Master of Science (M.S.) in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science

Northside Hall 341 | (574) 520-4335 | math-compsci.iusb.edu

Program Description

This degree is offered jointly by the Department of Computer and Information Sciences and the Department of Mathematical Sciences. The goal of this program is to address the needs of people who have work experience in technical or quantitative fields; people with undergraduate degrees in mathematics, science, business, or related areas; or people who simply wish to increase their level of skills and expertise in computing and applied mathematics.

Students work with an advisor to select a schedule of courses tailored to their personal interests and goals. A specialization will be selected in either computer science, applied mathematics, or with the help of their advisor, in both disciplines. Thesis and non-thesis options are available. The emphasis throughout the curriculum is on the real-world problems and applications likely to be encountered in business and industry.

Admission Requirements

Candidates for admission to the program are required to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Alternatively, an applicant whose past academic record is not sufficiently strong (e.g. low GPA, outdated undergraduate degree, etc.) can qualify for admission by scoring 150 or higher on the quantitative component of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) under the new GRE scoring system. No specific undergraduate field of study is required. Students with satisfactory competence in undergraduate study of basic computer and mathematics subjects are encouraged to apply. Typically, these applicants have undergraduate degrees in mathematics, computer science, chemistry, physics, biological sciences, engineering, secondary mathematics education, business, economics, and other technical fields. In all cases, students lacking an appropriate background in computer science and/or mathematics are required to remove those deficiencies in a timely manner before taking graduate courses. Specifically,

• At most, 50 percent of coursework may be taken under provisional status, pending formal admission.
• Students with provisional status must have explicit permission from the graduate director prior to registering for graduate courses.

Application Procedure

For an application to be considered, the following must be received:

• Application for admission, www.iusb.edu/graduate-studies
• Three letters of recommendation
• IU South Bend application fee
• Official transcript from each postsecondary school attended
• Evidence of an earned, four-year, bachelor’s degree
• GRE scores, if submitted as evidence of academic strength (optional)
• Acceptable TOEFL scores for non-English speaking applicants (score of 550 in paper-based tests, 213 in computer-based tests, and 80 in Internet-based tests is currently required)

Degree Requirements

The program is tailored to individual student needs and consists of 33 credit hours. Students who choose the thesis option must complete 6 to 9 credit hours of thesis and complete the remaining credits up to 33 with coursework. A student will choose to specialize in either computer science, applied mathematics, or with the help of their advisor, specialize in both disciplines. No more than two 400-level courses may apply towards this degree.

Computer Science Concentration

Recommended courses

• CSCI-B 401 Fundamentals of Computing Theory
• CSCI-B 438 Fundamentals of Computer Networks
• CSCI-B 451 Security in Computing
• CSCI-B 503 Algorithms Design and Analysis
• CSCI-B 524 Parallelism in Programming Language and Systems
• CSCI-B 538 Networks and Distributed Computing
• CSCI-B 551 Elementary Artificial Intelligence
• CSCI-B 553 Neural and Genetic Approaches to Artificial Intelligence
• CSCI-B 561 Advanced Database Concepts
• CSCI-B 581 Advanced Computer Graphics
• CSCI-B 582 Image Synthesis
• CSCI-B 583 Game Programming and Design
• CSCI-B 651 Natural Language Processing
• CSCI-B 657 Computer Vision
• CSCI-B 689 Topics in Graphics and HCI
• CSCI-C 435 Operating Systems 1
• CSCI-C 442 Database Systems
• CSCI-C 463 Artificial Intelligence I
• CSCI-C 490 Seminar in Computer Science
• CSCI-P 565 Software Engineering I

Applied Mathematics Concentration

Recommended courses

• MATH-M 414 Introduction to Analysis 2
• MATH-M 415 Elementary Complex Variables with Applications
• MATH-M 447  Mathematical Models/Applications 1
• MATH-M 448 Mathematical Models/Applications 2
• MATH-M 451 The Mathematics of Finance
• MATH-M 463 Introduction to Probability Theory 1
• MATH-M 466 Introduction to Mathematical Statistics
• MATH-M 546 Control Theory
• MATH-M 551 Markets and Asset Pricing
• MATH-M 560 Applied Stochastic Processes
• MATH-M 562 Statistical Design of Experiments
• MATH-M 565 Analysis of Variance
• MATH-M 569 Statistical Decision Theory
• MATH-M 571 Analysis of Numerical Methods I
• MATH-M 572 Analysis of Numerical Methods II
• MATH-M 574 Applied Regression Analysis
• MATH-M 575 Simulation Modeling
• MATH-M 576 Forecasting
• MATH-M 577 Operations Research: Modeling Approach
• MATH-M 590 Seminar

Notes

• Students are encouraged to take courses bridging the two disciplines (e.g. MATH-M 562 Statistical Design of Experiments, MATH-M 571 Analysis of Numerical Methods, and CSCI-B 581 Advanced Computer Graphics). Both full- and part-time study is possible.
• Students are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. Failure to maintain a 3.0 GPA for two consecutive semesters, or accumulating any two grades of D or below, may result in dismissal from the program.
• The program must be completed within seven years. Only courses taken within seven years of completion of the first course in the program may count toward this degree.

Thesis option

Students who choose the thesis option must complete 6 to 9 credit hours of thesis and complete the remaining credits up to 33 with coursework. In preparation for the thesis, a student should identify to the program’s graduate director an advisor and a committee. The advisor is a faculty member from either the Department of Computer and Information Sciences or the Department of Mathematical Sciences. The committee is comprised of two faculty members representing the two areas of specialization, one of them being the advisor. A third member is required and can be a faculty member from within or outside of either department. The third member may also be an approved individual from business or industry. Additional members may be included in the committee with approval of the graduate director.

The student must submit a thesis proposal to the committee for approval. Upon completion of the thesis, a written document is prepared and an oral defense is scheduled. The document is to be reported in a thesis format. After a successful defense, the final version will be archived in the department and in the IU South Bend library. There is no comprehensive exam. Rather, a student finishes the program with the thesis option by successfully defending the thesis, making corrections to the document, and submitting the final version for archiving.

Transfer Credit Hours

Students wishing to transfer coursework from another graduate program should keep the following information in mind:

• Transfer credit hours must be approved by the program graduate director or persons designated by the Graduate Committee.
• Students are responsible for supplying course documentation, such as an official course description, a course syllabus, etc. to be used by the graduate director to assess transfer course applicability to this program.
• A student may transfer at most 6 credit hours of the Applied Mathematics and Computer Science degree program coursework from an accredited institution.
• The course must appear on an official transcript sent to IU South Bend.
• Only courses taken within seven years may be counted toward this degree. Courses transferred must be seven years old or less at the time of completion of the IU South Bend program. Exceptions are at the discretion of the graduate director.