Internet Engineering Graduate Program
The Program
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for the Program Starting in Spring or Fall!
The graduate program in Internet Engineering is open to students with a Bachelor's degree in any field. If a student does not have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, he or she needs to fulfill the foundation requirements before taking graduate courses (see below). These requirements may be taken at USF at the start of the graduate program, or may be satisfied by previous studies or equivalent work experience.
The program is oriented toward software development and, in particular, software development for the Internet. Topics of study include:
- Web application development
- Information retrieval
- Intelligent agents
- Web services
- Peer-to-Peer and other distributed models
- Semantic web
- Social and legal issues in computing, including digital libraries, security, on-line communities and e-commerce.
A student who completes the program will be well prepared for positions in the high-tech internet industry.
Additional information about the program is available at the department website.
MSIE Program of Study
The program involves the completion of 36 units of credit (9 graduate courses including the Master's Project) and an Internet Residency. Students who have not met the foundation requirements before enrolling in the graduate program may need to complete additional coursework at USF. For sample programs, please see below.
First Year
Students typically begin with CS 601/Object-Oriented Software Development and CS 662/Artificial Intelligence in their first semester. 601 provides a strong foundation in object-oriented design and development as well as the development of dynamic web pages while 662 provides a strong basis in artificial intelligence algorithms and techniques and their application to software for the Internet.
The typical second semester includes CS 682/Distributed Software Development and CS 680/Internet Systems Research. 682 follows the object-oriented course through further exploration of client-server web development as well as peer-to-peer, multi-cast and agent-based software development. The Internet Systems Research course follows up on 662/Artificial Intelligence by studying innovative systems based on AI techniques including search engines, crawlers, personalized web interfaces and the semantic web.
Summer - Internet Residency
The Residency in Internet Engineering/CS 689 is offered in the summer. Students apply their newly learned skills in a real-world project, generally working on-site at an affiliated organization with the directing professor (see description below). Students that cannot participate in the summer program may fulfill this requirement through a directed project during a fall or spring semester.
Second Year
In the second year, students take a course on human-computer interaction, a course on digital society and an elective graduate course. The degree culminates with a team project in the spring semester.
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Emphasis in Entrepreneurship
In partnership with USF's
MBA Entrepreneurship Program, the Computer Science department offers the
classic M.S. in Internet Engineering (MSIE) with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship.
MSIE students in the Entrepreneurship emphasis target their elective course
options to the top-tier MBA Entrepreneurship program offerings of Entrepreneurial
Management (MBA 661), Global Product Development (MBA 662), and Small Business
Methods (MBA 645).
The MBA Entrepreneurship program prepares students to design, launch and grow new business ventures. MSIE students in Entrepreneurship build skills for leadership roles in the launch of new business start-ups or business development at existing growth-oriented organizations.
MSIE Entrepreneurship students also prepare a business plan and prototype during the Master's Project course and enter the USF International Business Plan Competition, one of the world's premier competitions. Learn more about this competition at www.usfca.edu/sobam/nvc/bpc.
USF is just a short distance from the technology start-ups and giants of Silicon Valley, and in the heart of the cutting-edge digital economy of San Francisco. Silicon Valley continues to provide high-salaried, challenging jobs. A survey of practicing engineers by EETimes magazine found that two of the most important factors in securing the best salary were to "work for a Silicon Valley employer" and "earn an M.S. or Ph.D." USF offers this unique combination. MSIE students have taken jobs at top companies such as Apple, BEA, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and Oracle, among others.
See Sample Program below.
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Practicum Option for Graduate Students
Internet Engineering graduate students may elect to take the Practicum Option in order to gain practical experience in industry while working on their graduate degree. Students enroll in the 2-unit course - CS686 Special Topics - during each semester in which they work. Students may work throughout their graduate program, and may apply a maximum of 4 units towards the total 36 units required for this degree program. The Practicum Option is open to all exceptional international and U.S. students, including F-1 international students who can be employed legally through the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) mechanism as part of the Practicum Option. Students are responsible for selecting, interviewing for, and securing a Practicum internship.
Eligibility - Practicum
- Students who are full-time are eligible to start the Practicum in the second semester of graduate studies.
- Students enroll in the Practicum Option and the CS 686 course each semester they wish to work.
- Work at most 4 semesters including summer for a total of 8 units at 2 units per semester (students must work at least two semesters). Practicum units are available during the second semester of Year 1, the summer semester between Year 1 and Year 2, and the fall/spring semesters of Year 2. Students may not delay their graduate degree to continue working.
