MCIS-Software Engineering

INTRODUCTION

Computer and Information Science (CIS) has been one of the most dynamic field in recent decades. With a growing demand for computing professionals, the program is designed to provide advanced studies for those who wish to continue preparation for effective participation in computing professions. The program provides continuing education in advanced subjects for CIS professionals who wish to stay abreast of the rapidly changing technological world. Emphasis is placed on the development of the student’s skills for independent study and continued professional growth.

DEGREE OFFERED

The program offers a Master of Science in Computer and Information Science (MS-CIS) degree. It is housed in the College of Engineering and Business.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. An applicant must present a baccalaureate degree in computer science, information systems, information science, software engineering, or a related field from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of at least 2.5/4.0. A GPA of at least 3.0 is required for applicants from non-computing background.

2. Completed graduate application

3. Complete resume

4. Transcripts from all prior institutions

5. Three letters of recommendation

6. TOEFL scores if English is not the first language

Factors for consideration include work experience in related areas of CIS and letters of recommendation. A committee appointed by the department chairperson will review applications for admission.

ADMINISTRATION

Retention is contingent on maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA). The course work is expected to be completed within two years for full-time students and within six years for part-time students. The degree requirements are at least thirty credit hours of study.

Each academic semester typically consists of fourteen weeks of instruction, including one week for final exams. Some courses follow a 15-week schedule. Lectures meet fifty-five minutes per week for each credit.

Although it is anticipated that many of the courses in the program would be offered in evening sessions, no special requirements for either the students or instructors will be made. The courses are scheduled as regular sessions and classes meet in rooms appropriate for the course being taught. Courses requiring the use of lab equipment as part of their instructional model are taught in computer teaching labs and may include an additional lab fee.

The University’s policy is that a master’s degree program must be completed within six years of taking the first course. Only the Program Director and/or the Dean can grant exceptions.

WAIVER OF COURSES

Students must complete the waiver process within the first semester of beginning coursework. The foundations-series courses can be waived. The foundations-series courses are listed below:

• GCIS 506 Obj.-Ori. Programming in Java

• GCIS 507 Data Structures

• GCIS 508 Database Management Systems

• GCIS 509 System Analysis and Design or GCIS 510 Software Engineering

Any of the foundations series courses may be waived in either of the following ways:

1. Waiver by Transcript. A waiver request is based upon previously completed undergraduate or graduate courses which are equivalent to the foundation course in question. The student must demonstrate the equivalency of the prior courses by completing a Course Waiver Form available in the CIS office. The form is to be completed and returned to the CIS office. To waive a foundation course, the student must have taken the courses within the last seven (7) years and obtained at least a grade of B. Special circumstances may be considered where other factors demonstrate currency and proficiency in the subject. Transcript-based waiver notification may accompany admissions notification. Transcript waiver applications must be completed by the end of the first semester of enrollment to be applied to course waivers.

2. Waiver by Proficiency Examination. Students who are confident of and can substantiate a strong background in an area which is not reflected in their academic transcript (i.e., the courses were taken more than 7 years prior to admission, or the student did not achieve the appropriate grade) may request challenge examination(s) to demonstrate their proficiency. Proficiency exams must be scheduled and taken by the end of the first semester of enrollment to be applied to course waivers. Please contact program director for more details. Certifications from selected vendors may be accepted as a demonstration of proficiency. Currently, the department will accept certifications from Oracle for GCIS 506 and GCIS 508. CompTIA and Cisco certifications may be accepted for GCIS 581. Information about course waivers and certifications will be shared with students at the beginning of the semester.

PROJECT REQUIREMENT

Each graduate student is expected to conduct a directed research/development project or thesis for completion of the degree; (see Plans A and B below). To propose an independent project or thesis, the student requests a specific CIS faculty member as the project advisor to chair his/her review committee in agreement with the CIS faculty member. These are normally completed as part of the required GCIS 605 Scholarship Seminar course. Decisions about the topic, project advisor and the committee members are shared between the student and the review committee chair. The committee members participate in reviewing quality and content for the directed research project/thesis and its written component. These project proposals and formulation of graduate project/thesis committees must be completed prior to registration for any Thesis or Directed Research credits.

Proposal sessions are scheduled during the last weeks of each semester. Various communication channels are utilized to disseminate the procedure and deadline on signing up for proposal sessions. Students, who wish to register for GCIS 698/GCIS 799 credits for the coming semester, must follow the communicated procedure and deadline to be scheduled in one of the proposal sessions.

The directed research project/thesis advisor directs the student’s work and determines when to recommend the manuscript for review by a faculty committee. The review committee is appointed by the usual academic approval sequence and consists of at least two full-time Gannon CIS faculty members familiar with the subject material and one optional member from outside the CIS department. The outside member can be from industry. The committee is responsible for supporting the student in their work and assessing the quality of the project. After final corrections are made in the project and/or supporting documentation, the student will give an oral defense of their work before the committee. The CIS faculty member who chairs the review committee becomes the student’s academic advisor.

