SJSU MSCS Orientation

Welcome to Fabulous SJSU

We're glad you are here!
Did you register for courses?
- If not, do so right away
- If courses filled up, be persistent. Many people drop after a few days
Join the student club
Regularly check out the department web page for announcements
Detailed program rules are at http://www.sjsu.edu/mscs
Meet your advisor

Find your advisor: http://www.cs.sjsu.edu/fac_staff/listofadv.html
Dr. Beeson, Dr. Stamp, Dr. M. Moh, Dr. Khuri
Meet with him/her now . . .
. . . and once every semester
- You can only register after your advisor removed the advising hold.
Tell your advisor about your plans and progress
- What classes do you plan to take this semester?
- What is your GPA (after the first semester)?
- How many courses do you plan to take each semester?
Ask any questions you have about the program
Establish a working relationship

See him for signatures on one of our many forms (or just drop the form off in the department)
Department Chair: Dr. Louden
Try not to see him at all!
Graduate Studies Office

Important course
- Communication skills
- Writing Project
Required by Cal State
Your options: CS200W, CS100W (requires WST), Engr200W (with permission)
Only substitutes:
- Other Cal State writing course
- Pass WST at waiver level
- Get special permission from Graduate Studies (e.g. if you wrote a thesis in another subject)
Take it as early as possible!

On an individual project/exam, do not copy work from any other student
Do not share your project/exam work with your friend working on the same task
Do not copy/paste from the internet into your report. Either rethink/reword or cite.
If in doubt, simply ask your professor
If you get caught:
- You may get an F in the project/exam/report
- You may fail the class
- Repeat offenders can get evicted from the program
“It's ok where I come from” is no excuse
Unsure? Work through this brief tutorial

Individual research project
Conditions: Technical Writing, fully classified status
YOU find an advisor
- Plan ahead
- Take classes offered by potential advisors
- Contact potential advisors and ask if you can help with research etc.
Two semesters: CS297, 298
Defend your project and graduate!

California Master Plan for Higher Education, 1960
- Three-tier system: UC, CSU, Community Colleges
- Top third of high school graduates entitled to CSU admission
- Tuition-free education with fees for dormitories, recreational facilities, etc.
Political changes since 1960
- Dramatically lower tax revenue collected from property tax, income tax on wealthy individuals
- Spending priorities shifted from education to imprisonment
- Few budget options due to voter-approved mandates, unwillingness to raise revenue
2009 CSU Budget
- $500M budget shortfall
- Student fees up 20%
- Faculty and staff furloughed 10%