Gannon University

Director: Stephen T. Frezza, Ph.D., C.S.D.P.

INTRODUCTION
Computer and Information Science (CIS) has been one of the most dynamic fields in recent years. With growing demand for CIS professionals, this program is designed to provide advanced studies for those who wish to continue preparation for effective participation in computer-related 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 student’s skill for independent study and continued professional growth.

DEGREE OFFERED
The program offers a Master of Science in Computer and Information Science (MSCIS) degree.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. 1. An applicant must present a baccalaureate degree in computer and information science or a related field from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of at least 2.5/4.0.
2. 2. While a bachelor’s degree in computer and information science is not required, applicants without an appropriate background will be required to take additional course work as determined through the usual academic approval sequence. An applicant is required to have had the following courses (or approved equivalent), or work experience.

• C++ Programming, advanced competency
• Systems Analysis and Design
• Database Management Systems
• Discrete Mathematics or Statistics
• Operating Systems
• Computer Architecture
• Network Foundations

Other 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 would be contingent on maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average. 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 consists of fourteen weeks of instruction including one week for final exams. Lectures meet fifty-five minutes per week for each credit.

Although it is anticipated that many of the courses in this program would be offered in evening sessions, no special requirements for either the students or instructors will be made. The courses will be scheduled as regular sessions and classes will meet in rooms that are appropriate for the course being taught.

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.

CURRICULUM
Upon commencement of graduate studies, the student will choose to study in one of the concentration areas: Computer Science, Information Science, or Software Engineering.

The student must complete 30 credits of graduate course work. 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) are required. These courses are comprised of three required core courses, and a minimum of four concentration elective courses selected from one of the three different tracks, and an approved research effort for up to six credits. The student must choose to complete either a thesis or an independent project  for completion of the degree (See Plans A and B below). 

To propose a thesis or independent project, 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.  Decisions about the topic and the committee members are shared between the student and the review committee chair.  The committee members participate in proposing and reviewing quality and content for the thesis/project and its written component. 

The thesis/directed research project 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 three full-time Gannon CIS faculty members familiar with the subject material and one member typically from outside the CIS department.  The outside member can be from industry.  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 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.

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.

Plan B (Directed Research):
The student is required to complete an independent project and to pass a final oral examination covering the student’s project area and related subject areas. The content of the independent 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 project work.

Directed Research students register for GCIS 698 Directed Research or GCIS 699 Directed Research 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 698/9 Directed Research, 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.

Required Core Courses (9 credits)
GCIS 501   Advanced Programming
GCIS 504   Requirements Engineering
GCIS 511   Advanced Database Management Systems

Concentration Course Areas (12 credits minimum)
Computer Science
GCIS 502   Web Programming
GCIS 521   Advanced Computer Architecture
GCIS 620   Theoretical Foundations in Computing
GCIS 625   Advanced Operating Systems
GCIS 506   Personal Software Process (recommended)

Information Science
GCIS 510   Information Systems Development
GCIS 546   Managing Information Organizations
GCIS 611   Software Engineering in Information Systems
GCIS 644   Knowledge-Based Systems
GCIS 502   Web Programming (recommended)

Software Engineering
GCIS 515   Software Testing & Quality Assurance
GCIS 518   Software Architecture
GCIS 611   Software Engineering in Information Systems
GCIS 638   Human Interface Design & Maintenance
GCIS 506   Personal Software Process (recommended)

Electives (as needed)
GCIS 512   Object-Oriented Modeling
GCIS 526   Formal Methods in Software Development
GCIS 531   Distributed Programming
GCIS 535   Computer Graphics
GCIS 585/586    Network Design & Management, and Lab
GCIS 610   Software Tools and Environments
GCIS 611   Software Engineering in Information Systems
GCIS 621   Artificial Intelligence & Expert Systems
GCIS 623   Fuzzy Logic
GCIS 635   Computer Vision with Image Processing
GCIS Core & Track courses
GCIS 690-695    Special Topics in CIS*
GECE 508   Embedded Software Paradigms*
GECE 509   Software Tools*
GECE 511   Embedded Kernel*
GECE 572   Digital Signal Processing*
GECE 573   Introduction to Neural Networks*
GECE 574   Artificial Neural Processing*
GECE 672   Digital Image Processing*
GMBA 641   Operations Management*
Other Graduate GCIS, GECE, GENG, and GMBA courses*

* with approval of the academic advisor and CIS department chair.

