MSACS Program Evolution:

1

• MSACS Program Evolution
• New Directions

2

• New directions for the MSACS
• Internationalization and globalization
• Bio-Informatics and Bio-Medical Devices
• Computer Game Design and Theory

3

• One of our institutional goals is to develop as
  an international university.
• Not precisely defined, open for interpretation by
  colleges and programs.
• The careers of our CS students and graduates are
  clearly affected by the trends in the global
  economy.

4

• INTERNATIONALIZATION AND PROGRAM BREADTH
  INITIATIVE
• This initiative focuses on broadening our
  student's education, and joining the
  universities movement toward internationalizing
  our degree programs.
• Knowledge of internationalization and the
  relationship of computing to business and the
  global economy can benefit our students
  academically, and in their understanding of the
  relationship of computing to broader society.

5

• Two new 1-hour courses are being created that
  will replace an optional special topics course.
• Strategic Computing covering the relationship of
  computing to the business enterprise, emphasizing
  the role of computing as a critical resource and
  competitive advantage.
• Computing in the Global Economy discussing the
  relationships between the international and
  global economy, computer science, and the
  computing industry, to include a discussion of
  outsourcing and off-shoring and the latest
  surveys and statistics from the Computing
  Research Association.

6

• These two new 1-hour courses are a way for us to
  explore how our MSACS program can evolve.
• This is a conservative first-step into an area
  in which we traditionally do not offer
  coursework, that does not detract from our core
  competency and mission to teach graduate computer
  science
• First Offering these courses will be taught as a
  seminar/discussion-group course, with readings,
  discussion, and research-paper assignments.

7

• Possible eight-hour international program
  option.
• By adding the two new one-hour courses with the
  existing six hours of applied studies, a student
  may optionally create an 8-hour concentration.
• This creates the framework for a possible
  study-abroad program or other synergistic
  initiatives.

8

• Other MSACS program developments
• New courses in
• Bio-Informatics, to be taught by a new faculty
  member, Ying Xie.
• Bio-Medical devices the application of embedded
  technologies to biological and medical domains.
• Game Design and Game Theory
• The computer game industry is larger than the
  entire motion-picture industry.
• Requires advanced knowledge of many CS areas
  graphics, A.I., SW-Engineering, etc.

9

• Increased Program Breadth
• The new courses in Bio-Informatics, Bio-Medical
  devices, and Game Design and Game Theory allow
  the MSACS to broaden its scope.
• Appeal to additional students with wider range of
  interest.
• MSACS remains cutting-edge.
• All current courses and knowledge-domains remain.
• Creates our first true MSACS program electives.