New CS/CIS Master Student OrientationSpring 2009

Presented by:

Dr. Bun YueChair, Division of Computing and Mathematics

January 22, 2009 (Thursday)4:00pm to 5:30pm

University of Houston - Clear Lake

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

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

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

Opportunities: Some Goals

Better study Better career preparation Better professionalism Better networking

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

Personnel

Program Chairs: CS: Dr. Sharon Hall CIS: Dr. Andrew Yang

DCM secretaries Ms. Janet Brecheen (division’s

secretaries): Delta building access pan code

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)

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

Faculty

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

Faculty

Staff

Technology Specialist: Mr. David Webb Academic software purchase Laboratories

Systems Administrator: DCM and SCE accounts DCM laboratories Unix server and laboratories

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/

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

Foundation Courses

Required to fulfill background for the Master program.

Listed explicitly in the admission letter.

Example of An Admission Letter

An Admission Letter

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.

Foundation Courses

Two kinds: Technical courses: CSCI, MATH, CENG,

etc. Writing courses: WRIT 3035, WRIT

3135. Must be completed before

graduation.

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.

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.

Advising and CPS

Each student has two advisors: Academic Advisor: general issues. Faculty Advisor: subject matter issues.

They are your coaches!

Persons to contact (admission letter)

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.

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.

CPS (admission letter)

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.

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.

Sample Draft CPS: Foundation Requirements

Sample Draft CPS: Electives

Sample Draft CPS: Thesis or Capstone

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

TA

Excellent opportunity to improve yourself!

You are encouraged to apply.

TA Applications

GPA is not the only consideration factor.

Much more complicated than most can imagine. Scheduling is NP-complete!

Many factors considered.

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’!

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

Questions?