GENERAL REGULATIONS
The Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering offers the Ph.D. degree and two Master's degrees, the M.S. (with a required thesis) and the M.Sw.E. (project required). All degrees are designated with the major of Computer Science and Software Engineering (COMP is the major abbreviation). An Information Assurance Option is also available for students studying for the Ph.D. or the M.Sw.E. degree.
The following sections contain a brief statement of regulations specific to the Computer Science and Software Engineering Department. Particular emphasis is placed on those regulations for which there are requirements for CSSE in addition to those of the Graduate School. For specific dates of all graduate activities, consult the current calendar in the Auburn University Bulletin.
2.1 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Application forms and related information can be obtained from the Graduate School web site. Online application is strongly encouraged. Except recommendation letters and resume, all application materials must be mailed directly to the Graduate School.
Graduate School
Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849-5347
Phone: (334) 844-4700
Email: gradadm@auburn.edu
Homepage: http://www.grad.auburn.edu
If necessary, please include information regarding the means of satisfying any prerequisites (see next section) which are not explicitly listed on your transcript. All applications will be evaluated by the CSSE Graduate Admissions Committee after they are forwarded to CSSE by the Graduate School.
Specific questions concerning graduate study in Computer Science and Software Engineering should be directed to
Department of Computer Science & Software Engineering
3101 Shelby Center
Auburn University, Auburn, AL. 36849-5347
Phone: (334) 844-4330
Email: csegpo@eng.auburn.edu
NOTE: Admission to the program leading to any advanced degree does not constitute admission to candidacy for that degree.
2.1.1 PREREQUISITES
Although most of our graduate students have a degree in computer science, software engineering, or computer engineering, a significant number of them have formal training in other disciplines. We encourage strong applicants from many backgrounds, provided they can show potential to complete the graduate degree requirements in Computer Science and Software Engineering.
For those applicants without or with little formal training and/or experience in Computer Science and Software Engineering, the following prerequisite areas are considered essential to success in our graduate programs. Please be aware that the admission slots for such kind of students are limited.
A typical applicant with strong science and engineering background and extensive programming experience may take the following Auburn University courses to satisfy the prerequisites after his/her admission.
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
However, the prerequisite prescription is largely dependent on the individual applicant's background and experience and should be taken in the beginning of the student's graduate study. Each application will be considered on a case by case basis and the above model may be considered as the worst case scenario for most applicants. Please note that these prerequisites are NOT available through the Graduate Outreach Program.
2.1.2 GRADE POINT AVERAGE AND GRE SCORES
In general, only those students who have at least a 3.0/4.0 undergraduate grade point average at the time of graduation will be considered for the graduate program. Priority will be given to applicants who score greater than 1200 on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
2.2 TRANSFER FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONS
Upon recommendation of the student's advisory committee, a maximum of six semester hours of related graduate work that has been satisfactorily completed (B or better) at other approved graduate schools may be applied toward the master's degree course requirements. Transfer credit for the Ph.D. is determined by the student's advisory committee.
2.3 RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
There is no requirement for students to be physically on campus to earn any of the degrees offered through the computer science and software engineering graduate program. Residency requirements are left up to each student's academic advisor, who ensures that the student is "immersed in the culture of graduate education." Further details on the residency requirements of the university can be obtained from the Graduate School web site. Consult the Auburn University Bulletin for specific residency requirements for students holding graduate assistantships. It is the student's responsibility to assure that all Graduate School requirements are met.
2.4 ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The student's graduate study will be directed by a committee of at least three faculty members chaired by a major professor. These are selected by the student with the concurrence of the major faculty and the department chair. Each master's level student must choose a committee within the first semester of graduate study. Ph.D. committees must consist of at least two members of the graduate faculty (including the major professor) and must be organized by the third semester of doctoral work.