Plan A (Thesis):

The candidate is required to submit a 6-credit thesis as part of the 30-42 credits of graduate course work and to pass a final oral examination on the thesis material and related subjects. Individuals considering further doctoral graduate studies are recommended to pursue the thesis option. The content should represent a researched and creative expression of the student’s advanced capability as a result of the graduate program. The thesis should be proposed and approved prior to the commencement of the thesis work. Proposals must be approved prior to registering for thesis credits.

Thesis students register for GCIS 799 Thesis when beginning the research effort and after having received agreement from a faculty member to be the chair of the student’s research effort. While enrolled in GCIS 799 Thesis, the student will be required to satisfy other department-stipulated activities such as attendance at research seminars, participation in research presentations, and writing- or research-improvement seminars. Students who elect to complete a thesis apply three of their thesis credits as a graduate elective within their course of study.

Plan B (Directed Research):

The student is required to complete a 3-credit independent/team project and to pass a final oral examination covering the student’s project area and related subject areas. The content of the independent/ team project can be either (1) in-depth scholarship culminating in a publishable-quality manuscript or (2) study and development of a prototype-level application culminating in a publishable-quality technical report. The content should represent a researched and creative expression of the student’s advanced capability as a result of the graduate program. The directed research project should be proposed and approved prior to the commencement of the independent/team project work. Proposals must be approved prior to registering for project credits.

Directed Research students register for GCIS 698 Directed Research when completing the research effort and after having received agreement from a faculty member to be the chair of the student’s research effort. GCIS 699 Directed Research is used for larger, non-thesis research projects. While enrolled in GCIS 698 and GCIS 699 Directed Research, the student is required to satisfy other department-stipulated activities such as attendance at research seminars, participation in research presentations, and writing- or research-improvement seminars.

THE CURRICULUM PLAN

The MS-CIS is a professional degree program. Students may begin studies with a wide variety of academic and work backgrounds. The MS-CIS curriculum may range from 30-42 credits depending upon past experiences. Upon commencement of graduate studies, students choose to complete their course of study in one of the defined degree options: Data Science (DS), Information Technology (IT), or Software Engineering (SE).

Courses are presented in three general categories:

• Foundations Series: From 0 to 12 credits of (foundations series) classes. The series is designed to bring all students up to the same preliminary level while commencing the common body of coursework. Foundation courses can be waived (or challenged) on the basis of academic and professional experience. Please contact the CIS Office with questions about completion of Foundations-Series equivalencies prior to starting the program.

• CIS Core Courses: 12-15 credits of required coursework regardless of the option chosen. Two courses are outlined below.

  • Scholarship Seminar: 3 credits of professional development work. This course focuses on topics providing foundations for success in advanced graduate work and in the workplace. Topics include communications, professional development and applied research methods.

  • Project Series: From 3 to 6 credits of directed research (GCIS 698/699) or thesis (GCIS 799) work. Students must have completed 12 credits of graduate work, have completed all prerequisites including a formal proposal of their project to register for their project work. Students are encouraged to begin developing and planning their project work well in advance of the semester in which they register for their directed research or thesis credits.

• Option-specific Courses: 15-18 credits of coursework focused on a particular applied area in computer and information science. The student must complete 30-42 credits of graduate coursework.

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 for the duration of their master’s degree program. A total of ten graduate level courses (500-level or higher), exclusive of foundations-series courses are required.

Master of Science in Computer and Information Science Options

The Master of Science in Computer and Information Science offers students three options, which allow the student to select a technology, analytical or a practical and applied focus for the application of computing technologies. These consist of:

• Data Science (program)

• Information Technology (program)

• Software Engineering (described here)

Each option consists of 30 credits of graduate work beyond the foundations series, and each specifies its own foundations series courses. The specific courses of study are described in each program mentioned above..

COURSE OF STUDY FOR SOFTWARE ENGINEERING (SE)

The Software Engineering (SE) option focuses on mobile computing and interactive software development. Software testing and quality assurance methods are weaved throughout the curriculum. Students develop interactive apps for iOS (iPad, iPhone) and Android.

PROFESSIONAL TRACK

Gannon partners with local industry in Erie, providing a two-year work-study program. The objective of the professional track is to present an academic program combined with application training on actual industrial problems to give students a targeted education, complemented by hands-on, real-world development exposure. Students are selected for the track based on academic background, leadership skills, and communication skills. The student is assigned a Gannon professor as a mentor while working at the industrial site. The mentor advises the student about academic work and guides the student on industrial projects. The projects are carefully chosen to reinforce classroom work and to develop the students into outstanding professionals. In addition to the mentorship in technical areas, the professor also mentors the student in leadership skills, work and personal ethics, and communication skills needed in the industrial workplace. The track requires students to work on projects half-time during the school year and full-time during the summer. Students receive full tuition and a yearly stipend for their work. Students need to apply and be accepted separately for the program. The number of students in the track is dependent on availability of industrial sponsorship.

