Graduate Student OrientationFall 2009

Dr. Jan ChomickiDirector of Graduate Studies

Department of Computer Science & Engineeringhttp://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:

– 2nd 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