2.5 GRADE REQUIREMENTS
All remedial courses must be completed with a grade of B or better. Candidates for an advanced degree are required to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 on all work taken for graduate credit. No grade below C will be accepted for graduate credit, but grades on all courses carrying graduate credit will be used in determining the overall average. A student whose GPA falls below 3.0 would be placed under academic probation, warning, or suspension. See the paragraphs on Grades and Academic Standing in the Graduate School section of the Auburn University Bulletin for details. A student is allowed to take no more than 10 semester hours in addition to the prescribed program (see Section 2.12) in order to obtain an overall grade point average of 3.0/4.0.
2.6 GRADUATE COURSE REQUIREMENTS
For the M.S. degree, the minimum requirement is 30 semester graduate credit hours. At least 27 hours must be taken from the CSSE Department. The thesis (COMP 7990) may count between 4 and 6 hours.
For the M.Sw.E. degree, the minimum requirement is 33 semester graduate credit hours. COMP 6700 and 6710 must be included for this degree. Students with an undergraduate degree from this department and have already taken COMP 5700 and 5710 are exempted from this requirement. At least 24 hours must be taken from the CSSE Department. The project (COMP 7980) may count up to 3 hours. M.Sw.E. students must present the results of their project in an oral examination. A project report is also required, which should be converted into a CSSE technical report after its approval.
For the Ph.D. degree, the minimum requirement is 66 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree, of which at least 42 hours must be of graded (e.g., A, B, C) courses. In addition, a minimum of 39 of these hours must be in the area of CSSE and at least 18 hours in 7000 or above courses must be taken from Auburn University as a doctoral student. A student must also complete 24 hours of additional course work (may include ungraded courses, 7980, 7990, and 8990). Although most students would have more than 18 hours of COMP 8990 RESEARCH AND DISSERTATION, only 18 hours should be included in the plan of study.
For M. S., M.Sw.E., and Ph.D. degree students, an official Information Assurance Option is available. In order to achieve this option, a student must take the following two courses:
COMP 6370 Computer and Network Security
MATH 6180 Cryptography
and one of the following courses:
COMP 6320 Design and Analysis of Computer Networks
COMP 6500 Advanced Operating System
COMP 6520 Network and Operating System Administration
COMP 6360 Wireless and Mobile Networks
COMP 7370 Advanced Computer and Network Security
COMP 7970 Special Topics in Information Assurance
COMP 8360 Wireless and Mobile Networks
When a student is about to complete the three courses required for the Information Assurance Option, the student must inform the CSSE graduate program officer. This ensures that the completion of the option is marked on the student's official transcript.
2.6.1 CSSE CORE REQUIREMENTS
The advanced CSSE courses are divided into core areas of specialization as indicated below.
| |
|
COMP 6000, COMP 6010, COMP 6020, COMP 6030 | |
| |
|
COMP 6600, COMP 6610, COMP 7600, COMP 7610, COMP 8600 | |
| |
|
COMP 6330, COMP 6370, COMP 6500, COMP 6510, COMP 6520, | |
|
COMP 6720, COMP 7300, COMP 7330, COMP 7370, COMP 7440, | |
|
COMP 7500, COMP 8330, COMP 8500 | |
| |
|
COMP 6120, COMP 6400, COMP 7120, COMP 7400, COMP 8120, | |
|
COMP 8400 | |
| |
|
COMP 6200, COMP 6210, COMP 6220, COMP 6230, COMP 6280, | |
|
COMP 7210, COMP 7220, COMP 7270, COMP 7280, COMP 7310, | |
|
COMP 8220 | |
| |
|
COMP 6320, COMP 6360, COMP 6390, COMP 7320, COMP 7340, | |
|
COMP 7350, COMP 7360, COMP 7440, COMP 8320, COMP 8330 | |
| |
|
COMP 6620, COMP 7620, COMP 8620 | |
| |
|
COMP 6700, COMP 6710, COMP 7700, COMP 7710, COMP 7720, | |
|
COMP 7730, COMP 8700 | |
The following guidelines are applied by the advisory committees in formulating plans of study at both the master's and Ph.D. levels:
In addition, each plan of study must meet general Graduate School requirements for the degree and must be approved by the student's advisory committee. If a master's student is considering earning a Ph.D., she/he should see the Graduate Program Officer to request a change of status to Ph.D. as soon as possible.
