BACKGROUND:

The proposed program was approved unanimously by the faculty of the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences on October 12, 1978. It was approved by the department heads in the College of Sciences and Arts on November 9, 1978 and forwarded by the Dean to the Vice President of Academic Affairs on November 15, 1978. The proposal was referred to the Graduate Council where a Review Committee studied it in detail and recommended approval in a report dated May 31, 1979. The Graduate Council on September 28, 1979 unanimously voted "that the program leading to the Master of Science degree in Computer Science be approved." Senate Policy 10-70, Procedures for Developing Significant Changes in the Academic Program, requires that the Senate Curricular Policy Committee review the proposal and submit a recommendation to the Senate. The Senate, in turn, is required to submit a recommendation to the President. On October 29, 1979 the Curricular Policy Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the Senate approve the proposed Master of Science in Computer Science.

PROPOSAL:

The Senate of Michigan Technological University recommends the establishment of a program leading to the Master of Science degree in Computer Science. A description of the program follows:

Required courses in the areas of computation theory, design and analysis of algorithms, operating systems, and software engineering: 16q.h.

Other Computer Science courses: 12 q.h.

Additional courses selected with the advisor's approval: Thesis credit, if any, will be in this category: 17 q.h.

For a total of 45 q.h.

Any M.S. candidate in Computer Science may elect to write a thesis (Graduate School plan A) and, with the advisor's consent, may apply 9 to 12 quarter hours of thesis credit toward the total requirements for the M.S. degree. In lieu of a thesis, additional coursework is required (Graduate School plan C). The minimum number of quarter hours for the M.S. degree in Computer Science with or without a thesis is 45 quarter hours.

Final Examination:

The candidate for the M.S. degree must successfully complete a three-hour written comprehensive examination.

Thesis:

If the student elects to write a thesis, the thesis may be in any area deemed acceptable by the thesis committee. An oral defense of the thesis is required and is taken as the oral examination.

Oral Examination:

Regardless of whether or not a thesis is elected, an oral examination is required in accordance with Graduate School regulations.