PROFESSIONAL TRACK
Gannon runs a two year work-study program with local industry in Erie. The objective of the 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 this 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 on his 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 that are needed in the industrial workplace. This track requires that the student work on these projects half-time during the school year and full-time during the summer. The students receive full tuition and a yearly stipend for their work. Students need to apply and be accepted separately for this program. The number of students in this 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. This is to give students a targeted education on real-world problems. Students may join this program after completing sufficient coursework to be successful in an industrial environment, and receiving approved industrial sponsorship. International students must meet INS eligibility requirements.

Students accepted to the co-op track are assigned a Gannon professor as a mentor, and must take the Graduate Professional Experience (GENG700-series) course each semester they are enrolled in the program.

Students must complete 30 credits of graduate course work 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.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

500 SERIES

GCIS 501 Advanced Programming
3 Credits, Fall, Spring
This course is an introduction to Java programming language for large-scale software development. This course will cover the basics of Java programming, object oriented programming concept, graphical user interface using Swing, exception handling, multithreading, JDBC, networking, applets and servlets. Basic object-oriented design principles using UML diagrams as well as design patterns will be introduced to facilitate large scale software development.

GCIS 502 Web Programming
3 Credits, Spring
Prerequisite: GCIS 501
This course provides the knowledge of theory and techniques of data communications and advanced web programming. The course introduces students to a wide range of topics in computer networking and web programming including data transmission, packet transmission, internetworking, TCP/IP, network applications, Java, CGI languages, and other various script languages. Cross-listed GECE 507
** Suitable course for Project Course Research Option, Plan C

GCIS 504 Requirements Engineering
3 Credits, Fall
Focuses on the requirements engineering process from initial requirements elicitation through to requirements validation for systems engineering. The course includes specific techniques for the analysis, modeling, validation, and management of requirements for engineering projects, and is applicable to software, mechanical, electrical, process and other types of engineering projects. Topics include requirements processes, documents, elicitation, analysis, management, modeling, viewpoint analysis, non-functional requirements, advanced topics. Cross-listed: GENG 580

GCIS 506 Personal Software Process
3 Credits, Fall
Prerequisite: GCIS 501
The Personal Software Process (PSP) is a process-based method of software engineering used in the development of large-scale projects. Based on the software quality management techniques of the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) framework. Defect management, design and code review design templates, and process analysis used. The student progresses through a sequence of software processes developing the awareness for repeatable, quality-based development. Cross-listed: GECE 506.

GCIS 510 Information Systems Development
3 Credits, Spring
Prerequisites: GCIS 504 or equivalent, GCIS 511
This course presents the information systems development scenario and processes. Systems analysis methods cover the front-end life-cycle activities, tools and techniques for requirements gathering, use cases, data modeling with entity relationship diagrams, process modeling with data flow diagrams, solution identification and the system proposal, and object-oriented analysis. System design methods cover the middle life-cycle activities, tools, and techniques by both general and detailed design, with an emphasis on application architecture, rapid development and prototyping, external and internal design. Last, back-end life-cycle activity addresses system implementation, support, maintenance and reengineering.
 

GCIS 511 Advanced Database Management Systems
3 Credits, Fall, Spring
Introduction to the theory and practice of database management systems. Use of the entity-relationship approach as a modeling tool. Topics include the relational model, database design, normalization, SQL, concurrent control and recovery techniques, Oracle database administration, and web front-end development for Oracle.

