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Graduate Studies [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Computer Science/Software Development, M.S.

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PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Eitel J.M. Lauría, Ph.D.
(845) 575-3610
Eitel.lauria@marist.edu

Mission and Objectives

The Masters of Science Computer Science/Software Development program was founded in the 1990s. The program has served its primary mission, that is, of exposing students to graduate-level studies in software development.

Computer Science encompasses five subject areas: systems, algorithms and data structures, programming languages, databases, and artificial intelligence. Software development is the practice of crafting and maintaining computer codes, the activity of which may be applied to and/or borrowed from one or more Computer Science subject areas.

Application Requirements

In addition to the application materials addressed in the Admissions to Graduate Programs section of the General Information section of this catalog, applicants to the graduate program in Information Systems must submit the following:

  • a current résumé;
  • a written summary of technical or professional non-credit course training;
  • a written statement which outlines the applicant’s career objective(s), the reason(s) for selecting Marist’s IS program, desired specialization, and the applicant’s personal and professional expectations from the program;
  • optionally, at the graduate director’s discretion, two letters of recommendation may be required.

Admissions requirements for international students are outlined in the Application Requirements for International Students in the General Information section of this catalog.

Matriculation Status

Applicants who satisfy all admissions requirements are admitted as matriculated students. Applicants who are required to complete undergraduate prerequisite courses are admitted as either matriculated or non-matriculated students at the discretion of the Program Director. Occasionally, conditional admission is granted; students must meet the specified conditions to continue in the program.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the Master of Science in Computer Science, students must matriculate and complete 32 credits as described below. Degree requirements must be satisfied within seven years of acceptance into the program, with a cumulative index of no less than 3.0. Requests for an extension of the seven-year limitation must be made in writing to the Program Director. Each student is expected to complete the requirements as outlined in the catalog in effect at the time of admission to Marist College. Students may choose to follow a subsequently revised catalog.

All courses leading to the master’s degree in Software Development are offered in the late afternoon or in the evening. Part-time students are limited to registering for one course during their first semester unless prior approval is granted by the Program Director. Full-time study is defined by a semester load of at least nine credits.

Advisement

The Program Director serves as the primary advisor to all students in the program. The Program Director regularly makes specific recommendations on course sequences to be followed by individual students, and approves all program planning requests made by students. Students should feel free to discuss any questions or concerns that they may have regarding their planned studies with the graduate director.

The graduate director reserves the right to limit the number of courses that a student may take each semester depending upon a student’s professional workload and other concerns.

Capstone Activity

The MSCS Project course (MSIS 710) is the capstone course. It is expected that most courses will have been completed before the student enters this course. This will maximize the student’s experience in the course while minimizing peer knowledge differences.

Academic Standing

All students must maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative average. Those below this average must repeat courses, starting with the courses in which the lowest grades were received, until a 3.0 or higher GPA is achieved. If a failing grade is received in a course, that course must be repeated at the next scheduled offering. All students requesting enrollment in the capping course must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative average. If, upon completion of the capstone course, the cumulative average falls below 3.0, then the capstone course affecting the average must be taken again.

Students who fall below a 3.0 cumulative average during a particular semester will be warned and placed on academic probation. The student will be given up to two semesters (at the Program Director’s discretion) to recover an average of 3.0 or higher. Should the student fail to do so, the student will be automatically dismissed from the program.

Course Scheduling Considerations

The MSCS program offers courses in the classroom on a regular basis and online courses occasionally. Specific schedules will be addressed by the Program Director as needs mandate.

Substitute Courses

In certain cases, the Program Director may include one or more substitute courses in a student’s program. When this occurs, these substitute courses will become part of the degree requirements in place of the standard courses.

Prerequisites

All applicants are expected to be proficient in computer programming, computer architecture, and mathematics. The level of competence can ordinarily be demonstrated by appropriate courses in the areas noted below.

Note:

Students can waive these courses through a placement exam or demonstrated evidence of proficiency in these topics.

Course Requirements

Candidates for the Master of Science in Computer Science/Software Development must complete the following:

Core Courses (16 credits)

Tracks (8 credits)

Cloud Computing

Mobile Computing

Capping Project (4 credits)

Electives (4 credits)

Choose 1 from:

Recommended Sequence:

Semester One - Fall

Semester Two - Spring

Semester Three - Fall

Internship Courses

  • MSCS 680 - Graduate Internship in Software Development
  • MSCS 681 - Graduate Internship in Software Development
  • MSCS 682 - Graduate Internship in Software Development

Computer Science/Software Development and Information Systems Faculty

CHRIS ALGOZZINE Professional Lecturer of Computer Science, 2015. Degrees: B.S., Computer Science, Marist, 1989. M.S., Information Systems, Marist, 1995. Specialties: Management Information Systems, Project Management

