foundation courses (must be taken care of as soon as possible) • Courses in the critical path (such as prerequisites of other desirable courses.) • Core courses (you have no flexibility here). • Courses that are not offered frequently.

  34. Planning your study • Do not over-commit. • Do not take too many courses in your last semester. • Capstone or thesis are demanding. • Need effort for graduation and job hunting.

  35. Thesis and Capstone • Thesis • A two semester sequence. • 33 hours instead of 36 hours • Learnt a lot! • Innovative work in your future career is like research. • May take an independent study first. • Need to plan for it in the first semester.

  36. Thesis and Capstone • Capstone • Real world team projects mentored by industrial partners. • Viewed as very useful in career preparation. • Demanding and very different. • Must not miss the first class. • Consider attending capstone project presentations

  37. Controlled Courses • Need approval before registration. • CSCI 6530 Research Methods • Completed all writing requirements • Taken enough computer science courses. • CSCI 6838 Capstone Projects • Within last 12 hours of study (including foundation courses) • Return application forms to Ms. Kim Edwards.

  38. Full Courses • May need override approval to register • Considered in a case by case manner • Look for more information for a new procedure next semester.

  39. Academic Honesty • UHCL has strict academic honesty standards. • UHCL has well defined academic honesty violation (AHV) policy and procedure. • AHV due process will be followed by the division.

  40. Academic Honesty Violation • Cheating is simply not worth it. It is costly! • AHV: • Appear in student records • Will not be hired by the programs in any capacity (e.g. TA) • Impact scholarship opportunities • 2 AHV may result in suspension from the university, or even expulsion.

  41. Academic Honesty • Check class policy and instructions carefully. • Do not fall for peer pressure. • May have cultural difference. • Use common sense. • In case of doubt, check!

  42. TA • Excellent opportunity to improve yourself! • You are encouraged to apply.

  43. TA Applications • GPA is not the only consideration factor. • Much more complicated than most can imagine. • Scheduling is NP-complete! • Many factors considered.

  44. TA Applications • Is competitive. • To improve your chance: • Let the faculty members know your ability and work ethics • Have good faculty recommendations (not generic one) • Differentiate yourself! • Make yourself ‘useful’!

  45. TA Applications • Deadline: April 23rd. • Ensure eligibility. Eg. • CPS formally filed. • Must be able to start working on day one. • Must be able to attend TA orientation. • No AHV • Fill application form carefully

  46. Questions?

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