A major force in educational innovation, the Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences (GSCIS) provides educational programs of distinction to prepare students for leadership roles in information technology. Its strengths include a distinguished faculty, a cutting edge curriculum, and flexible online and campus-based formats for its six M.S. and four Ph.D. programs as well as for its graduate certificate programs in information security. All programs enable working professionals to earn degrees without interrupting their careers. The school also welcomes full-time students, whether on-campus or online. On-campus evening master’s degree programs are tailored to meet the needs of South Florida residents. Online master’s degree programs require no campus attendance and are available to part-time or full-time students worldwide. A unique online Ph.D. program requires only four campus weekend visits each year. The school’s M.S. students may apply for early admission into a Ph.D. program, which provides the opportunity to earn the doctorate in a shorter time.
Widely recognized as a leader in online education, the school began offering online graduate programs in 1983 and created the first electronic classroom in 1984. It now offers more than 300 online classes annually.
The school’s research advances knowledge, improves professional practice, and contributes to understanding in the computer and information sciences. In addition to its regional accreditation by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, NSU has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security. The school’s curriculum in information security has been certified by NSA for compliance with the national standards of the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS). Collaborative programs include the U.S. Army’s eArmyU initiative and the Southern Regional Education Board’s Electronic Campus. The school has a chapter of Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE), the International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines; and a student chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), one of the largest in Florida.
Beginning in August 2009, all M.S. programs will employ a three-term format: Fall (16-week term starting in August), Winter (16-week term starting in January) and Summer (14-week term starting in May). (The school’s master’s programs will continue their current 12-week terms through the Winter 2009 and Spring 2009 terms.) This format will apply to both on-campus and online master’s students.
Beginning in August 2009, all Ph.D. programs will employ a semester format, which will include two 16-week terms a year. The fall term will start in August and the winter term will start in January. While taking courses, students will attend four sessions per year (two per term), held quarterly over an extended weekend (Friday, Saturday, and half-day Sunday) on the university’s main campus. These weekends will bring together students and faculty for participation in courses, seminars, and dissertation counseling, and will provide ample opportunity for student-faculty and student-student interaction. Between sessions, students will work on course assignments and research, and participate in online activities that facilitate frequent interaction with the faculty and with other students.
Online students use the web to access course materials, announcements, email, distance library services, subscription library databases, and other information and for interaction with faculty and fellow students. Online, interactive learning methods are used throughout the instructional sequence based on the use of WebCT as a course management system. Online activities facilitate frequent student-to-faculty and student-to-student interaction. They are supported by threaded discussion boards, white boards, chat rooms, email, and other online tools. In addition, WebCT enables students to submit assignments online in multimedia formats and to receive their professors’ reviews of assignments online in the same formats.
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