Table of Contents: Admissions: Program and Courses: Projects and Theses: Frequently Asked Questions: Admissions: Can you apply to the CIS Master's Program if you do not have a background in computing? If you do not have a background in computing and would like to apply to the CIS Master's Program, there are some background courses that must be successfully completed: CS 162 Computer Science I CS 163 Computer Science II CS 251 Computer Organization CS 350 Introduction to Software Engineering CS 353 Database If admission requirements have been met, performance in these background courses will determine final admissibility to the program. For more information, you should contact the School of CIS to discuss this further. What if I have a background in computing, but it's been a while since I was in school? In that case, we would recommend that you take CS 500 Fundamentals of Computer Science as a refresher course. Please note, CS 500 is not meant for those without a background in computing. If you don't have a computing background, then please contact the School of CIS to discuss options for taking undergraduate courses to provide a foundation for graduate study. Do I need to apply to the CIS Master's Program if I only want to take a course or two? As long as you have an undergraduate degree, you may take a course(s) as a Non-Degree Seeking status. However, you should contact the School of CIS before hand to make sure you have the background to be able to handle the subject matter. What if I only want to take courses in a certain content area? As long as you have an undergraduate degree, you may take the three courses in one of six content areas and receive a certificate for that particular content area. However, you should contact the School of CIS before hand to make sure you have the background to be able to handle the subject matter. Program and Courses: How many classes do you need to take to get a master's degree in CIS? The CIS Master's Program consists of 11 classes, 3 credits each. What tracks/specialities/certificates can I take? We offer six "tracks" which, when completed, provide you with a certificate in that particular speciality. The tracks consist of three courses that develop a given topic. The tracks are: Database Management, Distributed Computing, Information Systems Management, Object-Oriented Technology, Software Engineering, and Biomedical Informatics. For a full description of the courses in each track, see the current catalog. When are classes offered in the CIS Program? Our CIS Graduate Program is strictly offered in the evening because it is geared to the working person. Where are the CIS Program classes held? All our graduate courses are offered at the downtown Pew Campus in Grand Rapids, not at the Allendale campus. What electives can I take? For electives, you may take any CS course at the 600-level (disregarding the capstone, project, and thesis courses). Naturally, you should have taken the appropriate prerequisites first. What is CS 699 Directed Readings in Computer Science? CS 699 is meant as an avenue for students to explore topics outside of what is offered in class. Typically, a student will approach a professor and express interest in pursuing a given topic. The student and professor will then develop a plan of study for the semester. Students contemplating taking CS 699 should approach a professor several weeks before the semester begins in order to allow time to start the discussion and paperwork process. CS 699 is not meant for everyone, only those that have shown outstanding ability in a course will be allowed to undertake CS 699. What terms are the Graduate courses taught? Fall Winter Summer CS 500 Fundamentals of Computer Science CS 612 Requirements Specification CS 621 Object-Oriented Programming CS 623 Graphical User Interface Design CS 641 Management of Software Development CS 643 Information Systems Policy CS 656 Operating Systems CS 673 Principles of Database Design CS 679 Advances in Database Management Systems CS 690 Master's Thesis Research - Two Course Sequence CS 692 Master's Capstone CS 693 Master's Project CS 695 Master's Thesis CS 500 Fundamentals of Computer Science CS 611 Introduction to Software Engineering CS 613 Software Testing CS 622 Software Design Methodologies CS 642 Software Project Management CS 654 Computer Networking CS 658 Distributed Computing CS 676 Database Management Systems CS 690 Master's Thesis Research - Two Course Sequence CS 692 Master's Capstone CS 693 Master's Project CS 695 Master's Thesis CS 672 Computer Systems Architecture CS 674 Modeling and Decision Systems CS 675 Compiler Construction CS 680 Seminar in Computer Information Systems CS 699 Directed Readings in Computer Science Projects and Theses: What's the difference between a project and a thesis? The differences are quite substantial and are described in a separate document. How do I start a project or thesis? We have a couple of documents that describe both the both the project process and the thesis process. In order to actually enroll, we have two forms that you have to fill for either the project course (CS693) or the first thesis course (CS690). How do I write a project report or the thesis document? The GVSU Library has full information regarding the preparation of both theses and projects. Please look at their pages first. In general, the guidelines for the documents are quite loose. We provide a Microsoft Word template for the title page only. The format of other pages is entirely up to you and your advisor.