CS Graduate Orientation

1
Welcome

• CS Graduate Orientation
• August 20, 2008
• Slides from today are available at
• http//www.cs.rpi.edu/admissions/
• grad/orientation08f/

2
Agenda, p. 1

• Introductions
• Degree Requirements, Administrative Information
  -Terry Hayden
• Computer Systems Jon Chen
• Break
• Research presentations
• Peer advisors
• Mixer

3
Agenda, p. 2

• Research Presentations
• Computer Graphics - Barbara Cutler
• Theory Group Networks - Elliot Anshelevich
• Theory Group Massive Datasets - Petros Drineas
• The Tetherless World - Jim Hendler
• Sensor Network Research at CS Boleslaw Szymanki

4
Introductions

• Where are you from? (country, school, job, etc.)
• Are you here for MS or PhD?
• What is your intended research area?
• Anything else youd like to share about yourself?

5
People Students

• 24 new students
• About 82 total CS students
• About 90 are PhD students.
• 10 female
• Students from about 16 countries.
• 40 from US, 18 China, 12 India, 10 Turkey, 5
  Russia, 15 others.

6
People Administrative Staff

• http//www.cs.rpi.edu/people/staff.html
• Terry Hayden, Manager of Student Affairs
• Bob Ingalls, Executive Officer
• Chris Coonrad, Lally, Dept Secretary
• Shannon Carrothers, MRC, grad. adm.
• Pam Paslow, Amos Eaton, payroll
• Sharon Simmons, Assistant to Chair
• Jacky Carley, Tetherless World

7
People Labstaff

• Jon Chen
• Joey Armstrong
• Steven Lindsey

8
People Faculty

• http//www.cs.rpi.edu/people/faculty.html
• Jeffrey Trinkle, Chair
• Bulent Yener, Interim Graduate Advisor
• Boleslaw Szymanski, Chair, GCC
• Graduate students often call faculty by their
  first names, but if in doubt, faculty can be
  addressed as Professor last name

9
PhD Tracks

• Most students are in the general CS program, but
  there are also tracks for Computational Molecular
  Biology and Computational Science and
  Engineering.
• The qualifying exam courses are different for the
  different tracks.
• There are no required courses for the general PhD
  program, but there are some for the tracks.

10
PhD Credits

• 72 credits if you do not have prior MS
• At least 36 course credits
• At least 24 research credits
• 48 credits if you have prior MS
• At least 12 course credits
• At least 24 research credits
• At least 2/3 of course credits at 6000 level.

11
PhD Qualifying Exam

• The four components of the exam, based on the
  content of four courses, are taken separately.
• You may pass each component by course or by oral.
• You have two chances at each component.
• The PhD qualifying exam must be passed by the end
  of the first year (last chance is Fall 2009 oral
  exams).

12
Qualifying Exam Courses

• CSCI-4020 Computer Algorithms (spring)
• CSCI-6050 Computability and Complexity (fall)
• CSCI-6140 Operating Systems (fall)
• CSCI-6969 Programming Languages (fall and spring)

13
Qualifying Exams Taking the courses

• Must get final grade of A.
• A- does not count.
• You may not take the course twice as a grad
  student. (May re-take as grad if you have taken
  previously as undergrad)

14
Oral qualifying exams

• Offered at start of Fall Spring semesters.
• You will meet with 3 faculty examiners.
• You will be asked one or several questions from a
  list available in advance.
• Password to view questions online 5components
• Some components give you time to prepare after
  you are told the questions others dont.

15
Other PhD requirements

• Committee
• End of second year research qualifying exam
• End of third year candidacy exam
• End of everything defense
• 1 public talk
• Colloquium attendance

16
MS Requirements

• CSCI-6140 Operating Systems
• CSCI-6050 Computability and Complexity
• 2 systems courses
• 1 course each in theory and applications
• No more than 12 credits at 4000 level
• 6 credit thesis
• 30 credits total
• Colloquium attendance

17
Colloquium Attendance

• Full-time graduate students must attend at least
  32 colloquia in their first 2 years.
• Sign-in sheet at colloquia.
• Checked in semiannual review of students.
• You will be warned if you attend fewer than 8 per
  semester.
• MS students who finish in less than 2 years must
  attend 8 per semester.
• No applicable for part-time students.
• All are encouraged to attend.

18
How many credits to take

• TAs must take at least 9 credits.
• Others must take at least 12 credits to maintain
  full-time status.
• RAs must take exactly 12 credits.
• For others, the maximum number of credits covered
  by full-time tuition is 15.
• You can use research credits to take more credits
  without taking more classes.

19
Research Credits

• You need at least 24 credits of CSCI-9990 to get
  a PhD.
• You need at least 6 credits of CSCI-6990 to get
  an MS.
• Research credits are graded IP (in progress)
  until you submit your thesis.
• They dont necessarily correspond with research
  done in a given semester.

