Comprehensive Examination Policies
Department of Computer Sciences
Effective: Fall 1998
Revised: April 8, 1998
Revised: February 1, 2002
Students in the
Master of Science in Computer Science or
Master of Science in Software Engineering program,
who elect not to write a thesis,
must pass comprehensive examinations during the last term
they are registered as a student as a partial requirement
to earn the degree.
Students in the
Doctorate of Philosophy in Computer Science program
must pass comprehensive examinations after they have completed
their formal course work as a partial requirement to earn the degree.
This document outlines the policies established by the Florida Tech
Computer Science faculty on the content and logistics of these
examinations.
Comprehensive examinations are given during the tenth week of Fall and
Spring semesters.
Results are reported to the students by Tuesday of the thirteenth week of the
semester.
The Computer Science faculty schedule a preliminary meeting with students on
the Wednesday of the sixth week of Fall and Spring semesters.
Students with questions and concerns about the exam are encouraged to
participate. Study guides for each topics area are available.
Students register for the exams using on-line forms available on the
Computer Science Web pages
from the
comprehensive examination information pages.
Ph.D. students must have the approval of their Doctoral Committee
to register.
Questions on the comprehensive examinations should be directed
to the
Comprehensive Examination Coordinator, the
Computer Science Department Head, or the student's Doctoral Committee.
M.S. Computer Science Examination Policy
The Master's of Science in Computer Science is a written exam given on the
Friday of the tenth week of Fall and Spring semesters.
The student must pass four tests in the areas of applied software, foundations,
software, and systems.
One-and-a-half hours are allocated for each test.
See the Florida Tech Graduate Policy Manual
for additional information on Comprehensive Examinations.
The applied software area includes questions on
Artificial Intelligence,
Databases,
and
Graphics.
Students who earn a B or better in a course in one
of these areas and retain their understanding of the topics,
should be adequately prepared to pass this portion of the comprehensive exam.
Students are not required to take a course in each of these areas.
Although the applied software area includes three sub-areas, students only
need to successfully answer questions from one sub-area.
Most students will need to review and prepare for the comprehensive exam.
The foundations area includes questions on
Algorithms,
Automata,
and
Discrete Mathematics.
Students who earn a B or better in a course in one
of these areas and retain their understanding of the topics,
should be adequately prepared to pass this portion of the comprehensive exam.
Students are not required to take a course in each of these areas.
Although the foundations area includes three sub-areas, students only need to
successfully answer questions from one sub-area.
Most students will need to review and prepare for the comprehensive exam.
The applied software area includes questions on
Compilers,
Programming Languages,
and
Software Engineering.
Students who earn a B or better in a course in one
of these areas and retain their understanding of the topics,
should be adequately prepared to pass this portion of the comprehensive exam.
Students are not required to take a course in each of these areas.
Although the software area includes three sub-areas, students only need to
successfully answer questions from one sub-area.
Most students will need to review and prepare for the comprehensive exam.
The systems area includes questions on
Computer Architecture,
Computer Networks,
and
Operating Systems.
Students who earn a B or better in a course in one
of these areas and retain their understanding of the topics,
should be adequately prepared to pass this portion of the comprehensive exam.
Students are not required to take a course in each of these areas.
Although the systems area includes three sub-areas, students only need to
successfully answer questions from one sub-area.
Most students will need to review and prepare for the comprehensive exam.
M. S. Software Engineering Examination Policy
The comprehensive exam for the Master's of Science in Software Engineering is
a written exam given on the
Friday of the tenth week of Fall and Spring semesters.
The student must pass four tests in the areas of computer science, foundations
of software engineering, and software engineering management or software
engineering development.
See the Florida Tech Graduate Policy Manual
for additional university policy on Comprehensive Examinations.
Software Engineering students must take one computer science exam.
They may choose one from the following three comprehensive examinations:
- Automata
- Programming Languages
- Data Structures and Algorithms
This is part of the material required for
entrance into the Software Engineering Masters Degree program.
Students capable of earning a B or better in a course in these areas and have retained
an understanding of these topics,
should be adequately prepared to pass this portion of the comprehensive exam.
Students are not required to take a course in these areas.
Although the computer science area includes three sub-areas, students only need to
successfully answer questions from one sub-area.
Most students will need to review and prepare for the comprehensive exam.
The software engineering area includes questions from introduction to
Software Engineering.
Software Engineering students will be expected to be capable of answering
questions on software life-cycle, requirements analysis, design, testing, and metrics.
Questions related to software engineering processes are the
subject of a different examination. Students who earn a B or better in SWE
5000 and have retained their understanding of that topic,
should be moderately well prepared to pass this portion of the comprehensive exam.