2.6.2 ADDITIONAL CSSE REQUIREMENTS
The CSSE department has the following additional course requirements and constraints:
2.7 MINIMUM ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS
All on-campus graduate students must enroll for a minimum of three credit hours
per semester when attending school. Students who have formally defended their research in a previous semester and
are only awaiting graduation are exempted from this requirement and may register
for one hour. Students will not perform schoolwork (including research or project work) without
being enrolled in a course.
Students who have assistantships (GRA or GTA) and who have not finished their
coursework must register for enough hours to be considered full-time. Students who have assistantships and who have finished their formal coursework
must register for at least three semester credit hours, more if so designated
by the source of their funding (advisor, GPO, or department chair).
Students who have not registered for at least two consecutive regular academic-year
semesters will be considered to have withdrawn, and formal application procedures
may be required for re-enrollment.
2.8 RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS
A thesis is required for all M.S. degree candidates. An M.Sw.E. degree candidate must complete a project. Ph.D. students are required to write a dissertation based on an original investigation and approved by the candidate's advisory committee. The chairman of the candidate's advisory committee will serve as the dissertation director.
A proposal supporting either the thesis, project, or dissertation topic must be written by the candidate. The proposal must be approved by the student's advisory committee before work on the thesis/project/dissertation may start. A draft of the final thesis or dissertation must be submitted to the advisor prior to the first day of classes in the semester in which graduation is expected.
2.9 PH.D. CANDIDATE PUBLICATION REQUIREMENTS GUIDELINE
A major component of Ph.D. study and research is to publish research results through peer review process. The following guideline provides general requirements for a typical CSSE Ph.D. candidate.
2.10 PLAN OF STUDY
As early as is practical the student should confer with his/her major professor to select courses for the graduate program and to discuss research interests. The course work should support the student's research interests.
For the M.S. or M.Sw.E. degree, a Plan of Study should be submitted by the end of the second term of graduate study. For the Ph.D. degree, a Plan of Study should be filed within the third term of doctoral work. The Plan of Study form can be found from the Graduate School homepage. The student is responsible at all times for carrying out the program which has been planned. Any necessary changes must be approved by the student's committee and formally submitted to the Graduate School.
2.11 TIME LIMIT
All graduate work to be applied to an M.S. or M.Sw.E. degree must be completed within a period of five years. For the Ph.D., after successfully passing the departmental Ph.D. qualifying examinations (see Section 2.12.1), a student must take his/her preliminary examination (see Section 2.12.2) within three calendar years. Failure to meet this requirement requires the student to retake the Ph.D. qualifying examinations. However, under extraordinary circumstances, a student may petition his/her dissertation committee for extension. In addition, the Graduate School policy specifies that upon admission to candidacy (i.e., successful completion of the preliminary examination), the student has four calendar years to complete all degree requirements. If a student is unable to complete the requirements on time, the Graduate Council may be petitioned for an extension, but such extension is not automatically granted and should not be expected unless there are serious extenuating circumstances.
2.12 EXAMINATIONS
The following sections describe examinations required of master's- and doctoral-level students.
2.12.1 MASTER'S EXAMINATIONS
All candidates for the M.S. degree or M.Sw.E degree must pass a comprehensive oral examination covering the major subjects and the research leading to the thesis or project. Oral examinations are approximately one hour in length, and should be scheduled no later than the deadlines indicated in the Graduate School calendar.
2.12.1 DOCTORAL EXAMINATIONS
The Ph.D. degree program requires that students undergo three examinations, the
qualifying examination, the general exam, and the final exam.