JUAN ARIAS Assistant Professor of Computing Technology. Degrees: Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, Penn State University. M.B.A. in Finance/Management, Stern School of Business, New York University. M.Sc. in Computer Engineering, Universidad Simón Bolívar. B.S. In Computer Engineering, Universidad Simón Bolívar

ROBERT M. CANNISTRA Distinguished Professional Lecturer of Computer Science, Information Technology & Systems, 2002. Degrees: B.S., State University of New York at Brockport; M.S., Marist College. Specialties: Data Communications and Networks

RONALD COLEMAN Professor of Computer Science and Information Technology, 2002. Degrees: B.S., City College of New York; Ph.D., Polytechnic University. Specialties: Algorithms, Software Development, Distributed Computing

CASIMER DECUSATIS Associate Professor of Information Technology & Systems and Director of Cybersecurity Education, 2014. Degrees: B.S. Engineering Science & Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University; M.S. Electrical, Computer & Systems Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Ph.D. Electrical, Computer & Systems Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Specialties: Cloud Computing, Fiber Optical Networking and Wavelength Multiplexing, Data Communications, Software-Defined Networking, Network Function Virtualization, Cyber-Security

DOMINICK FOTI Professional Lecturer of Computing Technology. Degrees: B.S. SUNY, The University of Albany. B.A. SUNY, The University of Albany M.B.A. SUNY, The University of Albany. M.S. Information Security and Digital Forensics, SUNY, The University at Albany. Specialties: Vulnerability Management, Cyber Deception & Adversary Engagement, Behavioral Aspects of Insider threats, Cybersecurity Risk management

BRIAN GORMANLY Professional Lecturer of Computer Science. Degrees: M.S. in Computer Science, Marist College; B.S. in Computer Science, Mount Saint Mary College. Specialties: Robotics, Mobile Computing, Software Development

JAMES HELMREICH Associate Professor of Mathematics, 1992. Degrees: B.A., Bowdoin College; M.A., University of Maryland; Ph.D., University of Maryland; M.S., SUNY Albany. Specialties: Statistics, R, Pedagogy

MATTHEW A. JOHNSON Senior Professional Lecturer of Computer Science, 2007. Degrees: B.S., State University of New York at New Paltz; M.S., State University of New York at New Paltz. Specialties: Web Programming, Unix/Linux Operating Systems & Administration, Computer Graphics

ALAN G. LABOUSEUR Associate Professor of Computer Science, 2003. Degrees: B.S., Marist College; M.S., Pace University; Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany. Specialties: Software Development, Database Systems, Internet-enabled Applications 

EITEL J.M. LAURÍA Professor of Data Science & Information Systems, and Director of Graduate Programs, 2002. Degrees: Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina); M.B.A., Universidad del Salvador (Argentina) / Universidad de Deusto (Spain); Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany. Specialties: Data Science, Data Management, Decision Support Systems, Data Mining & Predictive Analytics, Machine Learning, Learning Analytics

CATHY MARTENSEN Teaching Associate. Degrees: M.S. in Computer Science, Software Engineering Concentration, Marist College. B.S. in Computer Science, Marist College. Advanced Teaching Certificate in Secondary Mathematics Education, Pace University

CAROLYN MATHEUS Professor of Information Systems, 2009. Degrees: B.A., Marist College; M.A., Marist College; M.S.C.S., Marist College. PhD., State University of New York at Albany Specialties: Organizational Studies, Management Information Systems

REZA SADEGHI Assistant Professor of Computer Science. Degrees: B.S. Isfahan University of Technology. M.S. Imam Reza International University. PhD., Wright State University. Specialties: Data Analytics and Machine Learning, Modeling Complex systems with Graphical Models, Deep Learning and Fuzzy Logic

ROGER NORTON Dean of Computer Science, 1980. Degrees: B.S., University of Massachusetts; M.A., Brandeis University; Ph.D., Syracuse University. Specialties: Semantics of Programming Languages; Object-Oriented Programming; Distributed Computing; Grid Computing

DONALD R. SCHWARTZ Associate Professor of Computer Science, 2013. Degrees: B.S., University of Louisiana at Lafayette, M.S., University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Ph.D., University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Specialties: Software Engineering, Database, Service Learning

ANDREW P. TOKASH Professional Lecturer of Computer Science. Degrees: M.S. in Information Systems, Marist College. BA, Empire State College, Saratoga Springs. Specialties: Networking

MARILYN ZEPPETELLI Professional Lecturer and Director of Enterprise Computing Education. Degrees: M.S. in Computer Science/Information Systems, Marist College. M.S. in Biotechnology/Bioinformatics, Johns Hopkins University. B.S. in Mathematics, Marymount College. Specialties: Enterprise / mainframe computing

BOWU ZHANG Assistant Professor of Computer Science, 2015. Degrees: B.S. in Electrical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Ph.D. in Computer Science, The George Washington University. Specialties: Distributed Systems, Machine Learning, Data Science

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