Information and Systems Science

The Committee

Chair of the Committee, To be announced

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 modelling)

* 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

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 re
lated 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 also 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 Information and Systems Science 93.582.

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

Graduate Courses

Not all of the following courses are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for 1999-2000, please consult the Registration Instructions and Class Schedule booklet published in the summer.

F,W,S indicates term of offering. Courses offered in the fall and winter are followed by T. The number following the letter indicates the credit weight of the course: 1 denotes 0.5 credit, 2 denotes 1.0 credit.

Information and Systems Science 93.582F1

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 Mathematics 70.582, Engineering 94.582, Computer Science 95.582)

Information and Systems Science 93.598F3, W3, S3

M.Sc. Thesis in Information and Systems Science

(Also listed as Mathematics 70.598, Engineering 94.598, Computer Science 95.598)

School of Mathematics and Statistics

Undergraduate Courses

70.301 Real Analysis

70.302 Advanced Calculus

70.310 Modern Algebra

70.350 Mathematical Statistics

70.403 Functional Analysis

70.451 Probability Theory

70.452 Survey Sampling

70.453 Applied Multivariate Analysis

70.456 Non-Parametric Methods

70.457 Statistical Inference

70.458 Stochastic Models

70.459 Topics in Stochastic Optimization and Advanced Mathematical
Modelling

70.470 Partial Differential Equations

70.471 Topics in Partial Differential
Equations

70.473 Qualitative Theory of Ordinary
Differential Equations

70.481 Topics in Combinatorics

70.482 Introduction to Mathematical Logic

70.483 Computable Functions

70.485 Theory of Automata

70.486 Numerical Linear Algebra

70.487 Game Theory

70.488 Graph Theory and Algorithms

70.496 Directed Studies

Graduate Courses

70.507, 70.508, 70.517, 70.519, 70.552, 70.553, 70.554, 70.555, 70.556, 70.557, 70.558, 70.559, 70.561, 70.565, 70.567, 70.569, 70.571, 70.581, 70.583, 70.584, 70.585, 70.586, 70/95.587, 70.588, 70.589, 70.590, 70.591, 70.593

Department of Systems and Computer Engineering

Undergraduate Courses

94.303 Introduction to Real-Time Systems

94.310 Systems Analysis

94.333 Real-Time Concurrent Systems

94.351 Communication Theory

94.361 Microprocessor Systems

94.401 Operating Systems

94.405 Discrete Simulation and its
Applications

94.445 Discrete Time Systems

94.457 Architecture of Computer Systems

94.460 Digital Communications

94.462 Introduction to Computer
Communications

94.480 Software Engineering

94.481 Software Engineering Project

94.485 Computer Systems Design
Laboratory

Graduate Courses

94.501, 94.504, 94.505, 94/95.507, 94.511, 94.517, 94.518, 94.519, 94.521, 94.527, 94.531, 94.535, 94.538, 94.541, 94.542, 94.552, 94.553, 94.554, 94.558, 94.560, 94.561, 94.562, 94.563, 94.564, 94.565, 94.566, 94.567, 94.568, 94.569, 94.571, 94.573, 94.574, 94.576, 94.577, 94.579, 94.581, 94.583, 94.584, 94.596

School of Computer Science

Undergraduate Courses

95.300 Operating Systems

95.304 Software Systems Development

95.305 Database Management Systems

95.401 Distributed Computing

95.402 Computer Graphics

95.403 Transaction Processing Systems

95.407 Applied Artificial Intelligence

95.409 Introduction to Parallel and Systolic Computing

95.410 Multimedia Systems

95.413 Computer Security and Crypto- graphy

Graduate Courses

95.501, 95.502, 95.503, 95.504, 95.505, 95.506, 94/95.507, 95.508, 95.509, 95.510, 95.511, 95.512, 95.513, 95.514, 95.515, 95.516, 95.520, 95.522, 95.524, 95.526, 95.528, 95.573, 95.574

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of ISS, a student will in some cases benefit by taking an undergraduate course at the 300- or 400-level as part of his/her program. Where a 300-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 400-level in their program without penalty, with the approval of the Department. The 300- and 400-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 Computer Science 95.484 Design and Analysis of Algorithms due to overlap of course material with Information and Systems Science 93.582.