LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE MEMORANDUM DATE: May 5, 2000 TO: Academic Senate Equivalency Committee FROM: John Hugunin Department Head for CBIS SUBJECT: Equivalency statement for Computer Science Instructor State Minimum Qualifications Master's Degree in computer science or computer engineering OR Bachelor s in either of the above AND Master's in mathematics, cybernetics, business administration, accounting or engineering OR Bachelor's engineering AND Master's in cybernetics, engineering, mathematics, or business administration OR Bachelor's in mathematics AND in cybernetics, engineering, mathematics, or business administration OR The equivalent. Local Equivalency Statement Master s degree in related discipline such as Master s in business administration, physics, statistics, cybernetics, accounting, engineering and 18 units of upper division or graduate level coursework in subjects related to the discipline such as computer programming, computer architecture, database systems, operating systems, user interface design, world-wide web development, object oriented programming, discrete data structures with computer science applications, artificial intelligence, computer networking. OR Bachelor's Degree in disciplines such as computer science, mathematics, or engineering with a minimum of 20 units of upper division or graduate level course work relating to Computer Science and at least five years of full time industry experience responsible for the development of complex and various software/hardware systems that demonstrate an advanced knowledge of Computer Science that relate to upper graduate areas of study. OR The candidate meets the computer science Master's Degree equivalent requirement at another California Community College district subject to the veto of the equivalency committee. Approved 4-10-2000 mj Equivalency for Computer Science Instructor Page 1 of 7
Rationale for Local Equivalency Criteria: Most Master s Degrees in Computer Science involve three components: course work, advanced problem solving utilizing the theory of Computer Science, and either a comprehensive exam or a Master's thesis. An explanation of how the proposed criteria equate with the knowledge and skills gained in a Master's Degree program is discussed below. The Master's Degree requirements at California State University at Long Beach (CSULB) and Cal Poly Pomona are used as a basis for establishing the criteria. I. Course Work: (20 units in upper division or at the graduate level) Upper division course work required for a Master's Degree takes a more in depth and analytical view at the theory and application of Computer Science. The individual who has availed him or herself of upper division course work has the foundation and tools for thinking and solving complex problems in the application of Computer Science in business, industry, and science. The twenty units may be taken from the following upper division courses or their equivalent: (Note that the numbers on the side are the CSULB course number for reference, and the number in parenthesis is the number of units, required courses have a * next to them) CSULB# Upper or graduate level mathematics courses applicable to Computer Science Upper or graduate level engineering courses applicable to Computer Science 301 Digital Logic Design (3) 325* Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming (3) 326* Operating Systems (4) 328* Discrete Structures with Computer Science Applications (3) 346 Microprocessors and Applications (3) 347 Microprocessor Hardware Design (3) 419 Theory of Computation (3) 421 Database Systems (4) 422 CAD and Semicustom IC Design (3) 424* Organization of Programming Languages (4) 426 Topics in Operating Systems (3) 428 Analysis of Algorithms (3) 440* Computer Architecture (3) 443* Software Engineering (3) 444* Compiler Construction (4) 446 Microprocessor Systems Design (3) 448 User Interface Design (3) 449 Computer Graphics (3) 451 Artificial Intelligence (3) 470 World-Wide Web Development (3) 471 Internet Applications Using Java (3) 472 Computer Networking (3) 475 Object-Oriented Programming and C++ (3) Equivalency for Computer Science Instructor Page 2 of 7
476 System and Network Administration (3) 481 Event Driven Programming (3) 521 Advanced Database Management (3) 524 Advanced Topics in Programming Languages (3) 526* Advanced Operating Systems (3) 528* Advanced Analysis of Algorithms (3) 529 Advanced Compiler Design (3) 530*,531 Advanced Computer Architecture (3,3) 543* Advanced Software Engineering (3) 546 Fault Tolerant Computing Systems (3) 549 Advanced Computer Graphics (3) 551 Advanced Artificial Intelligence (3) 552 Computer Simulation and Modeling (3) 553 Machine Vision (3) 570 Concurrent Parallel Programming (3) 572 Distributed Computing Systems and Networking (3) 575 Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (3) II. DEMONSTRATION OF ADVANCED PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS The second component of a Master's Degree in computer science involves the proof of the ability to apply advanced computational skills to a variety of programming problems. The graduate student demonstrates these advanced problem-solving skills through the completion of programming projects performed as part of the course laboratory work. This laboratory work provides the student experience and practical knowledge needed to solve complex problems in science, business and industry. Students in computer science also apply their applied scientific knowledge from such disciplines as mathematics and physics. Typical projects deal with mathematical and graphics problems as well the application of programming techniques to solve a variety of small scale computational problems that take several hours to several weeks to perform. III. MASTER'S THESIS OR COMPREHENSIVE The third component of a Master's Degree in CS is either a thesis project requiring the graduate student to demonstrate the ability to apply the theory and practice of computer science to a large scale complex systems problem. This is usually in the form of a programming project and serves as proof that the student has achieved an advanced understanding of computer science programming theory. Typical projects deal with mathematical and graphics problems as well the application of computer science theory dealing with networks, natural language processing, operating systems, database systems. These projects take anywhere from 3 to 9 months to complete. (Graduate students at California State University at Long Beach have a second option to demonstrate their advanced understanding of computer science theory and practice through Equivalency for Computer Science Instructor Page 3 of 7
