Graduate Student Orientation Fall 2009 Dr Jan Chomicki

Graduate Student Orientation Fall 2009 Dr. Jan Chomicki Director of Graduate Studies Department of Computer Science & Engineering http: //www. cse. buffalo. edu/~chomicki cse-dgs@cse. buffalo. edu

Graduate Secretary • Ms. Elizabeth (Liz) Lesny – cse-gradsecy@cse. buffalo. edu – Bell 233 or 234 – 645 -3180 x 119 or 102 – http: //www. cse. buffalo. edu/staff/elesny/

Important Things to Do • Read the (updated) Grad Handbook – dated August 2009 – http: //www. cse. buffalo. edu/graduate/handbooks/grad-handbook 2009. pdf • Make (and keep) an appointment with your academic advisor – Discuss your coursework • Should do this at least each semester, or more often! – Can change advisors – Advisor will automatically change when: • you do a master’s project or thesis • you choose a major professor for your Ph. D.

More Things to Do • Attend CSE colloquia • Be sure that you are on the grad Listserv – Should be automatic • Read your “@buffalo. edu” email – and your “@cse. buffalo. edu” email – or else be sure that email sent there is forwarded to where you really read email! – csgr-list@listserv. buffalo. edu: announcements, job offers

M. S. Requirements: 31 -33 credits • CSE 501 — Intro to Grad Studies in CSE • 4 core courses: – – 1 Theory/Algorithms core course 1 Artificial Intelligence core course 1 Software and Information Systems core course 1 Hardware and Networked Systems core course • 3 other CSE courses: – 2 core area courses: • 1 CSE 500 - or 600 -level course from any core area • 1 CSE 600 -level course from that core area – 1 CSE 500 - or 600 -level course (free elective) • 1 CSE seminar (1, 2, or 3 credits) • 2 free electives (6 credits) – Can be any UB grad course, if approved by your advisor & Grad Studies Committee

M. S. Requirements (cont’d) • Do a project or a thesis – Project can be from a CSE 600 -level course that offers this option • not all do; check with instructor • grade has to be at least B+ • Maintain a 3. 00 GPA • There are certain other restrictions – – – GPA requirements no course can be used to satisfy two different requirements certain courses can’t be used part-time students get more time to satisfy the requirements see the Grad Handbook

M. S. Requirements (cont’d) • What are the “core courses” & “core areas”? – see the Grad Handbook • How to waive a requirement or transfer a course? – transfer up to 6 graduate credits – see the Grad Handbook • Can apply to Ph. D. program from M. S. program? – yes: for details, see the Grad Handbook • Other questions? – see the Grad Handbook

Ph. D. Requirements • Ph. D. Qualifying Process (24 credits) – 3 required courses: • CSE 501 — Intro to Grad Studies in CSE • CSE 531 — Analysis of Algorithms • CSE 596 — Intro to Theory of Computation – 4 core courses, at least 1 each from: • AI • Software and Information Systems • Hardware and Networked Systems – 1 CSE 600 -level course in your dissertation area • Other requirements: – 2 nd CSE 600 -level course (3 credits) – 1 CSE seminar (1, 2, or 3 credits) • total = 28 -30 credits so far – Dissertation proposal + dissertation + oral defense • typically 36 credits (Ph. D. is 72 credits total; 36 can be transferred in) • can take other courses!

Ph. D. Requirements (cont’d) • Maintain 3. 00 GPA • Restrictions, waiving, transferring credits, other questions? – see the Grad Handbook

Forms and petitions • Discuss the issue with your academic advisor, fill out an appropriate form and obtain the advisor’s signature • Leave the form with Liz Lesny: she will forward it to me • Forms can be found opposite Liz’s office

Useful Websites • CSE: http: //www. cse. buffalo. edu/ • CSE grad programs: http: //www. cse. buffalo. edu/graduate • Grad handbook (the most recent version!): http: //www. cse. buffalo. edu/graduate/handbooks/ • Grad course list: http: //www. cse. buffalo. edu/graduate/courses. php • Graduate school website: http: //www. grad. buffalo. edu

Useful graduate resources (maintained by Bill Rapaport) • Grad Studies – http: //www. cse. buffalo. edu/~rapaport/GRAD/ – info on: • current & upcoming courses • CSE computing facilities • UB Grad School links & how to succeed in grad school • academic integrity (don’t cheat, don’t plagiarize!) • research, teaching, writing hints • Buffalo & WNY • language (oral presentation hints, ESL hints) • cultural differences • beyond grad school • PHD comics!! • How to Study – http: //www. cse. buffalo. edu/~rapaport/howtostudy. html