Office:
Science 2 Hall, Second Floor

Telephone:
(760) 750-4118

Department Chair:
Rika Yoshii, Ph.D.

Faculty:
Rochelle L. Boehning, Ph.D.
Rocio Guillén-Castrillo, Ph.D.
Youwen Ouyang, Ph.D.
Shaun-inn Wu, Ph.D.
Rika Yoshii, Ph.D.

Programs Offered:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
• Minor in Computer Science
• Master of Science in Computer Science

Computer Science is basically the study of problem solving on com­puters.  We utilize the power of computers in the problem solving process while dealing with the constraints of computers.  We offer to the undergraduate and graduate student a rich mix of modern computer science courses.  Common to these offerings are the power, beauty, and utility of computational thought.

Applications of Computer Science knowledge include almost every field from business to education, from humanities to social sci­ences, or from natural sciences to engineering.  Therefore, the study of Computer Science contains many fields such as computer architecture, programming languages, computer networking, database systems, information management, artificial intelligence and numerical analysis.

Hundreds of job advertisements looking for Computer Science professionals appear in news­papers, professional magazines and newsletters.  Due to the enor­mous demand, degree holders in Computer Science have multiple paths to reach their career goals.  They can easily find jobs with excellent pay in many business and industries and their job titles include positions such as: pro­gram­mers, system analyst/engineer/managers, software analyst/engineer/managers, database managers, network/telecommunications administrators, customer service representative/managers, computer instructors, technical trainers, technical support, management information system managers, and sales representatives.

The Cal State San Marcos undergraduate study in Computer Science emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical applications. Students will learn algorithms, data struc­tures, software design, the con­cepts of programming languages, computer organization, and com­puter architecture.  The program stresses analysis and design ex­peri­ences with substantial labora­tory work, including software development.  The Computer Science major prepares students for careers in applications program­ming, systems analysis, and soft­ware engineering, as well as for entrance into graduate and professional schools.

Preparation

High school students are encouraged to take four (4) years of English, four years of mathe­matics including trigonometry, one year of biological science, and one year of physical science.  Courses in calculus, physics, and computer programming are recommended.  Experience in clear, concise, and careful writing is valuable for success in all courses.

Transfer Credits

*Six units of the above-transferred courses, MATH 160 and PHYS 201, will count toward the lower-division General Education requirements in Area B. Students are encouraged to consult their faculty advisor to learn about courses that fulfill the General Education requirements.

A maximum of thirty-two (32) lower-division units including courses in Computer Science, mathematics, and physics may be applied toward the preparation for the major requirements.  Of the thirty-two (32) units, twelve (12) units must appropriately match the description for CS 111, 211, and 231 (depending on the articulation agreement between Cal State San Marcos and other institutions; transfer students are also advised to consult with their articulation officer to determine if they need to take CS 112, 212, and 232); twelve (12) units must appropriately match the description for MATH 160*, 162, and 264; and eight (8) units must appropriately match the descrip­tion for PHYS 201* and 202.

Special Requirements for the Bachelor of Science

Each course submitted toward the Computer Science major must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.  No more than a total of three (3) units of either CS 498 or CS 499 may be applied to the major.  A minimum of fifteen (15) upper-division units counted toward the major must be completed at Cal State San Marcos.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

Units

General Education* 51
Preparation for the Major* 42
Major Requirements 30
Students must take a sufficient
number of elective units
to bring the total number of
units to a minimum of129

Preparation for the Major
Lower-division (12 units)

CS 111     4
CS 211     4
CS 231     4

Non-Computer Science Supporting Courses (30 units)

Units

MATH 160 5
MATH 162 4
MATH 370 3
PHYS 201 4
PHYS 202 4
PHYS 301 4

Choose one of the following courses:3

MATH 242MATH 440

Choose one of the following courses:3

MATH 264MATH 374

Major Requirements
Upper-division (30 units)

Units

CS 3113
CS 3313
CS 3513
CS 4213
CS 4333
CS 4413

Computer Science electives12

Chosen from CS courses numbered 400 or higher,
MATH 464 and MATH 480.

*Six (6) lower division General Education units in Area B (math and science) are automatically satisfied by courses taken in preparation of the Major.