Special Note: The Qualifying Exam changed as of August 16th, 2007. Ph.D. students
admitted during the Fall 2007 semester will take the exam in the format described
below in January 2008. Ph.D. students admitted after the Fall 2007 semester will
take the exam in the format described below at the start of their first semester
of studies.
All students admitted to the Ph.D. program before the 2007 Fall Semester have
the choice of taking the exam in the pre-AY2007 format or in the format described
below. The pre-AY2007 format will be only offered in November 2007, with a second
offering in April 2008 for students who do not pass the November exam. The exam
in the format below will be offered in January 2008.
PhD students who passed the examination in the previous format are not required
to re-take it. Students who took the examination in the previous format and did
not pass it are required to re-take the exam in the previous format in the 2007
Fall Semester. Students who fail the exam will be dismissed from the Ph.D. program.
2.12.2.1 DEPARTMENT QUALIFYING EXAMINATION
The purpose of the qualifying examination is to evaluate on entry to the doctoral
program each student's grasp of foundational undergraduate computer science that
is considered necessary for success in subsequent graduate courses. This examination
covers four topics: operating systems (including networks), algorithms (including
data structures and discrete mathematics), computer organization, and programming
fundamentals. The examination process spans two days. Multiple-choice and short-answer
questions covering the four topic areas are administered on the morning of the
first day. Students have a four-hour limit in which to complete the exam. A
programming assignment is made the afternoon of the first day. The program is
due by the close of business on the second day. The students may complete the
program using Java, C, C++, or C#.
A student scoring less than 80% in any examination topic area is required to
enroll immediately in the undergraduate course corresponding to that topic and
a student who fails to write a working and tested programming assignment must
enroll in a remedial programming course (see below). The student must earn a
grade of B or better in each such course. A grade of less than B in any remedial
course will result in the student's dismissal from the doctoral program. The
qualifying examination cannot be taken more than once.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Failing this topic:
|
Student must earn a B or better in this course
|
|
|
|
|
Operating systems
| COMP3500 (Operating Systems)
|
|
|
|
| Algorithms |
COMP3270 (Algorithms) |
|
|
|
|
Computer organization
|
COMP3350 (Computer Organization) |
|
|
|
|
Programming fundamentals
|
COMP3000 (Object-oriented Programming)
|
|
|
|
|
Programming assignment
| COMP3000 (Object-oriented Programming)
|
The qualifying examination is offered at the beginning of each Fall and Spring semester. The examination is required for all Ph.D. students, except those that have scored in the upper 25th percentile of the GRE Computer science Subject Test. The qualifying examination must be taken in the first semester during which the student is classified by the Graduate School as a Ph.D. student.
2.12.2.2 GENERAL DOCTORAL EXAMINATION
A general examination (also referred to as the "preliminary examination") over
the student's major and minor areas will be required of all applicants for the
Ph.D. degree. The purpose and general guidelines for the preliminary examination
are given in the Auburn University Bulletin. It shall be administered by the student's
advisory committee and will have a written and an oral part. It can be held at
any time after completion of one year of graduate study, but will normally occur
after most course work has been completed. Before this examination can be taken
the student must have:
1 Passed the qualifying examinations, and
2 Submitted a formal research proposal
3 Published or submitted a (conference or journal) paper
The advisory committee may require the student to repeat part or all of the examinations,
but in no case will more than one re-examination be permitted, and at least four
months must elapse before a re-examination is scheduled. The student is admitted
to candidacy for the doctoral degree by the graduate dean upon recommendation
from the student's advisory committee. This cannot precede the completion of the
general examination. In addition, at least one complete semester (preferably more
than one) must intervene between the general oral and the final examinations.
2.12.2.3 FINAL DOCTORAL EXAMINATION
After the dissertation has been completed the final examination will be scheduled.
The examination will be administered by the candidate's advisory committee. An
outside reader representing the Graduate School also attends and participates.
The final examination will be an oral defense of the dissertation.
