NEW!

The MS degree is now offered through distance education. Distance education courses use streaming internet video for course delivery. In this setting, students actively participate in classes through viewing the class on their computer while being interactively connected by telephone. Lectures are archived so they may be reviewed at any time during the semester. Instructors are available outside of class time by e-mail and telephone. The program requirements are the same as for the on-campus program .

What is a Graduate Certificate Program?

Graduate Certificate programs give students the opportunity to increase their knowledge in specific areas of interest. These courses provide students with the latest knowledge and skills in strategic areas of computing and are presented by Missouri University of Science and Technology instructors that are experts in their fields. Most of the courses will be offered through distance education over the internet. Where there is sufficient interest, some courses may be taught by traditional instruction methods at Missouri S&T off site locations such as Ft. Leonard Wood, St. Louis, and Springfield, MO.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Graduate Certificate Program, Entrance Requirements & Course Descriptions:

The only entrance requirements for students entering a graduate certificate program is that they satisfy the prerequisites for any course they take in the program. Partial course descriptions are provided in this brochure ( Graduate Certificate Program Brochure ). Complete course descriptions are provided online at http://registrar.mst.edu/cataloginfo/cataloginfo.html .

The Software Design and Development Certificate provides an attractive option for the working professional to expand their experience in Software Engineering.The core of four classes gives a treatment of software project management in its many roles, from overall project management and process improvement to the management of individual lifecycle components, including software deployment and evolution. Specialized coursework gives depth in advanced object-oriented design, software quality and testing theory and practice, and an advanced treatment of software metrics.

Software Testing and Quality Assurance (CS 307):   It covers unit testing, subsystem testing, system testing, object-oriented testing, testing specification, test case management, software quality factors and criteria, software quality requirement analysis and specification, software process improvement, and software total quality management.
Object Oriented Analysis and Design (CS 308):   This course will explore principles, mechanisms, and methodologies in object-oriented analysis and design. An object-oriented programming language will be used as the vehicle for the exploration.
Software Engineering II (CS 406):   A quantitative approach to measuring costs/productivity in software projects. The material covered will be software metrics used in the life cycle and the student will present topical material.
Software Requirements Engineering (CS 409):   This course will cover advanced methods, processes, and technique for discovering, analyzing, specifying and managing software requirements of a software system from multiple perspectives. It will discuss both functional and non-functional requirements analysis.

The Multimedia and Information Systems Certificate is tailored to the working professional who wants to expand their knowledge of advanced data management technologies. Object-oriented database structure, data mining, web database, bioinformatics, and multimedia storage and retrieval techniques form the core of the study.

Data Base Systems (CS 338):   This course introduces the advanced database concepts of normalization and functional dependencies, transaction models, concurrency and locking, time stamping, serializability, recovery techniques, and query planning and optimization. Students will participate in programming projects. The course assumes students have an introductory course in database systems.
Data Mining & Knowledge Discovery (CS 434):   Data mining and knowledge discovery utilizes both classical and new algorithms, such as machine learning and neural networks, to discover previously unknown relationships in data. Key data mining issues to be addressed include knowledge representation and knowledge acquisition (automated learning).

Students choose one of the following :

Bioinformatics (CS 311):   The course will familiarize students with the application of computational methods to biology, as viewed from both perspectives. It will introduce problems in molecular, structural, morphological, and bio diversity informatics, and will discuss principles, algorithms, and software to address them
Multimedia Systems (CS 353):   This course introduces the concepts and components of Multimedia information systems. Topics include: Introduction to Multimedia Data, Multimedia Date Compression, Techniques and Standards, Indexing and Retrieval, Data Storage Organization, Communication and Synchronization, Applications-Media-OnDemand Systems, Video Conferencing, Digital Libraries.

Students choose one of the following :

Web Data Management and XML (CS 437):   Management of semi-structured data models and XML, query languages such as Xquery, XML indexing, and mapping of XML data to other data models and vice-versa, XML views and schema management, advanced topics include change-detection, web mining and security of XML data.
Object-Oriented Database Systems (CS 439):   This course will include a study of the origins of object oriented database manipulation languages, their evolution, currently available systems, application to the management of data, problem solving using the technology, and future directions.

The Wireless Networks and Mobile Systems Certificate is designed to provide the working professional with an intensive treatment in wireless systems and applications.