 

MINOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

The minor in Computer Science consists of at least twenty-three (23) units of study in Computer Science.  Each course submitted toward the Computer Science minor must be com­pleted with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Required courses (11 units)

Units

CS 1114
CS 2114
CS 3113
 

At least twelve (12) units from any
CS courses numbered 200 or
higher; at least nine (9) units must
be numbered 300 or higher. 
MATH 464 and MATH 480 may
be applied toward this requirement12

Total Units23

 

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

The mission of the graduate program in Computer Science at Cal State San Marcos is to provide graduate education of the highest caliber to qualified students from the local community and beyond, leading to the Master of Science degree.  Its objective is to prepare students for a variety of positions in business, industry, and the public sector; for continued study at the doctoral level; or for academic careers at the two-year college level.  We believe that excellent graduate education is best accomplished in an atmosphere in which graduate stu­dents are closely mentored by the faculty.  The faculty in Computer Science is committed to the study of Computer Science as a scientific enterprise, and the Master of Science in Computer Science will encourage the development of critical thinking and quantitative reasoning skills.  In keeping with the mission of the University, we offer a curriculum that includes opportunities for applied experiences to enhance the profes­sional development of our students and to contribute to the community around us.  In addition, our program seeks to recognize the global aware­ness of the computing world and to build links with higher education institutions in the world.

The Master of Science Program in Computer Science provides breadth in several areas and depth in a spe­cialized area in the rapidly advancing theoretical and practical aspects of Computer Science.  Common to these offerings are the intelligent challenges and analytical skills of computational problem-solving methodologies.

Preparation and Training Offered by the Program

The Master of Science degree is traditionally seen either as a prepara­tory or terminal degree.  Our pro­gram is designed to accom­modate students with dif­ferent goals.  The active research programs of our faculty, and our recognition of Computer Science as a scientific enterprise, shall pro­vide graduate students with the intensive research training and course work in primary content areas that are central to preparation for more advanced graduate or professional work.  Students who have in mind careers in busi­ness, industry, community college teaching and computing services, will benefit from our program’s emphasis on critical thinking, research methods, and advanced course work.  Individual career goals will be served by allowing choices in the content of the research work of thesis or project and by providing a curriculum that provides flexibility in con­tent areas.  Students with interests in many areas in Computer Science will find opportunities to pursue course work and thesis topics at Cal State San Marcos that are related to their interests.

The Master of Science degree in Computer Science emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical applications.  Many stu­dents undertake graduate work in Computer Science in order to pur­sue careers in computer networking and information communications, algorithms, parallel processing, artificial intelligence, neural net­works, programming languages concepts, and multimedia applications.  Graduates of the program will be prepared for a wide range of career opportunities, since the skills and attitudes fostered in the program are in demand in business, industry, government and academia.  In particular, graduates will be well prepared for careers in applications programming, systems analysis, and software engineering.

The program also prepares students to compete for admission to doctoral programs in Computer Science.  There are several universities near Cal State San Marcos, including UCSD, UC Riverside, and UC Irvine, which offer such Ph.D. programs.

Admission Requirements and Application

In general, students should have equivalent of the basic core know­ledge in Computer Science.  Ex­peri­­ence in clear, concise, care­ful writing is valuable for success in all courses. People with undergraduate degrees in non-computing fields may want to enroll in this program for career advancement.  Those with under­graduate degrees in Computer Science can take more advanced courses to specialize in a particular area.

Admission to the program requires an undergraduate degree including the courses as required for the Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science at Cal State San Marcos, or their equivalents.  Admission also requires a 3.0 grade point average in the upper-division Computer Science courses and at least a 2.5 GPA in the last 60 semester units (or last 90 quarter units) attempted.  Students who have some deficiencies in the above admis­sion requirements may be admit­ted with conditional graduate status.  They may remove these academic deficiencies by either taking specific undergraduate courses for no credit toward the Master’s degree, or passing appro­priate proficiency examinations.

The general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants and the advanced test in Computer Science is encouraged.

All applicants who do not possess a bachelor’s or graduate degree from a post-secondary institution in a country where English is a principal language must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and receive a minimum score of 550.

An application consists of the following:

Application Materials sent directly to the Admission Office of Cal State San Marcos

• A completed application form for admission to Cal State San Marcos
• Application fee
• One set of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, with indication of graduation

Application Materials sent directly to the Computer Science Department (see address below)

• a completed application for the Master’s program in Computer Science,
• one set of official trans­cripts from all colleges and universities attended and official indication of gradu­ation (if not in English, certified English transla­tions must be included),
• official transcripts of GRE, and TOEFL if applicable, and
• three letters of recommendation.

Application materials sent directly to the Computer Sciences Department Administrative Coordinator at: California State University, San Marcos, San Marcos, CA  92096-0001.

Application Deadlines:

Complete applications, including test scores and recommendation letters, should be received in the program office by:

• March 15th for Fall applicants.
• November 15th for Spring applicants.

However, applications will be accepted as long as space allows.
 

