Graduate Calendar Archives: 2002 / 2003

Information and Systems Science

See the School of Mathematics and Statistics; Department of Systems and Computer Engineering; and the School of Computer Science.

The Committee

Chair of the Committee, John Chinneck

The program of graduate study and research leading to the degree of Master of Science in Information and Systems Science is offered by the Committee with the cooperation of the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, the School of Mathematics and Statistics, and the School of Computer Science.

The purpose of the program is to provide training in the use and application of computers, to those who have not studied extensively in this field at the undergraduate level. The process of using the computer in problem solving is stressed. The program is flexible, though individual concentrations are usually in one of three broad areas:

• computer applications in a particular field (e.g., communications, energy systems)
• algorithms and methodologies for solution of complex problems by computer (e.g., graph theory, operations research, optimization, simulation and modeling)
• computer methods and technologies (e.g., databases, software engineering, computer languages)

Close links are maintained with the scientific, industrial, and technological communities, and an effort is made to direct students to project work of current practical significance.

Qualifying-Year Program

Applicants who have a general (3-year) bachelor's degree, or who otherwise lack the required undergraduate preparation, may be admitted to a qualifying-year program. Refer to the General Regulations section of this Calendar for regulations governing the qualifying year.

Master of Science

Admission Requirements

Applicants should have an Honours bachelor's degree, or equivalent, with at least high honours standing, in mathematics, engineering, physics, chemistry, computer science, operations research, experimental psychology, econometrics, management science, or a related discipline. Undergraduate preparation should include at least 2.0 credits in computing and a minimum of 3.0 credits in mathematics, at least one of which is at the third-year level or higher. In addition, the student is required to have some knowledge of quantitative applications, such as numerical analysis, simulation, operations research, etc.

Admission to the program will be made through one of the three participating departments. Since space and laboratory facilities will be provided by one of the departments, students should apply through the department with which they wish to be most closely associated.

Program Requirements

The normal program comprises 4.0 credits and a 1.5 credit thesis; additional requirements may be stipulated, depending upon the individual student's background. With the approval of the Committee, students who have substantial work experience may be permitted to substitute, in place of the thesis, 1.5 credit courses, one of which must be a graduate project course.

Students must take at least 1.0 credit from the department in which they are registered, and at least 0.5 credit from each of the other two participating departments. Students must also take course ISYS 5802.

Each student should consult with his/her faculty adviser in the selection of a course pattern related to his/her principal area of interest.

Each candidate submitting a thesis will be required to undertake an oral examination on the subject of his/her thesis.

Course work may be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis. Thesis research normally requires full-time residence at the University; however, a candidate may be permitted to carry out thesis work off campus provided that suitable arrangements are made for supervision and experimental work, and prior approval is given by the Committee.

Guidelines for Completion of Master's Degree

Full-time students in the M.Sc. in Information and Systems Science will normally complete the degree requirements in two years and part-time students within four years. In order to meet this goal, full-time students should arrange a thesis supervisor within the first term of study, and should try to complete the course requirements as quickly as possible.

Graduate Courses

Course Designation System

Carleton's course designation system has been restructured. The first entry of each course description below is the new alphanumeric Carleton course code, followed by its credit value in brackets. The old Carleton course number (in parentheses) is included for reference, where applicable.

ISYS 5802 [0.5 credit] (formerly 93.582)

Introduction to Information and Systems Science

An introduction to the process of applying computers in problem solving. Emphasis is placed on the design and analysis of efficient computer algorithms for large, complex problems. Applications in a number of areas are presented: data manipulation, databases, computer networks, queuing systems, optimization. (Also listed as MATH 5802, SYSC 5802, COMP 5802.)

ISYS 5908 [1.5 credits] (formerly 93.598)

M.Sc. Thesis in Information and Systems Science

(Also listed as MATH 5908, SYSC 5908, COMP 5908.)

