Systems Science, M.S.S.S.

(MSYSC)

The divisional-level academic course plan for each student will be developed in consultation with and approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee. The committee will include the student’s major advisor and at least two additional members of the graduate faculty such that the LSU Graduate School’s requirements for graduate committees are satisfied.

The degree is a thesis/non-thesis degree requiring a thesis/special project. The MS program offers a concentration in Computer Science, a concentration in Computational Science, and a non-concentration variant. In any case, 36 hours of credit at the graduate level must be earned including a maximum of 12 hours of credit for the thesis, or a maximum of six hours for special project. The curricular requirements include:

• For non-thesis option: at least 21 hours at the 7000 level or above, exclusive of any type of independent studies credit except for special project credit earned.
• For thesis option: at least 24 hours at the 7000 level or above, exclusive of any type of independent studies credit except for thesis research credit earned.
• A primary area consisting of a minimum of 12 hours of earned credit in a specified field of study.
• A minimum core requirement of 12/15 credit hours from selected two/three core group courses for thesis/non-thesis options. The core groups to choose from include theory of computing, computer science principles, data management and software development, visualization and graphics, high performance computing.

The student must submit a written MS thesis/project report and pass the final exam in which the student defends the MS thesis/project in front of the advisory committee.