Graduation Requirements

The Master of Science degree in Computer Science requires a minimum of 30 units of graduate courses with at least an overall 3.0 grade point average.  Students must do exactly one of the fol­lowing:  pass a comprehensive written exam, complete a Master’s thesis, or complete a research project.  At least nine (9) units must be numbered 600 or above. Only courses num­bered 500 or higher can be counted towards the Master’s degree re­quirement with the exceptions of CS 421, CS 433, and CS 441 which must be taken if these courses were not taken prior to admission to the program.  No course or equiva­lent which was taken as a requirement for the completion of a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or related fields can be used to satisfy these requirements.  Not more than nine (9) units in approved extension and transfer courses may be used to satisfy the minimum units required for the degree; any such units must be approved by the Computer Science Department Chair or faculty advisor.  Given the nature of rapid develop­ment in Computer Science, all require­ments should be satisfied within five years of initial accep­tance into the program or course work must be repeated.

Students are required to take the following graduate-level core courses:

CS 537
CS 542
CS 551
CS 571

Consent of instructor is needed to enroll in these core courses.  Sudents are advised to complete the core courses before selecting their electives.

Continuation

A student must earn a 3.0 overall average in graduate coursework in order to graduate.  No course in which a final grade below C (2.0) was earned can satisfy the degree requirement.  If the GPA falls below 3.0 for two consecutive semesters, the student will be dropped from the program.

Financial Aid

Several sources of financial aid are available to graduate students.  Appli­cants who choose to apply for Graduate Assistantships offered by the University should so indicate on the appropriate space in the Master’s Program in Computer Science appli­cation form.  Students are responsible for identifying other sources of aid, and may wish to consult with the University’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship.

Advancement to Candidacy

Upon the completion of at least nine (9) units toward the degree, but prior to the completion of 18 units toward the degree, the student should obtain the permission of a tenured or tenure-track Computer Science faculty mem­ber to act as the student’s advisor and as chair of the student’s academic committee.  The student and the advi­sor should recommend to the Compu­ter Science Department Chair the names of two other tenured or tenure-track Computer Science faculty to fill the advisory committee. 

The plan of study should include courses remaining to be taken and the names of the three faculty composing the committee.  A copy of the study plan shall be submitted to the Compu­ter Science Department Chair.  The student is advanced to candidacy for the Master of Science degree upon submission of the study plan and completion of 18 units toward the degree with at least a 3.0 grade point average.  Changes in the study plan must be approved by the student’s advisor and the Computer Science Department Chair. 

No student may enroll for CS 698, CS 699, or take a comprehensive exami­nation before being advanced to candidacy.

Thesis, Project, or Comprehensive Written Exam

Each student will be assigned an advisor at the time of acceptance to the program. It is expected that the student and her/his advisor will work together closely to identify elective courses and either choose possible research topics for the thesis or research project, or prepare for the comprehensive written examination.

A thesis is the written result of a systematic study of a significant Computer Science problem.  It defines, develops, and executes an investi­gation into a chosen problem area.  The motivation, approach, and results of the investigation are communicated in a clear and logical fashion; it is grammatically correct, logically organized and technically sound.  The finished product should evidence originality, and critical and indepen­dent thinking through documentation.  The thesis must be planned, orga­nized, executed, and completed while the student is enrolled in the Master’s program.  Guidelines on the prepara­tion and official submission of the thesis can be obtained from the Department Chair’s office. The final copies of the thesis are to be delivered to the committee mem­bers at least two (2) weeks prior to the oral defense of the thesis which must be held at least two weeks prior to the end of a regular semester.

A project is the written result of a comprehensive implementation or analysis of a particular computer system or problem encountered in the literature.  The composite ele­ments of the project are the same as for a thesis, but the scope is more narrow.  The project must be com­pleted while the student is enrolled in the Master’s program.  Project submission forms can be obtained  from the Department Chair’s office.  The final copies of the project are to be delivered to the committee members at least two (2) weeks before an oral presen­tation, which must be held at least two weeks prior to the end of a regular semester.

A comprehensive written exami­nation is administered during the student’s final semester.  It is intended as a culminating experience for the Master’s degree, and it is used to assess the student’s ability to integrate his/her know­ledge of Computer Science, to think critically and independently, and to demon­strate mastery of their coursework.  The problems will reflect the coursework of the student, and the student’s respon­ses will be evaluated both on the basis of logical correctness and on that of written presentation.  The examination will be offered, as needed, at most once each regular semester, at least two (2) weeks prior to the end of the semester.  Students intending to take the exam during a given semester must notify the Department Chair  before the end of the fourth week of that semester.

Graduation

A student planning to graduate at the end of a given regular seme­ster must meet with the academic advisor by the end of the student’s previous regular semester in order to evaluate those plans.  All per­tinent requirements described above concerning courses and the thesis, the project, or the compre­hensive exam must be evaluated during this meeting.