Minutes+CSE_ICT

= = =Minutes of Meetings of CSE/ICT Subjects=

Minutes of September 28, 2009
[Participants: Dr. Sayeed Ghani, Dr. Shakeel Khoja, Mr. Rashid Faruqui, Mr. Raza Abedi, Mr. Faisal Iradat, Ms. Quratulain Rajput, Ms. Asma Larik, Mr. Abdul Wajed, Ms. Saleha Raza, Dr. Sajjad Haider]

__ACTION: Mr. Abdul Wajed will make few changes to the existing reference course outline__. This includes setting the objectives and outcomes of the course as well as of individual topics. There is also a general consensus that there should be a group project (preferably a GUI based game) in the course.
 * CSE141 Introduction to Programming Languages**

The possibility of splitting this course into two was discussed - the first one would cover the theoretical aspects and the second one would introduce the network programming aspects (such as chat server development, audio/video streaming, etc.). Dr. Haider suggested that the following two courses at UC Berkley and CMU can be used to finalize the contents of the proposed second course: [], []. __ACTION: Rashid Faruqui to recommend the two new course outlines for the BS program with help from Faisal Iradat and Dr. Haider__. Once these are done, they may be considered for implementation from Fall 2010.
 * CSE243 Data Communication and Networking**

CSE145 Introduction to Computing
There was an agreement among the faculty members that this course doesn't require a heavy lab load. The course is supposed to give a broader overview of different areas of CS including programming. Labs can be used to teach Excel, Access, Visio, and other softwares. __ACTION: A. Wajed to get RCO updated with help from Asma__.

CSE141 Introduction to Programming
A consensus was reached that IP should include java applets and GUI based libraries so that students can use them in their class projects. It was agreed that discussion on classes and objects should be kept to a minimum and details should be left for the second course of this series, i.e., CSE142 - Object Oriented Programming. __ACTION: A. Wajed to update the RCO accordingly__.

CSE342 Operating Systems
Mr. Shabbir Mukhi suggested that CSE310 - Computer Architecture & Assembly language should be made a prerequisite of this course. Other faculty members present [SH, SG] also agreed with the suggestion and it was decided that the next prospectus would reflect this change and instead of CSE208, CSE310 would be made a prerequiste of this course. __ACTION: Dr. Haider to update RCO accordingly.__

=MS Program Minutes=

=MS Degree Program Meeting, 6 November, 2009= [Participants: Dr. Sayeed Ghani, Dr. Wasim A. Khan, Dr. Shakeel Khoja, Dr. Sajjad Haider, Mr. Rashid Faruqui, Abdul Wajed]
 * 1) Students will presently have an option of either opting for 'MS Thesis" or Course Work. This option may be revisited in the future.
 * 2) However, all students must take a "Research Survey" course worth 3 credits, that will be a compulsory course. It can be taken after students have completed 18 credits. The Research Survey will be supervised by a Full Time faculty member.
 * 3) Students who would like to continue with the Thesis option in the final semester must have a B or higher grade in the Research Survey (B- and lower will not be accepted).
 * 4) Students who do not take the MS Thesis Option, will be required to complete one additional elective course.
 * 5) The Thesis will be supervised by the same supervisor who supervised the Research Survey.
 * 6) Both the Research Survey and MS Thesis will be given grades in their respective semesters and will be 3 credits each. The following note will be given in the Transcript: MS Thesis*: * MS Thesis comprises of Research Survey and Thesis work totaling 6 credits.

=MS Degree Program Meeting, 30 October, 2009= [Participants: Dr. Sayeed Ghani, Dr. Wasim A. Khan, Dr. Shakeel Khoja, Dr. Sajjad Haider, Mr. Rashid Faruqui]


 * 1) It was decided that the MS program would consists of multiple specialization tracks and a student would be required to take courses from at least two tracks. For the list of specialization tracks and courses see: MS Curriculum.
 * 2) Within a specialization track, a student needs to take at least 2 and at most 4 courses.
 * 3) It was decided that in addition to the 30 credit hours of regular courses, a student would be required to take a 3 credit hour course on "Research Methods in Computing" and a 1 credit hour course on "Scientific Computing". The "Scientific Computing" course will be offered during the summers and the purpose of this course is to introduce scientific tools such as Matlab, SPSS, Petri Nets to students.
 * 4) The MS CS students will be also be offered a remedial course "Communication Skills". It was suggested that this course should be offered to both MS CS and MS Economics students. Dr. Ghani will discuss this issue with Dr. Nishat.
 * 5) A new prerequisites form needs to be designed that list the essential undergraduate level Computer Science courses. Candidates applying for admission in the MS CS programs will be required to submit this form before the interview. They will identify the courses they have taken in their undergraduate program which corresponds to the courses listed in the prerequisites form. The list of prerequisite courses for each track is given in: MS Curriculum.
 * 6) If deficiency is found in a student's academic background then the student will be asked to take the corresponding course with IBA BS students. There was a concern raised by few faculty members that this model might not work for candidates with full-time job. Due to the lack of any other viable option, it was decided to experiment this model for Spring 2010 admission and revisit this issue before Fall 2010 admission.
 * 7) The issue of Thesis vs. Non-Thesis option will be discussed in the next meeting to be held on November 6, 2009.

MS Degree Program Meeting, 7 September, 2009
[Participants: Dr. Sayeed Ghani, Dr. Wasim A. Khan, Dr. Nasir Touheed, Dr. Zaheeruddin Asif, Dr. Shakeel A. Khoja, Dr. Sajjad Haider, Mr. Rashid Faruqui] The meeting was held to discuss the proposed revisions to the existing MS(CS/SE/IT) degree programs.
 * 1) There was agreement with Dr. Haider's proposed Job Market survey as being the primary objective of the MS program.
 * 2) However, we need to determine the requirements of the Middle East market as well.
 * 3) The program needs to be closely aligned with the full time faculty and strong industry resources available to the program.
 * 4) Advanced Networks should be replaced with HCI (Human Computer Interaction). __ACTION: Dr. Haider to update MS curriculum.__
 * 5) Subsequent meeting with the MS students and our industry partners to be arranged after Ramazan. __ACTION: Dr. Ghani to arrange.__ (However, after further discussion, it was decided that the MS program must be finaized internally first, before this meeting is arranged).
 * 6) The quality of the MS curriculum is to be kept as a high priority.

The presentation made during the meeting can be downloaded from here:

New MS(CS) Curriculum:

Proposed changes to existing MS Curriculum: (To be submitted to AC/AB for approval).