{\noindent {\bf V. CURRICULUM}}

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The objective of the Computational Science and Information
Technology program is to provide students with an environment in
which they can develop skills necessary to seamlessly blend
computational science, information technology and mathematical
techniques with a specialized discipline.  It is becoming
increasingly clear that these tools will serve as the backbone
leading to major advances in all fields of research.  To achieve
this objective, an alliance of several departments from the
College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering has
been established to sponsor and staff an inter-departmental,
interdisciplinary, graduate degree program in computational
science and information technology.

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The term "Computational Science and Information Technology" is
used to represent an interdisciplinary field comprising a specific
scientific or other discipline, applied mathematics (including
numerical mathematics), and computing science. {\bf ????}
The applied mathematicla aspect emphasizes mathematical modeling
of the physical world and the discretized version thereof, whereas
the computing science aspect emphasized the development of
software and hardware systems and tools (including libraries,
environments, protocols, and devices).  Until recently, these
disciplines evolved in isolation without consideration of each
other's requirements and opportunities. In order to effectively
harness the resources made available by the fast-paced evolution
of computer software and hardware, a close-knit coupling of the
disciplines is required.  The CSIT Program seeks to produce
researchers capable of such integration through a curriculum that
includes the disciplines of computing science, applied
mathematics, and an engineering or science speciality.

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This objective is achieved through complementary requirements:
students from computer science or mathematics will approximately
one-third of their total course load in an engineering or
scientific discipline outside their department, while engineering
or science students will carry approximately one-third of their
total course load in computer science or mathematics.  In
addition, certain core CSIT courses will be required of all CSIT
degree candidates.  These courses are designed to provide a common
knowledge base for the wide variety of students expected in the
program and to emphasize the interdisciplinary aspect of the
program.

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{\it Alternative Version of the Above Paragraph}

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{\it  The objective of the CSIT
curriculum is two-fold: one, to build upon the individual strengths of the
students and two, to provide students with a cohesive, but broadly-based
graduate education in high performance computing and information technology
as applied to science and engineering.  Students are expected to enter
the CSIT Program with a variety of undergraduate backgrounds.  Consequently,
the program provides for two tracks: one for students from computer science
or mathematics, the other for students from an engineering or
scientific discipline.  These tracks are have considerable overlap, but
provide the flexibility to build upon the student's strengths.}

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{\it To achieve this objective the CSIT curriculum will provide
provide students with the opportunity to explore some topics in
detail, while at the same time achieve breadth.  This is
accomplished through courses and activities that establish a core
foundation in CSIT, establish graduate level competency in an
application area, provide in depth exploration of several tracks
and integrate contemporary research results and techniques.
Consequently students will take courses from CSIT core courses,
their application area, from several CSIT tracks and from additional
advanced graduate courses.}

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{\it End of Alternative Version}

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{\noindent {\bf A. Sequence of Courses and Credit Hours for Every Degree Option}}

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The Ph.D. degree is intended to be completed in approximately five years
of full time effort.  The recommended course work for the Ph.D. is 45
graduate hours.

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The M.S. degree is intended to be completed in two years of full time
effort.  The required course work, including six (6) hours of thesis,
is 30 graduate hours.

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{\noindent {\bf Recommended Programs of Study}}

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The CSIT program offers two (2) core courses which every CSIT
student must master.  These courses are
Foundations of Computational Science I and Foundations of
Information Technology I.  The CSIT program also includes nine (9)
different tracks of three (3) courses each, advanced
CSIT courses and courses in affiliated departments. (NOTE: Many
of these track and dvanced courses and the vast majority of the
courses in the affiliated departments were being taught prior
to the proposal for the CSIT degree program and do not need
additional development).
These tracks and courses will be described in detail below.

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Students entering CSIT are expected to have a wide range of interests.
These students may elect to pursue a degree with a strong application
area emphasis or with a strong computing sciences and mathematics
emphasis.  The recommended programs of study differ slightly in these
two cases.  Each recommended program includes at least 15 courses,
though students may have engaged in prior graduate work that will
enable them to master the material without taking the courses.
Whether all of the courses have been taken or not, students will
be expected to demonstrate mastery of the material in the core
courses and in their selected tracks on the preliminary exam.

