The Department of Computer Science at St. Mary's University offers two master's programs with a special focus on the software development process. The programs are intended for students, professionals and managers who are interested in advancing their career by gaining knowledge and skills into the problems and solutions of developing practical software systems. Students develop skills to analyze, design, implement and test stand-alone and embedded software systems.

The department also offers a combined Bachelor of Arts/Science and Master of Science in Computer Information Systems in as little as five years. An intensive course of study, undergraduate students begin graduate course work during their senior year and can complete a master's degree within a year after finishing an undergraduate degree.

The Master of Science in Computer Information Systems and the Master of Science in Computer Systems programs at St. Mary's prepare students to manage a software development project from analysis, design, implementation, testing and maintenance to management of quality, budgets, deliverables, and deadlines. Both programs are designed to provide an understanding of the hardware and software components of computer systems and the following:

• Hardware organization
• Data communication and databases
• Software requirements analysis
• Software design methodologies
• Software implementation and testing
• Computer security
• Project management

Professors in the program have expertise in

• Artificial intelligence,
• Simulation and gaming,
• Programming languages and
• Computer security.

The program is known for its practical applications and real-world problem solving. Students are able to work effectively in groups and to present information to an audience. The curriculum is continually updated to take advantage of new research findings and advances in technology and methodology. The programs offer students many advantages:

• Current and relevant technical knowledge
• Flexible curriculum including internship and research options
• Evening and daytime classes
• Small class sizes with supportive atmosphere
• Multiple class locations
• Faculty with theoretical and real-world experience and lessons
• Academically stimulating community
• Cooperative and collaborative learning enviroment

Computer scientists are in high demand in organizations that develop or use software. Most companies have information technology (IT) departments or at least an IT expert on staff. Typical employers include computer companies, research and development laboratories, educational organizations, entertainment industries, aerospace contractors, financial institutions, telecommunication sector, and government agencies. Types of positions held by graduates of the Computer Science program include consultant, director, analyst, operations officer, programmer, quality assurance representative, software engineer, and technical director, to name a few.

The Master of Science in Computer Information Systems is sometimes offered off-campus at various locations, and some couses are offered in a hybrid or online format.

Contact Us

Carol Luckhardt Redfield, Ph.D.
credfield@stmarytx.edu 210-436-3298

Program of Study

The Master of Science in Computer Information Systems degree is a 33-hour program with a comprehensive project. Students complete 11 required classes. Eight of the 11 courses are from the computer science department with the other three courses from business.

The comprehensive project is typically started two semesters before graduation and is presented to a committee of 3 or more professionals around 6 weeks before graduation.

A typical selection of courses for full-time students can be seen below. It is best to complete CS6310 Systems Analysis and Design before CS6340 Advanced Software Engineering. Students from outside of the United States who speak English as a second language will be evaluated when they arrive on campus and may need to take one or two English classes at the beginning of their course work.

Fall	CS6320	CS6350	BA elective/EN
Spring	CS6310	CS6330	BA elective
Summer	CS elective	CS elective	proposal due mid-May
Fall	CS6340	CS elective	BA / present project

Note that the graduate comprehensive project proposal is due by email to the graduate program director at the beginning of the semester before the semester of graduation, about 8 months prior to graduating. Classes do not have to be taken in the summer.

Courses for the MS in CIS

The MS in computer information systems consists of 11 courses/33 credit hours and a comprehensive project.

Required: 15 credit hours
CS 6310 Systems Analysis and Design
CS 6320 Files and Database
CS 6330 Advanced Network and Data Communications
CS 6340 Advanced Software Engineering
CS 6350 Hardware and Operating Systems

Electives CS: 9 credit hours
CS 6185/CS 6285/CS 6385 Internship
CS 6315 Artificial Intelligence
CS 6325 Computer Graphics
CS 6375 Special Topics in Computer Science (may be repeated with different topic names)

Electives BA: 9 credit hours
Take any business (BA) graduate classes where pre-requisites are met, typically 3 classes for 3 credit hours each. Some common courses taken by MS CIS students include
BA 6355 Human Resources Core
BA 6375 International Business Core
BA 6385 Marketing Management Core
BA 7325 Management of information and Technology
BA 8352 Business Intellgence

Admission and Prerequisites

Admission is granted to those with high promise for success in graduate study. Applicants demonstrate this potential through previous academic records, testing, certification and work performance. Some talented undergraduates may want to apply to our combined BA/BS+MS program where a student can take up to 12 credit hours of graduate work while completing an undergraduate degree. Those students may take the GRE anytime before the first semester after completing the undergraduate degree. To be considered for admission to the Master of Science in Computer Information Systems program, applicants should have word processing (Microsoft Word equivalent), and computer programming (any high-level language) skills in addition to the following prerequisites:

• Undergraduate mathematics class, algebra or higher, with a C or better
• Programming classes including data structures with a C or better
• One other technology-related class

To be considered for admission to this master's program, applicants should also have met the following requirements:

• Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 out of a possible 4.0 in a bachelor's degree
• Minimum Graduate Record Exam (GRE) quantitative score of at least 143 (480 for scores from before August 2011), or minimum GMAT score of at least 334
• Completed application form (select Apply Online at www.stmarytx.edu/grad) with
• personal statement of purpose indicating interest and objective
• two letters of recommendation
• official transcripts of all college-level work

Students from outside the United States must also submit or fulfill the following requirements:

• minimum TOEFL score of at least 80 on the Internet-based test or IELTS test with a score of 5.0 or better; if the TOEFL score is between 80 and 85 or the IELTS score is between 5.0 and 6.0, students must register into a special English course for graduate international students in their first semester
• TB screening and Meningitis vaccine (for those under 30 years old) before attending
• Completed applications must be in the Graduate Admissions office at least 6 weeks before classes begin to be considered for that semester. GRE and English proficiency scores must be at St. Mary's before the application can be reviewed, and if accepted, an I-20 can be issued. International students may be required to take an English class so that these students can be successful in our classes.

Applicants from other disciplines or those lacking specific classes may be admitted with the provision that they take the prerequisite courses selected by the graduate program director on an individual basis. Some of these prerequisites may be fulfilled by work certification or previous experience. Applicants that fail to meet any of the above standard may be admitted on a conditional basis.

Our students should have their own laptop computers that they bring to class and a printer at their residence. To be compatible with St. Mary's computer systems, check the characteristics of other notebook computers at http://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/index.php?site=notebook.

Faculty