an oral and written examination. This second option is becoming more acceptable and popular among Computer Science graduate programs.) EQUIVALENCY CRITERIA: 1. WORK EXPERIENCE: (COURSE WORK EQUIVALENT) A programmer who has 5 years of scientific programming experience dealing with topics the same as or equivalent to the topics listed in a typical graduate course offering in computer science would have the same type of course work experience and knowledge as a graduate of a computer science Master s Degree program. 2. WORK EXPERIENCE: (THESIS EQUIVALENT) A programmer on the job who is in a position of responsibility for the development of a large software/hardware programming project for a sufficient period of time (6 months to over a year) has proven the same abilities and knowledge as an individual with computer science Master's Degree. An example project found in the "real world" that is equivalent to a master's project is to have the programmer create a new operating system for "embedded" chip systems used in appliances such as medical equipment, aircraft, satellites, digital phone system, network equipment. The development, testing and implementation time line of such programming projects can last anywhere from 2 to 18 months and more. These projects entail a wide range of programming and organizational skills. Some master thesis projects are listed at the end of this document from Cal Poly Pomona's Computer Science graduate program. In each case, the thesis project required advanced programming skills and understanding of computer science theory. In some cases, the project might require the programmer to create new technique to solve a unique the technical problem. Examples include the writing of a new operating system to work in a new appliance, a computer game simulation, a new computer disk database retrieval system, pioneer work with a new technology and so on. 2. WORK EXPERIENCE: (COMPREHENSIVE EXAM EQUIVALENT) In addition, the experienced programmer who has worked on a variety of large software projects dealing with scientific and technical issues (such as graphics, embedded operating systems, database systems, data communications, natural language translators, computer simulation) for a minimum of 5 years has proven the same breath and depth of understanding that a Master's Degree comprehensive exam proves. See the list of classes from CSULB computer science graduate program for a list of topic areas. Equivalency for Computer Science Instructor Page 4 of 7
SAMPLE MASTER'S THESIS TOPICS from Cal Poly Pomona Graduate CS program: A Natural Language Interface for DOS Evaluation of Two New Filters for Digital Image Processing An Investigation of Object-Oriented Programming by Analysis and Implementation in Prolog An Algorithm for Identification of Printed Characters Machine Translation of Finnish to English Processing of Cartographic Images Digital Image Data Compression Visual Programming Notation A Comparison of Processor Scheduling Techniques for Parallel Programs The Design of the CVL Programming Language Color Separation in Ray Tracing A Concurrency Translator Dimensionality of Fractals Geometry PC-Based Monitor for Multiple ECG Systems Position Modeling for Data Compression A Comparative Study of Curve Generation in Computer Graphics Intelligent Lexicon Searching Mechanism for Vocabulary Recognition Parallel Processing the Fast Fourier Transform A 2-D Real-time Animation System A Deadlock Avoidance Algorithm for Ordered Resource Classes Automated Normalization of AREL Schema Equivalency for Computer Science Instructor Page 5 of 7
Query-By-Example Interface to Micro-DBMS Convex Hull Algorithms Tic-Tac-Toe Robotic System Logical Forms for Natural Language Processing Unbreakable Rings A Robot Manipulation and Object Recognition System GDC (Graphics-DBMS Connector): An Application Program for Connecting Data Base Management with Graphics System Implementation of Flexware System Pint-Sized Script: A Page Description Language Searching for Large Prime Numbers Software System for Obstacle Detection and Path Planning Digital Image Processing Software System Execution Time of Marking Algorithms During Garbage Collection in LISP Using Genetic Algorithms to Learn Grammars REPOSE: An Object-Oriented Extension to Scheme The Generalization Step in Learning Operating System Educational Aids Central Security Building Automation Systems Message Routing on Star Networks Ada and its Subset Interpreter Finding Spinal Contours in Magnetic Resonance Images Object-Oriented Implementation of Data Structures Translating Database Query Sentences Equivalency for Computer Science Instructor Page 6 of 7
Competitive Learning Models for a Neural Network Image Processing of Electrophoresis Gel A Class Library for Computation Geometry A Subpattern Construction Approach for Recognition of Hand-Written Uppercase English Characters Distributed Real-Time System Simulator Implementing Quicksort on a Parallel Computer System Mutation Testing of Ada Programs An Interactive Approach to Database Design Simulation Study of Network Topologies Zero Knowledge Communications Network A Graphic CNC Machining Simulator Recognition of Hand-Written Characters Simulation of Critical Section Problems Implementation of Meta-Knowledge in Expert Systems 3D Animator: A Real-Time Animation System A Natural Language Interface for MS-DOS Computer Communication Network Simulation Approved 4-10-2000 mj Equivalency for Computer Science Instructor Page 7 of 7