|
Rules of Diagnostic Examination as of September 13, 1999
--------------------------------------------------------
1. Areas.
---------
(a) General Emphasis:
The exam areas are the following ``basic'' areas:
1. Alg. Anal. and Design (CS 600)
2. Computer Arch (CS 665)
3. Database Systems (CS 550)
4. Communication Networks (CS 555)
5. Oper. Systems (CS 471)
6. Software Eng. (CS 551)
(b) CIS Emphasis:
Computer Science Areas: CS550, CS551 and CS555.
ISYS areas: ISYS courses applied to CIS program.
For specific courses, contact ISYS Graduate Program Director at the diag exam registration time.
2. Reading List.
---------------
The reading list for the exam will have two components:
1. The equivalent of ``one'' textbook in each of the six basic areas.
(accompanied by the topics and/or the chapters to be
covered in the exam).
2. A list of papers, one from each of the recognized graduate curriculum
and research areas (Currently it contains: Networking, Software
Engineering, High Performance Computing, Artificial Intelligence,
Theory, and Architecture).
3. Number of Questions and Answers.
-----------------------------------
(a) General Emphasis:
The exam is structured as follows:
Part 1: 6 Questions: One from each of the basic areas.
Part 2: 6 Questions: One from each of the 6 papers.
A students is required to answer:
4 out of the 6 basic area questions in Part 1.
1 out of the 6 papers questions in Part 2.
The exam is open book; the student can bring any written materials (e.g., books,
class notes) into the examination room. However, after the exam begins, students
can use only these materials. No other materials should be referenced.
(b) CIS Emphasis:
The exam is structured as follows:
Part 1: 3 Subjects in CS
Part 2: 2 Subjects in ISYS (Contact ISYS GPD well before the exam on these)
Part 3: 7+ Questions: One from each of the CS papers (as above) plus one or more
CIS papers
A student is required to answer questions in:
2 out of the 3 CS subjects in Part 1.
All 2 subjects in Part 2.
1 of the 7+ paper questions in Part 3.
The exam is open book; the student can bring any written materials (e.g., books,
class notes) into the examination room. However, after the exam begins, students
can use only these materials. No other materials should be referenced.
4. Schedule of events:
----------------------
Exam Dates:
The exam will be held ``twice'' a year.
Fall exam: First Saturday of October.
Spring exam: First Saturday of March.
Time: 7.5 hours + 30 minutes lunch; you may work through the lunch.
Registration:
Students should register for the exam at the latest TWO WEEKS before the exam date.
Reading List:
Should be available to students at least FOUR MONTHS before
each exam.
Results:
Students should be formally notified within THREE WEEKS
after the exam.
5. Grading
----------
To insure fairness to the students each question will be graded by
TWO persons.
The graders give a final grade of the question at one of the three
possible results:fail, pass at Master's level, pass at PhD level.
6. Faculty Decision:
-----------------
The GPD presents the exam results to the whole faculty and
a complete folder (possibly including a picture) of each
student will be available at the time the faculty meets.
Faculty will decide and vote the outcome for each student
based on the test result and other academic work.
(e.g., course grades,
TA and RA performance, recommendations from faculty, publications, grants)
The possible outcomes of the exam are:
1. Qualified to enter or continue in the PhD program.
2. Graduate with an MS (pending completion of other requirements).
3. Fail to graduate with an MS but be allowed to stay in program.
4. Remove from the graduate program.
The exam may be taken at most twice. Both the Pass at Master's level
and the Pass at Ph.D. level satisfy the University written comprehensive
examination requirement for a Master's degree. A Pass at the Ph.D. level
satisfies the University requirement for the Ph.D. diagnostic exam for Ph.D. students.
|
