UAA/UAF Cooperative MS CS

Information on Classes

It all comes down to consumer demand.  If enough people here at Anchorage want a particular course, then it may be possible to get it taught down here at UAA, or up at UAF and live videoconferenced to UAA.  Either way, everyone wins.  But it means that the students need to stick together and keep in communication, and work together to achieve the critical mass.

The "F" or "A" preceeding the course number refers to "F"airbanks or "A"nchorage respectively, and seems to be the way the catalogs are listing them too.  Note that UAA and UAF may have assigned entirely different courses the same course number, so watch out!

All electives must be approved by your Grad Advisory Committee, so check before leaping into a class that may or may not be approved.

Finally, the teleconference classes are held at the University Lake Building.  Follow the hyperlink for a map of the location.

CS F670 - CS for Software Engineers

Sign up for this class through Prof Nance up at Fairbanks if you're doing it by independent study/distance learning.  Once you're signed up, then it goes through the Distance Education Center.  Don't start with them or it blows the system up.  Once Prof Nance has you signed up, then contact them.   You will need signed up as "US" not "FS" for the section.   "US" means outside of Fairbanks so they include the books and shipping/handling fees with the tuition.  "FS" means you live in the Fairbanks area and can just drive over to the bookstore to pick up your books.   Generally you have to take this class from UAF via distance learning.

CS F671 - Advanced Software Engineering

This class is offered every fall through UAF.   Sometimes it is offered through UAA as well but depends on demand and availability of instructors.

CS F672 - Software Process Improvement

Offered through UAF generally in the spring.

ESM A608 - Project Management

Usually offered every spring through the Engineering and Science Management folks in the Engineering department.  You can contact Prof Jang Ra for more information on when it (or any other ESM class) will be offered next; he's the chair of the ESM program.

ESM A609 - Legal Principles

Offered generally every other spring semester, on even years (e.g., 1998, 2000, etc).

CS A690 - Special Topics Class

You can take this class (with different subtitle (e.g., "Computer Security)) more than once for credit.  Talk to Prof Jacobs, he seems pretty flexible as far as which topics you'd like to take.

CS F693 - Requirements Engineering

Offered occasionally by UAF, and videoconferenced (with enough student demand) to UAA students.

CS F690 - Graduate Seminar and Project I

CS F691 - Graduate Seminar and Project II

For UAA students, after getting your committee to approve your project proposal (free-form writeup), sign up for each class sequentially with UAF and then work with Prof Jacobs on the actual implementation.  The degree requires you to take 6 credits of Graduate Seminar and Project, hence the sequential nature etc.

Historical Course Offerings

Courses Offered in Spring '99

• CS672 Software Process Improvement (Dr. Pete Knoke)

  This course looks at different techniques used to improve the software development process to provide software that is on time, under budget and of high quality. Extensive use is made of the SEI Capability Maturity Model which is the de facto certification criterion for US software development organizations. A course syllabus from the previous offering is available. Monday 6-9.

• ESM609 Project Management

  Organizing, planning, scheduling, and controlling projects. Use of CPM and PERT; computer applications. Case studies of project managmenet problems and solutions. R 7:00-9:45

• CS403 Object-Oriented Programming Systems

  Introduction to object-oriented programming systems for experienced programmers. We will look at object-oriented analysis, design and programming. We will also use some of the "newer" programming techniques such as exceptions, multithreading, etc. This term we will be using the Java language. Experience with the C programming language is assumed; talented programmers may be successful without a background in C. TR 4:00-5:15 p.m.

• CS410 Expert Systems
• CS431 Compilers: Concepts and Techniques

  Lexical analayzers, symbol tables, top-down and bottom-up parsing, internal forms, intermediate languages, code generation, and optimization. A compiler for a rudimentary language will be constructed. MW 1:00-2:15

Courses Offered in Fall '98

The courses below are available for students pursuing the MSCS degree through the cooperative UAA/UAF degree program; other qualified individuals are also welcome. The listing includes three senior level (400 level) courses; up to six units of 400 level CS course may be used to satisfy the degree requirements. One 600 level CS elective course is being offered and two require ESM courses are also available. Students may also sign up for CS670, a self-study course available from UAF.

