1. Welcome to the Computer Science Masters Program

2. Classified Status Undergraduate prerequisite courses complete Undergraduate prerequisite courses complete For international students, classified status is necessary to receive CPT and OPT For international students, classified status is necessary to receive CPT and OPT

3. Conditionally Classified Status Need to complete one or more of the following undergraduate prerequisite courses: Need to complete one or more of the following undergraduate prerequisite courses: MA-120 Calculus I MA-121 Calculus II MA-314 Probability and Statistics MA-317 Discrete Math CSCI-311 Data Structures CSCI-320 Computer Architecture CSCI-330 Software Engineering CSCI-340 Operating Systems

4. Program Plan Lists the 30 units that you think you will be taking while here at Chico Lists the 30 units that you think you will be taking while here at Chico Should be submitted early in your program Should be submitted early in your program Although there is a place for your committee to sign the Program Plan, the committee’s signature is not necessary Although there is a place for your committee to sign the Program Plan, the committee’s signature is not necessary It will be signed by the Graduate Advisor and the Graduate School and is intended to alleviate any questions you have about taking the right courses It will be signed by the Graduate Advisor and the Graduate School and is intended to alleviate any questions you have about taking the right courses You can get a blank Program Plan at the Computer Science Department Office just inside the door You can get a blank Program Plan at the Computer Science Department Office just inside the door

5. Graduate Clearance Form Lists 30 units that you have completed or are about to complete Lists 30 units that you have completed or are about to complete Should be turned in the semester you plan to graduate Should be turned in the semester you plan to graduate You get the Graduate Clearance Form from the Graduate School in a packet when you apply for graduation You get the Graduate Clearance Form from the Graduate School in a packet when you apply for graduation It contains basically the same information as the Program Plan, except since it is normally filled out near the end of your stay at Chico, it lists the courses that you have taken It contains basically the same information as the Program Plan, except since it is normally filled out near the end of your stay at Chico, it lists the courses that you have taken It must be signed by your committee It must be signed by your committee There is a place on the Graduate Clearance form for the Graduate Advisor to sign and another place to sign off your literacy requirement There is a place on the Graduate Clearance form for the Graduate Advisor to sign and another place to sign off your literacy requirement

6. Literacy Requirement Pass exam which is given at the beginning of each semester Pass exam which is given at the beginning of each semester Complete CSCI-305/EECE-335 with a passing grade Complete CSCI-305/EECE-335 with a passing grade

7. Candidacy Status Pass literacy requirement Pass literacy requirement Form committee or pass Comprehensive Core Exam Form committee or pass Comprehensive Core Exam You are advanced to candidacy when you submit Graduation Clearance Form You are advanced to candidacy when you submit Graduation Clearance Form

8. Capstone Options Pass Comprehensive Core Exam – given during 5 th week of each semester Pass Comprehensive Core Exam – given during 5 th week of each semester Complete 3 unit project Complete 3 unit project Complete 6 unit thesis Complete 6 unit thesis

9. 400 and 500-Level Coursework 400 and 500-level coursework can be applied to either an undergraduate or graduate level program 400 and 500-level coursework can be applied to either an undergraduate or graduate level program Be careful that you do not take 400 or 500-level courses here at Chico that have the same title/course description as courses already completed in your undergraduate degree Be careful that you do not take 400 or 500-level courses here at Chico that have the same title/course description as courses already completed in your undergraduate degree

10. 600-Level Coursework 600 level courses are graduate only 600 level courses are graduate only

11. Units Required A total of 30 units are required for the Masters degree. A total of 30 units are required for the Masters degree. 18 of the 30 must be at the 600 level. The remaining units may be at the 400, 500 or 600 level. 18 of the 30 must be at the 600 level. The remaining units may be at the 400, 500 or 600 level. Project and Thesis units count at the 600 level. Project and Thesis units count at the 600 level. Projects are normally 3 units Projects are normally 3 units Theses are normally 6 units Theses are normally 6 units

12. Grade Point Average Two different GPAs must be greater than 3.0 for you to graduate. Two different GPAs must be greater than 3.0 for you to graduate. 1. GPA after being accepted into the Masters program includes grades from your Masters coursework as well as grades from any other coursework you were required to take or which you chose to take. Many graduate students have difficulty with this GPA 2. GPA for the courses that are listed on your Program Plan/Graduate Clearance Form

13. Program Plan Changes The Program Plan Change form is used if you change Your committee members Your committee members Courses listed on your Program Plan/Graduate Clearance Form Courses listed on your Program Plan/Graduate Clearance Form