GCIS 512 Object-Oriented Modeling
3 Credits, Spring
Prerequisite: GCIS 504
An advanced treatment of methods for producing a software design, and the testing of that design and ensuing code. Focus is on Object-Oriented design methods, black-box (functional) testing techniques, includes treatment of the developing unified modeling language (UML) techniques and their application to software development. Cross-listed: GENG 586

GCIS 515 Software Testing & Quality Assurance
3 Credits, Fall
Prerequisite: GCIS 504
This course is concerned with understanding the role of quality assurance in the software development cycle, and applying these techniques to software products. Course topics include test design methods, test planning, automated test support, quality measurement and quality tracking techniques.

GCIS 518 Software Architecture
3 Credits, Spring
Prerequisite: GCIS 504 and GCIS 501
This course is concerned with the issues, techniques, strategies, representations and patterns used to implement a component or large-scale system. Specifically, it focuses on defining architectures that conform to functional requirements and work within defined constraints including resource, performance, reliability, and security.

GCIS 521 Advanced Computer Architecture
3 Credits, Spring
The crossbreeding of technologies demands a new generation of computers, adapting to scalable, parallel, and distributed computing. The course presents the topics of scalable architecture and parallel programming by examining symmetric multi-processors (SMP), cluster computing-nonuniform memory access (CC-NUMA), clusters of workstations (COW), massively parallel processors (MPP), and Internet-based metacomputing platforms. Scalable computers, commodity microprocessors, gigabit networks, fast message passing, latency hiding mechanisms, distributed cache and memory architecture, switched interconnects, and communications are presented.

GCIS 526 Formal Methods in Software Development                      

3 credits, Fall

Prerequisite: MATH 223 (Discrete Math II) or equivalent

Focusing on the issues and techniques needed to apply formal specification methods to the development of software, the course uses mathematical and logical formalism to develop a precise statement of what software is to do.

GCIS 531 Distributed Programming
3 Credits, Spring
Prerequisite: GCIS 501 or equivalent
An introduction to the fundamental techniques and tools used to develop programs that rely on interprocess communication. Topics include TCP/IP, client-server paradigm, daemon programs, client socket calls, server socket calls, concurrent vs. iterative servers, connectionless and connection-oriented server paradigms.

GCIS 535 Computer Graphics
3 Credits, Fall
Prerequisite: GCIS 501
An introduction to the fundamental techniques used in computer graphics using OpenGL to draw various primitives such as polylines and polygons, and for using mouse and keyboard in an interactive graphics application. The central notion of window-to-viewport mapping for sizing and positioning pictures on the display, zooming, panning, and tiling to achieve interesting visual effects are discussed. The underlying theory of transforming figures and coordinate systems using affine transformations in both 2D and 3D are discussed in detail.

GCIS 546 Managing Information Organizations
3 Credits, Fall
Introduces theories and techniques of information science and management to information enterprises, concentrating on how the structure and dynamics of the environment influences the behavior of the enterprise. Aspects of organizational structure, knowledge management, decision making, planning, control, political processes, leadership, communication, and human resources are examined in light of the theories.

GCIS 585 Network Design and Management
2 Credits, Fall
PREREQUISITES: GCIS 501. GCIS 502, or equivalent
Corequisite: GCIS 586
Presents the concepts and issues surrounding the development of LAN systems, with extensions to enterprise systems. Topics include network technologies, routing, connectivity, organization, security, throughput, and fault-tolerance.

GCIS 586 Network Design and Management Lab
1 Credit, Fall
PREREQUISITES: GCIS 501, GCIS 502 or equivalent
Corequisite: GCIS 585
Focus is on the practical issues involved in setting-up, configuring, and managing networks. Topics include configuration, measurement, transport technologies and other topics.
 

600 SERIES

GCIS 610 Software Tools and Environments
3 Credits
Prerequisite: GCIS 501 or equivalent, GCIS 506
Focus is on the various tools for software development, application environments and techniques in the UNIX operating system and its environments. Topics include operating systems concepts, standards, real-time programming, concurrency, software testing, metrics, interprocess communication techniques, scripting, compilers, interactive debugging.