- The Practicum is open to students who are approved by the Computer Science department and also maintain a 3.0+ GPA every semester while enrolled in the Practicum Option.
- International students require a TOEFL score of 250 (cbt) or higher.
Requirements - Practicum
- Jobs must be related to computer science. A job offer needs to be secured before a student applies for the CPT necessary to enter the Practicum course each semester.
- Range of 10 to 20 hours of work per week, except during the summer when 40 hours per week is allowed.
- The Practicum course instructor must approve the company and job offer.
- If grades from previous semester drop GPA below 3.0, student informs the internship company that they cannot accept the job offer.
Frequently asked questions - Practicum Option
- Is the Practicum option open to all graduate internet engineering degree students? Yes.
- Does the Practicum experience increase my chances for a full-time job after graduation? Yes. Companies highly value work experience.
- Can entrepreneurship emphasis students take the practicum option? Yes, but they cannot use any of the Practicum course credit towards their degree requirements because both of their elective courses need to be MBA courses.
- Will the computer science department find me a job? No. Students find jobs on their own, which is quite easy in the current booming economy of Silicon Valley. Faculty are willing to help as they are able.
- How much do internships usually pay for graduate students? Students typically earn between $20 and $40 per hour, which can provide enough for living expenses.
- Does enrolling in the Practicum Option take time away from my Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation? No, but you must ensure that you do not work more than 20 hours per week.
- Is there a maximum number of semesters I may work as a graduate student? Yes, you may only work four semesters including the summer semester.
- Do I have to enroll in the Practicum Option or can I simply take the CS 686 practicum course course? You must officially enter the Practicum Option.
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Internet Residency
Starting from an internship model and expanding beyond it, the Internet Residency involves graduate students who work in teams on software projects at a sponsored site alongside a supervising USF professor. The professor serves as both educator and manager, facilitating on-the-job training and lectures, and participating directly in the student research projects.
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Foundation Requirements
The five foundation requirements can be waived if met by previous studies or work experience equivalent to the requirements. (see the Curriculum for details)
Required Graduate Courses (see the Curriculum for details)
Elective Graduate Courses (see the Curriculum for details)
Master's Project (see the Curriculum for details)
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Sample Program - Two-Year Master's Program
| |
Fall
| Spring
| Summer
|
| Year 1 |
- Object-Oriented Software Development
- Artificial Intelligence Programming
|
- Internet Systems Research
- Distributed Software Development
|
- Residency in Internet Engineering
|
| Year 2 |
- Human-Computer Interaction Design
- Elective Course
|
- Digital Society
- Master's Project
|
|
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Sample Program — MSIE with Emphasis in Entrepreneurship
| |
Fall |
Spring |
| Year 1 |
- Two CS Courses (graduate)
|
- CS Course (graduate)
- Entrepreneurial Management (MBA661)
|
| Year 2 |
- CS Course (graduate)
- Global Product Development (MBA662)
- CS Master's Project (CS690)
|
- Two CS Courses (graduate)
- Enter Business Plan Competition
|
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Sample Program - Combined Five-Year Honors Program for B.S. in Computer Science/M.S. in Internet Engineering
The following is a sample program for the last three years of study that an undergraduate/graduate student would undertake after completion of the first two years of undergraduate studies.
| |
Fall |
Spring |
Summer |
| Year 3 |
- Object-Oriented Software Development
- Operating Systems (undergraduate course)
- CORE undergraduate courses (two courses)
|
- Architecture (undergraduate course)
- Compilers (undergraduate course)
- CORE undergraduate courses (two courses)
|
|
| Year 4 |
- Artificial Intelligence Programming
- Undergraduate Elective Course
- CORE undergraduate courses (two courses)
|
- Internet Systems Research
- Distributed Software Development
- Undergraduate Elective Course
- CORE undergraduate course (one course)
|
- Residency in Internet Engineering
|
| Year 5 |
- Human-Computer Interaction Design
- Elective Course
|
- Digital Society
- Master's Project
|
|
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A User-Friendly Calendar
The M.S. in Internet Engineering can be completed in two years (full-time) or three years (part-time). The program starts each fall (late August) and spring (late January). All graduate courses are offered after 1:00 pm and most after 3 p.m. Many courses are also held in the evenings. This schedule allows students the flexibility to balance their graduate program with other responsibilities.
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