Sep 18, 2024

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Computer Science/Software Development, M.S.

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 at Marist College was founded in the 1990s, serving its primary mission of exposing students to graduate-level studies in software development. The MSCS program aims to provide students with a deep understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of computing. It seeks to empower graduates with the ability to design, implement, and evaluate software solutions effectively, staying abreast of emerging technologies and trends. The goal is to equip students with critical thinking, technical, and problem-solving skills to contribute significantly to advancements in computer science and software engineering.

One Degree, Two Concentrations

The Masters of Science Computer Science/Software Development at Marist College offers two concentrations to choose from while earning your MSCS degree. Graduate students interested in the program are encouraged to explore the concentration that best suits their interest, background and/or career goals.

Cloud Computing Concentration

Designed to equip students with hands-on experience and practical skills directly applicable to real-world industry scenarios, this concentration encompasses comprehensive courses in Parallel Processing and Cloud Computing, ensuring a robust understanding and proficiency in these critical technological areas.

Mobile Computing Concentration

Crafted to allow students to practice real-world application of mobile computing strategies, the Mobile Computing track includes courses in Game Development and Enterprise Mobile Development.

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 MSCS 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 (excluding any pre-requisites).

As a rule, each student is expected to complete the MSCS degree as outlined at the time of admission to Marist College. Therefore, under normal circumstances transfer credit or waiver requests for graduate work taken elsewhere after admission to this program will not be granted. Such substitutions will only be considered for a substantive reason, such as relocation.

Upon acceptance into the program, graduate students receive a list of prescribed courses to be successfully completed. Specific undergraduate or graduate coursework may be recommended to satisfy prerequisite requirements or remedy deficiencies as identified by the graduate director. MSCS degree requirements must be completed within seven (7) years of acceptance into the program with a cumulative index of 3.0 or higher. Requests for an extension of the seven-year limitation must be made in writing to the graduate director.

Part-time students are normally limited to registering for one graduate course during their first semester, unless special arrangements are approved in advance by the graduate director. Full-time study is defined as a semester load of at least nine graduate 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.

Capstone Activity

The MSCS Project course (MSCS 710L ) 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.

MATH 205 - Discrete Mathematics
MSCS 501L - Object-Oriented Programming 4 Credits
MSCS 502L - Advanced Data Structures 4 Credits
MSCS 503L - Computer Organization and Architecture 4 Credits

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)

MSCS 510L - Software Design and Development 4 Credits
MSCS 542L - Database Management Systems 4 Credits
MSCS 560L - Networking 4 Credits
MSCS 630L - Security Algorithms and Protocols 4 Credits

Tracks (8 credits)

Electives (4 credits)

Choose 1 from:

MSCS 550L - Artificial Intelligence 3 Credits
MSCS 555L - Computer Graphics I 4 Credits
MSCS 665L - Game Design and Programming 2 4 Credits
MSCS 721L - Software Verification & Maintenance 4 Credits

Computer Science/Software Development and Information Systems Faculty

CHRIS ALGOZZINE Senior 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

SANDHYA ANEJA Assistant Professor of Computer Science. Degrees: Ph.D. in Computer Science, Delhi University,,India 2012. M.Tech.Computer Applications Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India 2002. M.Sc. Mathematics M.D.University, Rohtak, India 1997. Specialties: Specialties: Data Communications and Networks. Cybersecurity

JUAN ARIAS Senior Professional Lecturer 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

GISSELLA BEJARANO: Assistant Professor of Computer Science. Degrees: Ph.D. in Computer Science, State University of New York Binghamton, 2021. M.S. in Computer Science, State University of New York Binghamton, 2017. B.S. Informatics Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. 2010: Specialties: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning.

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 Senior 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

MARILYN KIENZLE Senior 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

ALAN G. LABOUSEUR 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 Professional Lecturer of Computer Science. 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 Interim Dean of the School of Computer Science & Mathematics, and 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

ROGER NORTON Associate Professor of Computer Science, and Director of External Relations, 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

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

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

BOWU ZHANG Associate 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