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In addition to the two CSIT core courses, students wishing to
pursue a degree with strong application area
emphasis will be advised to master at least six (6) courses from
the graduate courses offered in an affiliated
department, and four (4) courses from two different CSIT tracks.
In addition, they will be advised to take at least three (3) courses
from the approved list of Advanced CSIT courses (at least one (1)
of these courses must be the third course in one of the student's
selected CSIT tracks). Though there are no other specific course
requirements, students will be encouraged to take other
specialized courses in CSIT and in application areas.

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In addition to the two CSIT core courses, students wishing to pursue
a Ph.D. degree
with strong computing sciences and applied mathematics emphasis will
be advised to take six (6) courses from three different CSIT
tracks, three (3) courses from the approved list of Advanced CSIT
courses (at least one (1)
of these courses must be the third course in one of the student's
selected CSIT tracks), and four courses (4) from the list of
approved CSIT Affiliated Courses. Though there are no
other specific course requirements, students will be encouraged
to take other specialized courses in CSIT and in application areas.

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A MS degree in CSIT will not be required for the Ph.D. degree.  Before
a student can be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, the student must:
1) pass the written portion of the preliminary exam on the
material in the CSIT core courses and on the material in their
CSIT tracks  (two (2) for an application area emphasis and three
(3) for a computing sciences and mathematics emphasis), 2) write a
tentative prospectus of a research topic suitable for a Ph.D.
dissertation and 3) students pursing an application area emphasis
must also pass the written portion of the
preliminary exam in an application area at the Master's level, or
have a master's degree in an application area.  No less than one
week after the prospectus has been submitted the student must,
and 4) pass the oral portion of the preliminary exam to be
given by the student's graduate advisory committee.  Students
pursing an application area emphasis must also pass the written
portion of the preliminary exam in an application area at the
Master's level, or have a master's degree in an application area
from an accredited institution.

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The nine CSIT tracks are:

\begin{enumerate}
\item Advanced Computer Graphics,  Scientific Visualization,
Virtual Reality Environments

\item Numerical Linear Algebra, Advanced Numerical Algorithms,
Computational Optimization

\item Foundations of Computational Science II, Parallel Software Systems,
Distributed Software Systems

\item Foundations of Information Technology II, Distributed
Collaboration Environments, Advanced Methods in Information
Technology

\item Computational Geometry, Combinatorics, Pattern and Structure

\item Computational Statistics I, Stochastic Systems,
Statistics in Applications I.

\item Advanced Data Management, Distributed Databases,
Mathematical Foundations of Databases and Information Retrieval

\item Uniprocessor Architectures, Parallel Processor
Architectures, Embedded and Distributed Processors

\item Information Security, Cryptography, Advanced Security Systems

\end{enumerate}

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In each track, the first course listed is a prerequisite for the
other two.

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{\noindent {\bf B.  120 hour Maximum for Undergraduates}}

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This is a graduate program and not subject to the 120 hour
maximum for undergraduates.

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% \input{Vcourses.tex}

{\noindent {\bf D. Prerequisites}}

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This is multidisciplinary graduate program and consequently does not require
a particular degree as a prerequisite.  The ideal background of potential students
would include an undergraduate major in mathematics, computer
science, science or engineering combined with some training in the areas not
a part of their major.  Few students are likely to meet this standard.
Consequently, the program intends to develop courses and activities which
normally would occur in the summer before the student begins the
CSIT core courses for assisting highly qualified students who
lack some of this breadth in their undergraduate program of study.
This plan is critical to the success of this program.

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Departments affiliated with the CSIT program grant Ph.D.'s in
their own disciplines.  With this proposals students will
be accepted into either the M.S. or the Ph.D. program in CSIT who meet the
admission requirements of CSIT and an affiliated department.

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{\noindent {\bf E. Limited Access Status}}

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This program in not applying for Limited Access status.

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