The Master's in Science program at the Computer Science Department at LSU is a versatile and Innovative program that offers a wide range of opportunities to students. It is called MS in Systems Science and is the MS program offered by the Computer Science Department at LSU. This program was initially created more than 30 years ago but was updated recently in order to meet new challenges in all areas of modern Computer Science.

This MS program, with its various concentrations and options, aims to give students the educational, training and research skills, and experiences they need to be successful in the many fascinating computer oriented jobs that exist today. It can also serve as a stepping stone towards pursuing doctoral studies in computer science or related fields. With flexible concentration areas and options, students coming from a wide spectrum of disciplines can pursue it. Example entrance programs include any engineering field, business fields, sciences or even arts and humanities.

This interdisciplinary program offers the advanced education necessary for a career in computer systems applications in a wide variety of areas. The curriculum provides for graduate study in such core topics as theory of computing, computer science principles, data management and software systems development, visualization and graphics, and high performance computing. In addition, the student may choose any systems-related area for specialization and application of the techniques from these core areas. Graduates from the program are prepared to attack problems of current social and technological interest such as resource allocation, process control, library automation, information systems management, database administration, and high performance computing. The student is expected to design his or her own curriculum, choosing an area for specialization, subject to the requirements outlined below.

Curriculum Requirements

Click here to view the brochure for the Master's program, which explains the curriculum requirements and options in detail.

Specialization Area

Normally, this would be an area in which the student applies the knowledge obtained from the core coursework; although the student may choose a Core Group for specialization. Some examples are a physical science (e.g., physics), a life science (e.g., entomology), a social science (e.g., psychology), a field of engineering (e.g., industrial engineering), mathematics, a field in business (e.g., information systems and decision sciences), and library and information science (a student who wishes to specialize in this area may want to consider a joint degree). Whether the student elects the thesis or system design project, the research must be in the specialization area and the research advisor must be knowledgeable in that discipline.

Thesis

The student who chooses SYSC 8000 must prepare and defend a Master's thesis. The topic of the thesis must be consistent with the subject area of specialization field and the thesis work must include significant application of the techniques of systems science to a problem of interest in that field. The student must obtain his or her advisory committee's written approval of the thesis topic prior to beginning the thesis work. A public oral defense of the thesis before this committee is required.

System Design Project

The student who chooses SYSC 7090 must submit a system design project as part of the requirements for the degree. This project normally consists of a thoroughly documented computer system in the student's specialization field. The student must obtain his/her advisory committee's approval prior to beginning the project work. A public oral defense of the system design project before the student's committee is required.

Faculty

Faculty members from multiple departments of Louisiana State University, Southern University, and the University of Southwestern Louisiana may participate in the Systems Science program. The following are the current Graduate Faculty of Systems Science:

• Dr. Gabrielle Allen Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Gerald Baumgartner Associate Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Konstantin Busch Associate Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Doris Carver Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Jianhua Chen Associate Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Peter P. Chen Adjunct Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. S. S. Iyengar Adjunct and Emeritus Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Rajgopal Kannan Associate Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Bijaya B. Karki Associate Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Robert Kooima Assistant Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Donald H. Kraft Professor Emeritus of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Sukhamay Kundu Associate Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Supratik Mukhopadhyay Assistant Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Seong Jong Park Associate Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Rahul Shah Associate Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Thomas Sterling Adjunct Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Evangelos Triantaphyllou Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. John Tyler Professor Emeritus of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Brygg Ullmer Associate Professor of Computer Science (LSU)
• Dr. Jian Zhang Assistant Professor of Computer Science (LSU)

Departmental Policy

POLICY 1: M.S. Examinations

MS project report/thesis must be submitted to committee members at least one week prior to the final presentation examination date. Failure to follow this policy is sufficient cause for postponement of that date if any committee members so desire.

POLICY 2: Announcement of Project/Thesis Exams to the Departmental Faculty and Students

The room, time, and date of your presentation examination date must be announced in advance by both e-mail to csworld and by posting on the Bulletin Board B1 (at least 3 working days before the exam). Failure to do so is sufficient cause for postponement of that date if any systems science faculty member raises a complaint.

POLICY 3: Graduate Teaching Assistantships

Graduate Teaching Assistantships are awarded to graduate students for a maximum period of two years, except in special circumstances that must be justified by the student's advisor and the department chair. The assistantship will be automatically terminated at the end of the second year.