14. Project/Thesis See Dr. Challinger’s Web Site – http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~judyc/grads.html/ See Dr. Challinger’s Web Site – http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~judyc/grads.html/ http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~judyc/grads.html/ Submit a proposal to the faculty you would like on your committee well in advance of the last day to enroll in a CSCI-699 Submit a proposal to the faculty you would like on your committee well in advance of the last day to enroll in a CSCI-699 Get your committee and the Graduate Advisor to sign the CSCI-699p or CSCI-699t form Get your committee and the Graduate Advisor to sign the CSCI-699p or CSCI-699t form Submit chapters to your committee one chapter at a time Submit chapters to your committee one chapter at a time When your committee has approved all chapters, schedule an oral defense through the Department Secretary providing When your committee has approved all chapters, schedule an oral defense through the Department Secretary providing The date and time your committee has agreed to The date and time your committee has agreed to Title of your project/thesis Title of your project/thesis Whether you will need an overhead projector Whether you will need an overhead projector Department Secretary will reserve a room for a one-hour time slot Department Secretary will reserve a room for a one-hour time slot

15. Project/Thesis Contents Avoid repetition Avoid repetition Be consistent Be consistent Use the present tense wherever possible Use the present tense wherever possible Avoid the first person Avoid the first person Call Chapter I Introduction and make it actually introduce topics that will be covered in subsequent chapters Call Chapter I Introduction and make it actually introduce topics that will be covered in subsequent chapters Describe what is in subsequent chapters at the end of Chapter I Describe what is in subsequent chapters at the end of Chapter I Include a literature search chapter Include a literature search chapter Call the final chapter Summary and Conclusions and have it actually summarize what you said and offer some conclusions Call the final chapter Summary and Conclusions and have it actually summarize what you said and offer some conclusions

16. CSCI-699 Enrollment You do not enroll in for CSCI-699p/699t online You do not enroll in for CSCI-699p/699t online Instead, enroll in the Computer Science Office Instead, enroll in the Computer Science Office You will pick up an enrollment form, have it signed by your committee, and return it to the Computer Science Office You will pick up an enrollment form, have it signed by your committee, and return it to the Computer Science Office Turn in an approved Project Proposal with your enrollment form Turn in an approved Project Proposal with your enrollment form

17. Continuous Enrollment Once you sign up for your CSCI-699, you never have to enroll in another CSCI-699, but you do have to do one of the following each semester until you graduate Enroll in least one course Enroll in least one course Pay continuous enrollment fees over in Continuing Education Pay continuous enrollment fees over in Continuing Education

18. Excess Units Form Undergraduate students can Take up to 9 units of graduate coursework Take up to 9 units of graduate coursework Only in the final semester of their undergraduate senior year Only in the final semester of their undergraduate senior year Only if a request for excess units is made in writing Only if a request for excess units is made in writing

19. Transfer Units A total of 9 Computer Science graduate-level units can be transferred in to your program from another school A total of 9 Computer Science graduate-level units can be transferred in to your program from another school A total of 6 non-Computer Science graduate- level units can be transferred in to your program from another school A total of 6 non-Computer Science graduate- level units can be transferred in to your program from another school The catalog for the school that you transfer units from must clearly state that these units apply in their program to their graduate program The catalog for the school that you transfer units from must clearly state that these units apply in their program to their graduate program

20. Time Limits Courses older than 7 years must be revalidated Courses older than 7 years must be revalidated Courses older than 9 years are lost for good Courses older than 9 years are lost for good

21. Program Extensions If it becomes necessary for you to revalidate coursework, you must request an extension from the Graduate School in writing If it becomes necessary for you to revalidate coursework, you must request an extension from the Graduate School in writing The extension request The extension request lists the date you intend to graduate and the reasons why the extension is necessary lists the date you intend to graduate and the reasons why the extension is necessary Lists the courses you will need to revalidate Lists the courses you will need to revalidate It is signed by you, your Committee Chair, and the Graduate Advisor It is signed by you, your Committee Chair, and the Graduate Advisor Attached to the extension request is a separate piece of paper for each course you must revalidate listing Attached to the extension request is a separate piece of paper for each course you must revalidate listing The procedures for revalidation The procedures for revalidation These papers are signed by you, the validating instructor and the Graduate Advisor and they are submitted to the Graduate School along with the extension request These papers are signed by you, the validating instructor and the Graduate Advisor and they are submitted to the Graduate School along with the extension request

22. Good Luck!