GCIS 611 Software Engineering in Information Systems
3 Credits, Spring
Prerequisite: GCIS 504
This course provides an overview of software project management, with a special emphasis on risk management, and its relationship to software engineering practices. Specifically, it includes a review of SE development practices, including requirements analysis, design process, metrics, verification and validation, software maintenance, and documentation. Consideration for the ethical practice of software engineering and information system development.

GCIS 620 Theoretical Foundations in Computing
3 Credits, Fall
An introduction to the theory of computer science including formal language theory, the concept of effectively computable procedures, and computability theory. Topics include Turing machines, recursive functions, Church’s thesis, undecidability, and the halting problem. Applications of these models to compiler design, algorithm construction, and complexity theory will be presented.

GCIS 621 Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems
3 Credits, Fall
Prerequisite: GCIS 501, GCIS 506
Topics include knowledge representation, machine learning, general problem solving, natural language processing, expert systems, neural nets, and computer vision. A project in an area of the student’s choosing is required.

GCIS 623 Fuzzy Logic
3 Credits, Spring
An introduction to fuzzy logic principles and practices, the course enables students to apply the principles to real-world applications. The course focuses on aspects of theory used for logic-based pattern classification, information processing strategies in relation to complex systems, domains, and application areas. The design issues, methodologies, guidelines, and strategies for tuning membership functions are addressed.

GCIS 625 Advanced Operating Systems
3 Credits, Spring
Prerequisite: GCIS 501
The course reviews the fundamental concepts of operating systems, study three commercial operating systems (UNIX, Linux and QNX) and cover the basics of distributed operating systems. The fundamental concepts include process management, memory management, file system, I/O management, networking and security. The issues of integrating symmetrical multi-processor (SMP) with traditional operating systems are discussed.

GCIS 635 Computer Vision and Image Processing
3 Credits, Spring
Introductory, but comprehensive, coverage of principles and techniques of computer vision, including radiometric terminology, local shading models, camera models, linear filters, multiview geometry, affine structure from motion, image-based rendering, image segmentation and clustering, finding images in digital libraries, model-based vision. Image registration techniques such as dimensionality transformations, non-rigid algorithms, voxel similarity measure, and methods for estimating error complete the course.

GCIS 638 Human Interface Design & Maintenance
3 Credits, Fall
Prerequisite: GCIS 501
This course deals with human-computer interaction (HCI) and covers a wide range of topics, including software tools, usability issues, direct manipulation, command and natural languages, and multiple-window strategies. The course includes identifying and assessing the issues surrounding the maintenance of code, particularly in the context of HCI. Special emphasis is also given to design and maintenance issues for web-enabled systems.

GCIS 644 Knowledge-Based Systems
3 Credits, Spring
Prerequisite: GCIS 511
An introduction to advanced information systems combining a database management system, model-based management system, and dialog management system. Emphasis is placed on decision support system requirements analysis and specification, the use of alternative analytical methods, iterative design approaches for realization of decision support systems and developing appropriate integrated information systems architecture. Multidimensional databases and data warehousing initiatives are presented as other forms of knowledge-based systems.

GCIS 690 Special Topics in CIS
3 Credits
Prerequisite: Specific prerequisites are topic-related
The course offers presentation of topics that are emerging as the field of computer and information science changes. The objectives and content reflect the interests of the faculty and the students relative to the topic.

GCIS 697 Directed Project
1 Credit

GCIS 698 Directed Research
3 Credits

GCIS 699 Directed Research
6 Credits

GENG 700-702 Graduate Professional Experience
1 Credit
Prerequisite: Discipline-specific industrial sponsorship
This course complements regular academic training with hands-on, real-world development exposure. Students are required to be engaged in practical training during the course. International students require Curricular Practical Training (CPT) approval. Topics include issues facing engineering and computing professionals, trends in the fields, job prospects, team and workplace behavior, project leadership as well as reviews of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.

GCIS 799 Thesis
6 Credits

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