School of Mathematics and Statistics

Undergraduate Courses

MATH 3001 Real Analysis

MATH 3002 Advanced Calculus

MATH 3100 Modern Algebra

MATH 3500 Mathematical Statistics

MATH 4003 Functional Analysis

STAT 4501 Probability Theory

STAT 4502 Survey Sampling

STAT 4503 Applied Multivariate Analysis

STAT 4506 Non-Parametric Methods

STAT 4507 Statistical Inference

STAT 4508 Stochastic Models

STAT 4509 Topics in Stochastic Optimization and Advanced Mathematical Modeling

MATH 4700 Partial Differential Equations

MATH 4701 Topics in Partial Differential Equations

MATH 4703 Qualitative Theory of Ordinary Differential Equations

MATH 4801 Topics in Combinatorics

MATH 4802 Introduction to Mathematical Logic

MATH 4803 Computable Functions

MATH 4805 Theory of Automata

MATH 4806 Numerical Linear Algebra

MATH 4807 Game Theory

MATH 4808 Graph Theory and Algorithms

MATH 4906 Directed Studies

Graduate Courses

MATH 5007, MATH 5008, MATH 5107, MATH 5109, STAT 5502, STAT 5503, STAT 5504, STAT 5505, STAT 5506, STAT 5507, STAT 5508, STAT 5509, STAT 5601, MATH 5605, MATH 5607, MATH 5609, STAT 5701, MATH 5801, MATH 5803, MATH 5804, MATH 5805, MATH 5806, MATH/COMP 5807, MATH 5808, MATH 5809, MATH 5900, MATH 5901, MATH 5903

Department of Systems and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Courses

SYSC 3003 Introduction to Real-Time Systems

SYSC 3100 Systems Analysis

SYSC 3303 Real-Time Concurrent Systems

SYSC 3501 Communication Theory

SYSC 3601 Microprocessor Systems

SYSC 4001 Operating Systems

SYSC 4005 Discrete Simulation and its Applications

SYSC 4405 Discrete Time Systems

SYSC 4507 Architecture of Computer Systems

SYSC 4600 Digital Communications

SYSC 4602 Introduction to Computer Communications

SYSC 4800 Software Engineering

SYSC 4801 Software Engineering Project

SYSC 4805 Computer Systems Design Laboratory

Graduate Courses

SYSC 5001, SYSC 5004, SYSC 5005, SYSC/COMP 5007, SYSC 5101, SYSC 5107, SYSC 5108, SYSC 5109, SYSC 5201, SYSC 5207, SYSC 5301, SYSC 5305, SYSC 5308, SYSC 5401, SYSC 5402, SYSC 5502, SYSC 5503, SYSC 5504, SYSC 5508, SYSC 5600, SYSC 5601, SYSC 5602, SYSC 5603, SYSC 5604, SYSC 5605, SYSC 5606, SYSC 5607, SYSC 5608, SYSC 5609, SYSC 5701, SYSC 5703, SYSC 5704, SYSC 5706, SYSC 5707, SYSC 5709, SYSC 5801, SYSC 5803, SYSC 5804, SYSC 5906

School of Computer Science

Undergraduate Courses

COMP 3000 Operating Systems

COMP 3004 Software Systems Development

COMP 3005 Database Management Systems

COMP 4001 Distributed Computing

COMP 4002 Computer Graphics

COMP 4003 Transaction Processing Systems

COMP 4007 Applied Artificial Intelligence

COMP 4009 Introduction to Parallel and Systolic Computing

COMP 4100 Multimedia Systems

COMP 4103 Computer Security and Cryptography

Graduate Courses

COMP 5001, COMP 5002, COMP 5003, COMP 5004, COMP 5005, COMP 5006, SYSC/COMP 5007, COMP 5008, COMP 5009, COMP 5100, COMP 5101, COMP 5102, COMP 5103, COMP 5104, COMP 5105, COMP 5106, COMP 5200, COMP 5202, COMP 5204, COMP 5206, COMP 5208, COMP 5703, COMP 5704

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of ISS, a student will in some cases benefit by taking an undergraduate course at the 3000- or 4000-level as part of his/her program. Where a 3000-level course is to be taken, it will be extra to the degree requirements; or else arrangements will be made to enrich the subject matter, normally through a directed study course with the professor. Students may include 1.0 credit at the 4000-level in their program without penalty, with the approval of the Department. The 3000- and 4000-level courses listed here are those most likely to interest ISS students; see the Undergraduate Calendar for a complete list. Students in the program are prohibited from taking COMP 4804 Design and Analysis of Algorithms due to overlap of course material with ISYS 5802.