Following months of intensive review by computer science faculty, the curricula for several graduate programs – the M.S. in Computer Science, the M.S. in Telecommunications Systems and Networks and the M.S. in Software Development and Engineering – have been updated to meet the needs of today’s students in an increasingly specialized workplace. The changes to these programs went into effect this fall.
Reduced from 36 to 30 credits, the M.S. in Computer Science is the degree that underwent the greatest amount of change. When Pace first offered the M.S. in Computer Science more than 30 years ago, there were few graduates coming out of undergraduate institutions with computer science degrees. Eager to pursue graduate study in this rapidly expanding field without returning for an undergraduate degree, students sought graduate programs that allowed them to do so by providing preparation in programming and mathematics through a series of bridge courses. Pace met that need by designing a program primarily for career changers.
Much has changed in 30 years. Students entering computer science graduate programs today come better prepared, usually with undergraduate degrees in the field or in related disciplines. They are eager to pursue an advanced degree that builds on their acquired knowledge and allows them to prepare for a career in a specialized, in-demand field like artificial intelligence, mobile computing, Internet computing, Web security, or network security. The revised M.S. in Computer Science does just that. While the number of core requirement credits has been reduced, the content of the core courses has been updated and made more rigorous. This reduction of credits allows students to pursue a three course concentration in an area of interest, an additional elective selected from a wide range of contemporary and traditional topics, and a capstone project that allows them to integrate all that they have learned in lieu of the previously required software engineering seminar. For details, see the revised M.S. in Computer Science curriculum.
The M.S. in Telecommunications has been renamed the M.S. in Telecommunications Systems and Networks to reflect the comprehensive content of the program. The curriculum covers all significant aspects of the field including technology, management and policy with an emphasis on current and emerging Internet-related technologies and applications. Course content has been updated and several new courses have been added. For details, see the updated M.S. in Telecommunications Systems and Networks curriculum.
The curriculum for the M.S. in Software Development and Engineering, an in-depth program that focuses on the science of software engineering, has been revised to follow the guidelines outlined by the Computing Society of the IEEE, the world’s leading organization of computing professionals. The program prepares students to sit for the exam leading to the Certified Software Development Associate (CSDA) credential developed by the IEEE. Students obtaining CSDA status may apply this credential towards partial fulfillment of their capstone requirement. For details, see the revised M.S. in Software Development and Engineering curriculum.
As a graduate of Pace, I am glad to see my Alma Mater expand and improve programs. But I cannot help but feel somewhat cheated. I am pursuing my Master’s Degree in Telecommunications Systems and Networks at another school. Prior to attending, I did look at what Pace offers, and an MS in Telecommunications was not available. Had I known a program was being developed, I would have gladly waited.