CO-OP TRACK

The objective of the co-op track is to present an academic program combined with application training on actual industrial problems in computing and systems environments. The track is designed to give students a targeted education on real-world problems. Students may join the program after completing sufficient coursework to be successful in an industrial environment and receiving approved industrial sponsorship. International students participating in a co-op are required to contact the Office of Global Support and Student Engagement to apply for Curricular Practical Training before engaging in any co-op activity. Students accepted to the coop track are assigned a Gannon professor as a mentor. During each semester in which they are enrolled in the co-op track, students must be enrolled in GENG 700, GENG 701, or GENG 702. Students are expected to begin participation in the co-op as soon as they are accepted to the program.

Students must complete 30 credits of graduate coursework beyond their foundations-series coursework in addition to their Graduate Professional Experience courses. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 for the duration of their master’s degree program and fulfill all other requirements for their degree. Applications to the Co-Op Track should include an acceptance letter and the work proposed must meet both GU and DHS criteria.

FIVE-YEAR ACCELERATED B.S./ M.S. PROGRAMS

Three Gannon undergraduate degree programs (Computer Science (CS), Cybersecurity (CYSEC) and Software Engineering (SE)) provide significant background for and pathways to the different MS-CIS degree options. These programs may be completed in five years of full-time study. Students apply in their Junior Year. Students are required to maintain a 3.00 GPA in their undergraduate courses. When accepted, students will rearrange their graduation plan accordingly based on the curriculum provided in the corresponding undergraduate catalog sections:

• Accelerated 5-Year CS-MS-CIS Program (BS Computer Science + MS Data Science of Information Technology Accelerated 5-year Program Curriculum and Model Schedule)

• Accelerated 5-Year CYSEC-MS-CIS Program (BS Cybersecurity + MS Data Science of Information Technology Accelerated 5-year Program Curriculum and Model Schedule)

• Accelerated 5-Year SE-MS-CIS Program. (BS Software Engineering + MS Data Science of Information Technology Accelerated 5-year Program Curriculum and Model Schedule)

Six credits of identified graduate work can be counted toward the undergraduate degree; other MS-Equivalent courses can be counted for placement, but not credit toward MS-CIS degree requirements. Appropriate MS work can be counted as technical electives for those programs that require such.

DEPARTMENT POLICIES

Incomplete Grades in CIS

Incomplete (“I”) grades for a course within the CIS Department require students to follow extra procedures in order for the “I” grade to be appropriately handled.

• Students must obtain confirmation from the course instructor to be assigned the “I” grade.

• The course instructor and student complete and sign an “Incomplete Grades” form before issuing the “I” grade. The form identifies required deliverables, expected delivery dates, and consequences for not following through on the work.

• The course instructor and student complete and sign a “Behavioral Contract”. The contract stipulates other activities and arrangements expected of the student in order to earn a grade in the course.

• he course instructor submits both forms to the department and to Graduate Records.

• If the “I” grade is assigned for either GCIS 698 Directed Research, GCIS 699 Directed Research, or GCIS 799 Thesis, then the student is also required to register for GCIS 697 (1 cr.) Directed Project in the semester when the incomplete work is being done. Registering for GCIS 697 Directed Project is to occur regardless of the other courses registered in the semester.

Research and Thesis Projects

All qualifying research and/or thesis projects must be successfully proposed to the department faculty and have a review committee assigned prior to course registration. Standards for project scope and proposal methods are managed by the department chair. Externally sponsored projects are encouraged, but not required. All projects must have a CIS Faculty member in charge of the work, with a supporting committee of two department faculty and optionally one external committee member. The committee is assigned by the chair prior to registration. The committee is responsible for:

• Supporting the student in completing their work

• Approving changes to the defined work scope,

• Judging the quality of the project work through the written and oral presentations of the work.

• Grading of these courses is by the committee as a whole.

Students are responsible to identify the project, stakeholders and/or topics, and complete the project on their own. Students are encouraged to identify, and start work on their projects, especially requirements and exploratory research prior to proposing their projects. Students should register for their project or thesis credits in the semester that they expect to complete the project, not necessarily in the semester they start the project. Please see the chair with questions.

C-Grade Policy

Gannon graduate students are required to earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better in order to successfully complete the graduate program. CIS graduate students are expected to maintain a semester GPA of 3.0 or better. Because of CIS scheduling patterns, the necessity of retaking a course to improve one’s GPA may cause the duration of one’s graduate studies to extend one year or more.