The actual exam may be broader than some versions of this course.
Most students will need to review and prepare for the comprehensive exam.
The
Software Processes and Best Practices
area includes questions from introduction to software processes and survey of
software best practices.
Students who earn a B or better in these courses and retain their understanding of these
topics
should be adequately prepared to pass this portion of the comprehensive exam
though material may be covered in the exam that has not been presented in the
corresponding courses.
Most students will need to review and prepare for the comprehensive exam.
Software Engineering students must take one software engineering management
or development exam.
The software engineering management or development area includes
examinations on
- Analysis of Algorithms
- Requirements Engineering
- Software Testing and Quality Assurance
Students may choose one from those comprehensive examinations.
Content of the exams may vary from that
presented in any particular class.
Students should refer to the appropriate study guide.
Most students will need to review and prepare for the comprehensive exam.
Computer Science Ph.D. Examination Policy
The Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination serves to provide evidence that each
student has a broad knowledge of computer science, is able to perform
directed research, and demonstrate that each student can communicate
their knowledge. The Comprehensive Examination is to be taken after the
student has completed all formal course work included in the student's
doctoral program of study.
See the Florida Tech Graduate Policy Manual
for additional information on the Comprehensive Examination.
The Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination is given in two parts.
The first part is a breadth exam that tests the student's knowledge
of the theoretical foundations of computer science, computer systems,
and their ability to design and write computer programs.
At each offering, each student takes the same examination.
The breadth exam is prepared and graded by the Computer Science faculty,
and should be completed within two years (four years for part-time students)
from the time the student first enrolls in the program.
The second part of the Ph.D. Comprehensive is a depth examination
administered by the student's Doctoral Committee. It tests the
student's knowledge of a proposed research area,
but may also include other areas considered appropriate by the Doctoral
Committee.
The breadth examination is prepared, and graded by the Computer Science
faculty and given on consecutive Fridays starting the tenth week of Fall and Spring
semesters.
There are four required categories: applications, foundations, software, and systems.
Each student has to obtain a PhD-level pass in two (currently
one-and-a-half hours) exams in each of the four required categories, according to
the following rules:
- Each student is allowed a maximum of four ``sittings'' for the breadth exam
(a sitting is one set of exams in one semester, sittings need not be
in consecutive semesters)
- For each of the four categories (foundations, software,
systems, and applications), a student can make a maximum of two
attempts in each of the three exams offered in that category.
- Students who enter the Ph.D. program after completing the M.S. program
in Computer Science at Florida Tech and who have passed
the M.S. comprehensive examination at the Ph.D. level
may transfer these exams to the Ph.D. comprehensive exam,
but rule 1 and 2 above still apply.
That is, all sittings and all attempts in the
student's graduate career at Florida Tech are counted.
- Students have the choice of transferring or not from their M.S.
program comprehensive examination results.
If the student chooses not to transfer, his or her
previous sittings and attempts are not counted.
The applied software area includes questions on
Artificial Intelligence,
Databases,
and
Graphics.
Doctoral students will be required to pass in at least two
of the above applied software topic areas. The purpose of this portion
of the exam is to allow doctoral students to demonstrate knowledge
in important areas where computer science is applied.
The foundations area includes questions on
Algorithms,
Automata,
and Discrete Mathematics.
Doctoral students will be required to pass in at least two
of the above foundations topic areas. The purpose of this portion
of the exam is to allow doctoral students to demonstrate
they have a firm
understanding in the foundations of computer science.
The applied software area includes questions on
Compilers,
Programming Languages,
and
Software Engineering.
Doctoral students will be required to pass in at least two
of the above software topic areas. The purpose of this portion
of the exam is to allow doctoral students to demonstrate
they are able to design and develop software solutions to problems.
The systems area includes questions on
Computer Architecture,
Computer Networks,
and
Operating Systems.
Doctoral students will be required to pass in at least two
of the above systems topic areas. The purpose of this portion
of the exam is to allow doctoral students to demonstrate
they know how computer systems work.
After the Program has validated that the student has passed the breadth exam
and the student has completed all formal course work, the student's Doctoral
Committee schedules a depth examination.
The depth examination is administered by the student's Doctoral Committee.
The event is published by the Graduate School and open to all members of the
Graduate Faculty. To pass the exam, the student must have the unanimous
approval of the Committee.
The content of the depth exam are determined by the Doctoral Committee
in consultation with the student. The exam should provide evidence that the
student is prepared to accomplish original, directed research in a field
of Computer Science. The Ph.D. depth exam is normally scheduled for two
or more hours.
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