Program Revision Guidelines
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
OUTLINE FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS TO REVISE PROGRAMS
Use this outline to prepare proposals to revise existing programs, including undergraduate majors and minors
and graduate degree programs and certificates. Proposals for revising programs should be submitted in
narrative form, using the following outline. Guidelines are on the following page.
PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE:
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
REVISED PROGRAM NAME AND SUBJECT CODE (IF APPLICABLE):
DEGREE:
(CSC)
N /A
MASTER OF SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT(S)/SCHOOL(S):
CONTACT PERSON:
COLLEGE(S):
COMPUTER SCIENCE
PAMELA MOORE
REQUESTED START DATE: TERM SPRING
YEAR
ARTS & SCIENCES
CONTACT PHONE:
734-487-1063
CONTACT EMAIL:
CS@EMICH.EDU
2012
I. Rationale
The graduate program in the area of computer science for many universities used to be full of foreign
students. Times have changed. It started with the 9/11 attacks and the visa restrictions that came with it,
coupled with outsourcing. The influx of overseas students into these graduate programs has dwindled. This
revision will fill some of that vacuum by drawing from the pool of our exceptional undergraduate students.
The students are given the opportunity to get an advanced degree in a shorter time than normal and are likely
to join the work force better prepared with better pay, rank and advancement opportunities.
II. Description of Current Program
The Master of Science in computer science provides a flexible and rigorous education in the advanced
principles of computer science. Graduates are prepared for employment in business, government
organizations, educational institutions, and other enterprises.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must:



Meet Graduate School admission requirements.
Have at least 18 hours of 200 level (or above) computer science courses, including data structures,
programming languages, computer organization, and operating system, and competency in a highlevel programming language such as C, C++, or Java. A major in computer science is preferred.
Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 in computer science course work.
Have completed courses in discrete mathematics, probability and statistics, linear algebra and
calculus (two semesters).
Students may choose one of the three plans - Plan A or Plan B or Plan C
Program Requirements for:
Plan A: Practicum (including 3-credit-hour practical experience)
Plan B: Research Study (including 3-credit-hour research study)
Plan C: Thesis (including 6-credit-hour formal master's research thesis)
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
Program Revision Guidelines
III. Proposed Revision
To split the program into two tracks:
Traditional track which is the current program.
Accelerated track which allows students to count up to 9 credit hours of graduate credits
completed as an undergraduate towards the graduate degree.
The accelerated MS program is designed for exceptional students who wish to obtain both the Bachelor’s
and Master’s degrees in accelerated time. The primary goal of the program is to grow the Computer Science
graduate program from within our pool of undergraduate students. The program aims to encourage
exceptional undergraduate majors and minors in Computer Science to continue on to the graduate program
by offering them the opportunity to complete both the BS/MS degrees in a five-year period. The targeted
group of exceptional students from our department would have gone through the rigors of successfully
completing the core computer science courses in our department.
Students are required to complete the same requirements as in the non-accelerated master’s program with the
following exceptions.
This program allows students to have up to nine (9) credit hours of graduate courses counted towards both
their Bachelors and Masters degrees. Qualified undergraduate students are allowed to take graduate courses
in Computer Science while working on a Bachelors degree and count those courses towards their Bachelors
degree. In addition, up to 9 credit hours of the graduate courses counted towards the Bachelors degree may
be applied towards the graduate degree if the student decides to continue on and enroll in the accelerated
Master’s program.
- Student must earn a grade of B or better in the course to be able to count it towards the accelerated
Masters program, otherwise the course may only be counted towards their Bachelors program.
- Undergraduate students must fulfill the graduate school requirements for taking graduate level
courses.
The Accelerated MS degree requires the same number of credits as the current Masters program - 33 credit
hours. If the student were to apply the maximum allowed credit hours of 9 towards the accelerated program,
24 credit hours would be left. We project that the student would be able to complete 24 credit hours by
enrolling in nine credit hours in the fall and winter semesters, and the remaining six credits hours in the
spring and/or summer semesters.
IV. Impact
We do not envision any negative impacts on other university programs.
V. Budget
The program is marketed internally to our undergraduate students and folds right into the already approved
BS and MS programs. The same faculty pool and resources from the existing program will be used.
VI. Action of the Department/College
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
Program Revision Guidelines
1. Department/School:
Vote of faculty:
For
13
Against 0
(Enter the number of votes cast in each category.)
I support this proposal. The proposed revision can
cannot
Department(s)/School(s) without additional College or University resources.
<signed> W. W. McMillan
Department Head/School Director Signature
Abstentions
1
be implemented within the affected
6 Dec 2011
Date
2. College/Graduate School:
A. College
I support this proposal. The proposed program can
College without additional University resources.
cannot
be implemented within the affected
College Dean Signature
Date
B. Graduate School (Graduate Program Revisions ONLY)
Graduate Dean Signature
Date
VII. Approval
Associate Vice-President for Academic Programming Signature
Date
VIII. Appendices
A. Market Analysis/Needs Assessment
B. Mandates
C. Request for New/Revised Course Forms
D. Letters of Support from Impacted Departments
E. Cost Analysis (Complete only if the revision cannot be implemented without additional University resources. Fill in
Estimated Resources for the sponsoring department(s). Attach separate estimates for other affected departments.)
Estimated Resources:
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
Faculty / Staff
$_________
$_________
$_________
SS&M
$_________
$_________
$_________
Equipment
$_________
$_________
$_________
Total
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09
$____0____
$____0____
$____0____
Program Revision Guidelines
EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
DIVISION OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING PROPOSALS TO REVISE DEGREE PROGRAMS
Departments/Schools intending to submit proposals for revising programs are encouraged to consult with the
Course and Program Development Office and, if appropriate, the Graduate School prior to submitting such
proposals. Proposals for program revisions should be submitted in narrative form, according to the following
guidelines:
I. Rationale: Explain completely the rationale for the proposed revision. If it is the result of a market analysis or needs
assessment, include documentation as Appendix A. If the revision is the result of state of Michigan, federal or accrediting
agency mandate, attach documentation, including required implementation date, as Appendix B.
II. Description of Current Program: Describe the current program as it appears in the most recent University catalog.
Include information about major/minor requirements, restricted and general electives, and the minimum number of total credit
hours students completing the program will have taken by the time they graduate.
III. Proposed Revision: Provide a complete description of the revised program, organized so that the current and revised
programs can easily be compared. Include a list of any new or revised courses. Indicate whether the proposed revision will
increase the number of credit hours in the program, and provide a rationale for any increase.. Attach completed Request for New
Course and/or Request for Course Revision form for each proposed new or revised course as Appendix C.
IV. Impact: Indicate whether and how the proposed revision will impact other University programs. Attach letters of support
from affected departments as Appendix D.
V. Budget: Describe the budgetary impact of the proposed revision. If new resources will be needed, indicate their source.
If the revision will require resources beyond those the department/school or college can provide, attach a cost analysis as
Appendix E. (Note: If a significant portion of the cost of the revised program will be borne by Continuing Education, include
evidence of Continuing Education’s willingness to bear those costs.)
Miller, Program Revision Guidelines
Sept. 09