POLICY 4: Status

The admission committee will notify the originating or current enrolled department of LSU of the status of a student who transfers into systems science or who is accepted as a dual degree student.

POLICY 5: Residency Rule of the Department

• A student must be enrolled two semesters as a full-time student.
• Residency begins with the semester following the student's notification of acceptance in the program. Summer semester does not apply towards the criteria requirement.
• The student must have completed at least six Computer Science hours (at the 4000 or 7000 level) during the residency.

Facilities and Equipment

Computing Facilities in the Division of Computer Science and Engineering

Entrance Requirements

The entrance requirement to the M.S. program of our department is a bachelor's degree in a systems-related area from an accredited college or university. This undergraduate preparation must include the following courses or their equivalents:

• Differential and integral calculus (9 sem. hours)
• A high-level programming language (3 sem. hours)
• Assembly language programming or linear algebra (3 sem. hours)
• Numerical methods or a second high-level programming language (3 sem. hours)
• Statistics (3 sem. hours)
• Advanced Data structures and Algorithms (3 sem. hours)

Gifted students who have not satisfied these requirements may be admitted to the program on probation provided that the deficiencies are successfully made up (usually by Pass/Fail) by the end of the first semester in the program. Such students might require more than the usual amount of time necessary to satisfy the degree requirements.

Admission is on a competitive basis, with GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores, undergraduate records, and recommendations used to determine those students who are accepted into the program. Financial aid is also available on a limited, competitive basis.

Other Related Programs

The Systems Science program is not a computer science degree program and should not be construed as one in any way. Students who wish to pursue a Master's degree in computer science should apply to the Department of Computer Science at Southern University of Baton Rouge or to the Department of Computer Science at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette.

This program is a general, interdisciplinary program leading to a Master's Degree in Systems Science. In addition, there is the Library and Information Science - Systems Science Joint Degree Program. In order to meet the growing demand for information professionals trained in library science and computer science, this program has been implemented. It prepares information professionals knowledgeable in systems and computer applications, and provides the requisite background for careers in library systems development, online bibliographic retrieval research, and the administration of information centers. Students in this program earn both the Master's Degree in Library Science and the Master's Degree in Systems Science for a total of fifty-eight semester hours. For more information on this dual degree program, contact:

• Professor Beth Paskoff, Dean
  
• School of Library and Information Science, Louisiana State University
  
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
  
• Phone: (225) 578-3158
  

Deadlines for Application of Admission

Applications for admission to the Masters Degree program in System Science should be submitted as early as possible in the academic session immediately preceding the one in which admission is sought. Because of the large enrollment in the computer science department, the following deadlines are observed to allow careful evaluation of applicant's requirements for admission to our graduate programs. All materials must be received by the Department by the deadlines listed below:

• Deadline for admission to the Fall semester: February 1
• Deadline for admission to the Spring semester: October 15

Financial Aid for Graduate Students

Students who have been admitted will automatically be considered for financial assistance. No additional application form is required for consideration for financial aid.

More Information

For further information on the Masters Degree Program in System Science, contact:

• Professor Bijaya Karki, Interim Chairman
• Division of Computer Science and Engineering
• Louisiana State University
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-4020
• Phone: (225) 578-1495 Fax: (225) 578-1465
• E-Mail: karki@csc.lsu.edu

To obtain more information about the following items, write or call the office listed.

Admission Procedures and Requirements:

• Louisiana State University
• Graduate School
• 114 West David Boyd Hall
• Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
• Phone: (225) 578-2311 Fax: (225) 578-2112
• Email: graddeanoffice@lsu.edu

International Students:

• International Services Office
• 101 Hatcher Hall
• Louisiana State University
• Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA
• Phone: (225) 578-3191 Fax: (225) 578-1413

Student Loan and College Work-Study:

• Office of Student Aid & Scholarships
• 202 Himes Hall/208 Coates Hall
• Louisiana State University
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-3701
• Student Aid Phone: (225) 578-3103
• Scholarships Phone: (225) 578-3087
• Email: financialaid@lsu.edu

Housing:

• Department of Residential Life
• 99 Grace King Hall
• Louisiana State University
• Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803-6903
• Phone: (225) 578-8663 Fax: (225) 578-5576
• Email: reslife@lsu.edu