Computer Science

Department Chairperson: Dr. David Struckman-Johnson
Graduate Program Director: Dr. Richard McBride

Department of Computer Science
Arts & Sciences, Room 202
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-677-5388
csci@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/csci

FACULTY

Professors:

David Struckman-Johnson, Ph.D., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Artificial Intelligence, and Computer Ethics.

Associate Professors:

Douglas Goodman, Ph.D., University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. Specialization: Simulation, Real-time Systems, and Graphics.
Richard McBride, Ph.D., Kansas State University. Specialization: Networking, Artificial Intelligence, and Operating Systems.

Research Assistant Professor:

Carol Lushbough, M.A., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Bioinformatics.

DEGREE:

Master of Science, Plan A and B

EMPHASIS:

M.S. Human-Computer Interaction – Plan A only

Program Description

The Computer Science Department at the University of South Dakota offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science degree in Computer Science with a thesis option, a thesis option with a Human-Computer Interaction Emphasis, and a non-thesis option. All graduate programs are designed to produce individuals with a strong, broad-based core of advanced computer science knowledge. These programs are recommended for students with professional goals in Computer Science such as continuing graduate education, working for national laboratories and other federal or state agencies, securing employment in private industry, or post-secondary education. Graduates of the programs are well prepared to accept the current and future challenges of the field.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 2.7 or graduate GPA of at least 3.0.
The GRE General test is required.
International students must document their proficiency in English. A score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (IBT) or 550 on the written TOEFL is required for graduate admission. The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) Exam is accepted with a minimum score of 6.0. The PTE Academic English Test is also accepted with a minimum score of 53. Students from English-speaking countries (UK, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, and New Zealand) are not required to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score if their academic records indicate that English was the classroom language for the majority of their schoolwork. Foreign students who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from an American college or university are not required to submit a score. *Please Note: Permanent residents and American citizens whose first language is not English and who do not have a degree from an American University must also complete the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE for admission to the University of South Dakota.
Prerequisite undergraduate Computer Science course work for all departmental graduate programs:
Computer Science I
Computer Science II
Machine Organization
Algorithms & Data Structures
Prerequisite undergraduate Mathematics course work for all departmental programs:
Calculus I (1 semester course)
Discrete Structures

- Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis to any departmental graduate program.