academic-catalog2011.. - LAU Publications - Lebanese American ...

Department of Computer Science and Mathematics
Graduate Programs
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN
COMPUTER SCIENCE
The Master of Science in Computer Science aims
at encouraging the discovery and transmission of
knowledge, the education of students, the training
of future faculty, and the general well being of
society. The program provides a broad foundation
of study in Computer Science while offering an indepth
study in four concentration areas.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
The purpose of the M.S. in Computer Science
Program is to:
1. Prepare students for advanced graduate
education.
2. Prepare students to be innovative leaders
in their profession at the local, regional, and
international level.
3. Enhance research and discovery.
4. Introduce outreach and engagement, by
allowing computer science Faculty, and
students, to contribute to the community at
large.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Graduates in the M.S. in Computer Science
Program will:
1. Have an understanding of the advanced
concepts in computer algorithms design,
and analysis.
2. Be armed with a broad computer science
education that includes theory, computer
systems, hardware principles, computer
networks, and software engineering.
3. Have a deep understanding of the
fundamental knowledge prerequisite for
the practice of, or for advanced study in,
computer science, including its scientific
principles and rigorous analysis.
4. Have a deep understanding of one of
the following computer science areas:
Theory and Algorithms, Computer Systems,
Hardware Principles and Computer Networks,
and Software Engineering.
5. Develop basic, and applied, research
and innovation skills, and learn how to
investigate the recent developments in
the computing field that are not found in
textbooks, by properly utilizing professional
literature and academic journals.
6. Develop the skills of oral presentation,
research documentation and technical
writing, and independent study.
ADDITIONAL ADMISSIONS
REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the admissions requirements that
are explicitly stated in the Graduate Programs
Academic Rules, Algorithms and Data Structures
(CSC 310) is a required course from all students
who have finished a non-computer science degree
and apply for MS in Computer Science at LAU. The
course may be taken as a remedial course after
admission.
CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS
Students need 30 credits for graduation, with
one required 3-credit course (CSC711) and three
additional courses, one from each concentration
area. The remaining courses may be chosen from
any of the four areas without restrictions.
I. Core Requirements (12 credits)
Four three-credit courses: one from each of the
four concentration areas listed below. CSC711
Design and Analysis of Algorithms is mandatory
from the first area.
II. Project or thesis option (3 or 6 credits)
CSC798 Project Option 3
CSC799 Thesis Option 6
III. Electives from four concentration areas
(12 or 15 credits)
A. Algorithms, Theory & Computational Science
CSC711 Design and Analysis of Algorithms 3
CSC712
Automata Theory and Formal
Languages
3
CSC713 Bioinformatics 3
CSC714 Heuristic Optimization 3
CSC715 Machine Learning 3
CSC716 Cryptography and Data Security 3
B. Systems
CSC721 Transaction Processing Systems 3
CSC722 Distributed Systems 3
CSC723 Knowledge-Based Systems 3
CSC724 Data Mining 3
CSC725 System Simulation 3
CSC726 Compilers 3
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