Welcome to the University of North Dakota Department of Computer Science. For those of you who are returning, this may be your last semester either as a student in the department or as a funded teaching assistant, we hope that the experience has been a mutually rewarding one. To the new students we wish you a successful and rewarding academic stay with us.

 

CSci 500 – Graduate Orientation

All incoming (new) graduate students are required to enroll in the one credit CSci 500 course. This course usually meets on Wednesdays for 50 minutes, and comprises a series of lectures that are intended to provide the students with a broad knowledge of the types of research taking place throughout the campus, and the support services and events open to graduate students. Passing this course is by attendance, failing to attend three or more sessions will result in the student having to retake the entire course the following semester. All required graduate student course and project presentations (project, thesis, dissertation) are to be scheduled for one of the CSci 500 sessions.

Graduate Comprehensive Examination (GCE)

All graduate students are required to take the GCE. The GCE is mandatory for all graduate students, and will be held periodically. Starting in fall 2011 The GCE will be administered on the last Saturdays in February and September of the spring and fall semesters, respectively. Students who were enrolled in the masters program and passed the GCE then go on to the PhD program are not required to retake the GCE. The GCE will be based on the subject and assessment material from the undergraduate curriculum, but the GCE will be assessed at a higher level of competency, than that of the undergraduate. Students are encouraged to consider taking the GCE during their second or third semester of their enrollment in the program. It is the students' responsibility to acquaint themselves with the relevant information in preparing for the examination, and the students are encouraged to consult with the respective faculty member for the various sections of the examination for specific preparation suggestions, and expectations for the exam. Please see the GCE webpage for more detail on exam schedule and reading material.

 

Teaching Assistant (TA)

The Department has a number of TA positions that are awarded for the academic year, on a competitive merit basis. These merits are based on the students' GRE scores, GPA, prior experience, and faculty member recommendation. TAs are usually assigned to teaching first year lab courses, and or grading assignments and exams for faculty members. The TA reports directly to the faculty member he/she is assigned to, and must make themselves available for regular meetings with their assigned faculty member. At the end of each semester the supervising faculty member will complete an evaluation form of the TA's performance. This evaluation will be reviewed by the Program Director with the TA.

TAs are awarded either quarter time (10 hours/week) or half time (20 hours/week) assignments. This time covers the time from the first day of class in the fall semester (for full year awards, otherwise it is the first day of class in the spring semester) up to and including the week when grades are due in the Registrar's office, in the spring semester. Any request by TAs for time off, especially any leave prior to the end of the semester, or returns after the start of the semester, has to be first approved by the supervising faculty member and then by the Graduate Program Director. Such request has to be supported by exceptional circumstances that warrant early leave, or late return.

 

Research Assistant (RA)

RA positions may be available in the Department and in other departments across the University. RA positions, outside the Department, should also provide tuition waiver. If such positions do not provide tuition waiver, there is no guarantee that the Department will provide the tuition waiver. Any request by RAs for time off, especially any leave prior to the end of the semester, or returns after the start of the semester, has to be first approved by the supervising faculty member and notification sent o the Department's Office Manager. This notification is for the timely communication of information, should the need arise.

 

Program Requirement

Students should seek to have their Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) established by the end of their first semester. Formation of the AAC involves deciding n an area of research interest, so as to select an academic advisor. Please note that the CSci 500 sessions should have provided the new students with an overview of the research that is taking place in the Department by the graduate faculty members; graduate faculty members are the only ones who may act as academic advisors. Once ad advisor has been selected that advisor should assist in identify the additional members for the ACC; this is only for those students who select the thesis option. The establishment of the AAC is the first step in a series of procedural requirements for completion of the graduate program. The AAC has to be signed by the academic advisor, committee members (for thesis option), and the Graduate Program Director. PhD candidates are advised to schedule a meeting with their AAC at least once per year.

In the second semester, students are expected to compile the Program of Study (POS) form and have it reviewed by their advisor before the POS is submitted to the graduate school. The Thesis Proposal (TP) may be completed and submitted at the same time as the POS. The AAC and TP have to be signed by the academic advisor, committee members (for thesis option), and the Graduate Program Director.

Students are required to submit their thesis to their AAC at least one month before the Graduate School's deadline for the submission of the Provisional Thesis Approval form, by the AAC.

 

Official Paper Work

It is highly recommended that paperwork initiated by students, especially those to be sent to the Graduate School, be deposited in the Department. This process will ensure that copies of all paperwork are included in the students’ department file, and the Department having updated files of all students’ paperwork.

 

Please check the Department’s website for updated information on all activities and events…