Program coverage includes network architecture and protocols, computer communication and networking basics, principles of network security, and techniques for preventing, detecting and recovering from attacks, as well as advanced topics that address the specific issues and challenges in the wireless and mobile environment, including wireless network provisioning and deployment, location and mobility management, security and privacy, attacks and countermeasures, mobile computing applications, and data management in networked sensor systems.

Computer Communications and Networks (CS 365):   Network architecture model including physical protocols for data transmission and error detection/correction, data link concepts, LAN protocols, internet working, reliable end to end service, security, and application services. Students will implement course concepts on an actual computer network.
Computer Security (CS 463):   The course presents various vulnerabilities and threats to information in cyberspace and the principles and techniques for preventing and detecting threats, and recovering from attacks. The course deals with various aspects and layers of security: data-level, network-level, system-level, and application-level security.
Mobile and Sensor Data Management (CS 467):   Architectures of mobile computing systems; Mobile-IP support in mobile computing systems; location data management, Broadcasting and indexing, replication control; caching, fault tolerance and reliability of mobile systems; adhoc and sensor routing schemes, key management. .
Advanced Topics in Wireless Networking (CS 401):  Cellular networks, ad hoc networks, wireless LAN'S and security.

Information Assurance & Security Officer Essentials Certificate  protecting information systems is key to protecting the nation’s critical infrastructures. Only through diligence and a well-trained workforce will we be able to adequately defend the nation’s vital information resources.

Intellectual Property for Computer Scientists (CS 317):  A presentation of the relationship between the law of intellectual property and computer science. Topics include the application of copyright principles to computer programs, protection of computer programs through patents and trade secret law, and the effect of various agreements which are frequently encountered by the computer scientist.
Security Operations & Program Management (CS 362):  An overview of information security operations, access control, risk management, systems and application life cycle management, physical security, business continuity planning, telecommunications security, disaster recovery, software piracy, investigations, ethics and more. There will be extensive reporting, planning and policy writing. Prerequisite: Writing emphasized course AND Operating System course AND Computer Networking course.
Trustworthy, Survivable Computer Networks (CpE 349):  Basic issues in network management, testing, and security.
Network-Centric Systems Reliability & Security (CpE 449/ SE 449):  Network-centric systems comprise a diverse category of large and complex systems whose primary purpose is to provide distributed, network-type services.

The following pre-requisite courses are specifically required as part of the CNSS certification but are not part of the certificate.

Introduction to Operating Systems (CS 284):  This course teaches the concepts, structure, and mechanisms of Operating Systems. Topics include process management, con currency, synchronization, deadlock, multithreading, memory management, scheduling, and internet working. Special emphasis is given to Unix and its modern-day derivatives.
Computer Communications and Networks (CS 365):  Network architecture model including physical protocols for data transmission and error detection/correction, data link concepts, LAN protocols, internet working, reliable end to end service, security, and application services. Students will implement course concepts on an actual computer network.

Master's Degree Program in Computer Science:

A student who completes a graduate certificate program in computer science with grades of B or better will be admitted into the master's degree program in computer science at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.¹

¹ The student may be accepted as a "conditional " graduate student.
Such students will need to complete additional prerequisite
requirements before they are classified as "regular" graduate students.
For more information go online at http://cs.mst.edu/graduatedegreeprograms/mscomputerscience.html

Missouri S&T is Certified by the National Security Agency (NSA) Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) for National Standards 4011 ( National Training Standard for Information Systems Security (INFOSEC) Professionals) and 4014E ( Information Assurance Training Standard for Information Systems Security Officers (ISSO)).

Contact Information 

Dr. Bruce McMillin, Graduate Coordinator
Computer Science Department
Missouri University of Science and Technology
500 West 15th Street
325 Computer Science Bldg.
Rolla, MO 65409-0350
phone: 573-341-6435
e-mail: ff@mst.edu

Dawn Davis, Graduate Secretary
Computer Science Department
Missouri University of Science and Technology
500 West 15th Street
325 Computer Science Bldg.
Rolla, MO 65409-0350
phone: 573-341-6642
e-mail: dawnd@mst.edu

For additional information and requirements pertaining to graduate school, please consult the Graduate Catalog, which may be obtained by writing to the Admission's Office, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 106 Parker Hall, 1870 Miner Circle, Rolla, MO 65409-1060.

For general information concerning graduate school regulations, consult the Graduate Student Handbook, which is available from the Graduate Studies Office, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 118 Fulton Hall, 1870 Miner Circle, Rolla, MO 65409-1130.