20
What to take

• Three classes is a reasonable load.
• Most new students will takeCSCI-6050
  Computability and ComplexityCSCI-6140 Computer
  Operating Systems
• You might take Programming Languages or a course
  recommended by your advisor.
• MS students might take courses to fulfill the
  breadth requirement.
• You might also take some research credits.

21
Registration issues

• If you cant register for a class because it is
  full, contact the professor and/or go to class
  the first day to find out if you can get it in
  anyway.
• The Authorization form allows you to register for
  a class even though it is full.
• An Independent Study form is required to register
  for an independent study.

22
Registering forResearch Credits

• Dont register for CSCI-6990 if you need
  CSCI-9990.
• If you cant find the right type of research
  credits on the class hour schedule, contact Bob
  Ingalls and he will add them.

23
Maintaining your status

• If you enter as full-time, you cant change to
  part-time when you have few credits left.
  Instead, you must take as many credits as needed
  to attain full-time status.
• You cant just not register for a semester. If
  you arent going to be taking any credits, you
  need to have some status such as in absentia, on
  leave, etc.

24
Semiannual review of students

• Graduate students are reviewed at the end of each
  semester.
• You will need to fill out an online form to
  report your progress.
• You will receive a letter about how you are doing
  and expectations for the coming semester.

25
Plan of Study

• Certifies department approval of your courses and
  research credits.
• Could do once near beginning and once near end.
• Can re-do as often as needed if you change your
  plans.
• Credits must total 72 for PhD or 30 for MS.
• Signed by you, advisor, and Terry Hayden.

26
Financial support

• Please register ASAP if on payroll
• International studentsSee Judy Sawyer, x2385,
  sawyej_at_rpi.eduBring Passport.
• Domestic studentsSee Pam Paslow in MRC 303,
  700am-230pm M-F. (away Sept 18-26)Bring
• photo ID and social security cardOR
• US passport

27
Financial support, p. 2

• Pick up check in Academy Hall every other Friday
  or get direct deposit (see Pam Paslow and bring
  voided check).
• If picking up your check on a day other than
  payday, youll need to go the Rice Building (take
  shuttle bus).
• The number of pay periods may vary from semester
  to semester, which means the amount of you
  paycheck may change. The total paid per semester
  will stay the same.

28
If you are not getting aid

• TA waiting list

29
Tips p. 1 Advisors

• Role of advisor
• If you have a problem with your advisor, you can
  go to the department chair.
• Research advisor vs. CS advisor
• If you want to change advisors, talk to the
  advisor you want to switch to. If he/she agrees
  to the change, let me know and Ill make the
  change. You should also inform your original
  advisor about the switch.

30
Tips p. 2 Changes

• Its a rocky road to get a PhD
• Some people change advisors
• Some people fail the qualifying exams
• Some people join as a PhD student but leave with
  MS only
• Dont be discouraged if you dont follow the path
  you expected. Just find the path thats right for
  you.

31
Tips p. 3 Initiative

• Academic Success in research requires
  initiative.
• Administrative Exceptions to rules may be
  possible.
• Social The department can be as fun as you want
  to make it
• Organize events
• Party list
• Photos on web site

32
Places

• Rest rooms in Lally
• Buildings Lally, Amos Eaton, MRC, Winslow.
• http//www.cs.rpi.edu/admissions/grad/floorplan.ht
  ml
• Dept. office, faculty/staff mailboxes
• Student mailboxes, lounge
• Conference rooms, kitchenettes
• Department library (i.e. bookshelf)

33
Student offices, p. 1

• You will share an office with others in your
  research group.
• If your research advisor is in a different
  department, your advisor should provide space
  there. If not, contact Terry Hayden to see if
  you can get space in CS.
• Use AE 217 for TA office hours.

34
Student offices, p. 2

• Talk with your officemates about sharing space,
  who sits at which desk.
• Make your office nice. Check with staff if your
  office needs anything.

35
Student offices, p. 3

• Check with all your officemates, and if you find
  things that belong to none of the occupants,
  discard them. Or if you think someone may want
  them, check with department staff.
• When you move out, be courteous to future
  occupants and remove your stuff.

36
In your packets

• Blue form for your reference
• Salmon information form to fill out and return.
• Goldenrod evaluation form to fill out and return
  at end.
• Keys

37
Keys, Part 1

• Key rings available
• Staff have master keys
• Everyone has
• KA48 lab, lounge, coffee room, xerox
• 1B59 Amos Eaton building

38
Keys, Part 2

• Some people also have an office key
• If your advisor is outside CS, get office
  assignment and key through advisor

39
Keys, Part 3

• If your office is in Lally, you also have MOA25
  for Lally building
• Lally building key works in front door and one of
  two back doors.
• To unlock Lally front door, turn key, then push
  button.
• If your office is in MRC, you will have card
  access to the building and MG15 for conference
  room.

40
To do

• Return forms to Terry later.
• Get your photo at the mixer.