• Requirements Engineering (CS693)
  This course is tentatively scheduled for Mondays from 6-9. The exact format of the course (on-site lecture vs. 2-way teleconferencing) has not been determined. If you are interested or would like more information about this classe please contact the instructor, Dr. Pete Knoke of UAF as soon as possible. Since graduate course enrollments are always small, they are always subject to cancellation for low enrollment, especially under the current UA fiscal regime, and even one additional student can tip the balance between offering and cancellation.

Courses Offered in Spring '98

• Object Oriented Programming Systems (CS403)

Introduction to object-oriented programming systems for experienced programmers. We will look at object-oriented analysis, design and programming. We will also use some of the "newer" programming techniques such as exceptions, multithreading, etc. This term we will be using the Java language. Experience with the C programming language is assumed; talented programmers may be successful without a background in C. TR 4:00-5:15 p.m.

• Artificial Intelligence (CS405)

An introduction to the basic concepts of artificial intelligence. TR 10:00-11:15 a.m.

• Automata, Languages and Computability Introduction to the theory of computation. MW 1:00-2:12 p.m.
• Computer Security (CS690)

An in-depth look at the area of computer security. Course will look at encryption techniques, computer systems security, database security and distributed systems security. Requires experience with computer systems, including an understanding ofhardware and operating systems. M 6:00-9:00 p.m.

• Legal Environment for Engineering Management (ESM 608)

Require course for the S/W engineering track; course looks at the aspects of the law related to technical management. Tuesdays 7:00-9:45 p.m.

• Project Management (ESM 609)

Required course for the S/W engineering track; it looks at the techniques used to manage engineering projects including organizing, planning, scheduling, and controlling. Tuesdays 7:00-9:45 p.m.

Courses Offered in Fall '97

• Software Engineering (CS671)

Wednesdays 6-9; first meeting 9/3/97; University Lake Building
This course is offered by UAF Professor Kara Nance via two-way video conferencing.

Software development as an engineering discipline. Project planning, proposal writing, and management. Software requirements, design, implementation, test, and documentation. Additional topics from object-oriented design, real-time design, and validation. Prerequisite: Four years of experience as a software professional or permission of instructor.

Computer Science for Software Engineers (CS670)

Offered as a self-paced self-study course from UAF. It can scheduled for a one semester or a one year duration. Contact Professor Kara Nance for more information.

• Communications and Networking (CS442)

MW 4-5:15; CAS 258
Introduction to data transmission, information theory, and computer networks. Topics include: characteristics of transmission media, multiplexing, error detection and correction, data security, communication protocols, packet switching, analysis of various network architectures, and review of selected commercial netowrk environments.

• Parallel and Distributed Computing (CS446)

TR 5:30-6:45; CAS 258
Overview of parallel and distributed systems' architecture. Development and application of software for the parallel and distributed environments: algorithms, programming languages, and development tools.

Courses Offered in Spring '97

• Neural Networks (CS694D) Tuesdays, 6 to 9 p.m. Taught by an acknowledged expert in the field, this course will provide in-depth coverage of Neural Networks. Neural networks are a computing style inspired by the organization of the nervous system. Course requires Calculus and Linear Algebra. Wolfline #03440; room: ENGR 228.
• Software Process Improvement (CS672) Mondays, 6 to 9 p.m. This course looks different techniques used to improve the software development process to provide software that is on time, under budget and of high quality. Extensive use is made of the SEI Capability Maturity Model which is the de facto certification criterion for US software development organizations. The first class meeting (due to UAF schedule and a holiday) is Monday January 27; however, be sure to register as soon as possible. For information about the course contact the instructor.
• Project Management (ESM609) Thursdays, 7:00-9:45. Required course for the S/W engineering track; it looks at the techniques used to manage engineering projects including organizing, planning, scheduling, and controlling. Wolfline #01275; room: ENGR 110.
• Object-Oriented Programming (CS403) Tue/Thu 4:00-5:15. Introduction to object-oriented problem solving techniques and software development for experienced programmers. The C++ and Java programming languages will be used for implementation. Wolfline #00796; room: ENGR 109.

That's it for now, stay tuned!