Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) has the five schools shown above. Four of the schools are located in the Atruim Building.
The School of Computing and Software Engineering (CSE) has three programs:

This web page provides student information to help orient them to the school programs, policies, and procedures.

School of Computing and Software Engineering (CSE)

Dean’s Office (J377)

Hours: M–F 8AM–5PM

Main Department Phone Number: 678-915-5572

Dr. Mike Murphy - Dean

Ms. Paula Stadnicki - Secretary to the Dean

CSE Advising (J393A)
Hours: M-F
Ms. Elizabeth Haynie - Academic Advisor

Main CSE Advising Phone Number: 678-915-3572
ehaynie@spsu.edu

Computer Science - CS (J355)

Hours: M-F 9AM–6PM

Main CS Department Phone Number: 678-915-3571

Dr. Venu Dasigi - Department Chair 678-915-5559

Ms. Laina Pond - Administrative Secretary

Information Technology – IT (J393 B)

Hours: M–Th 8AM-6PM F 7:30AM–4PM

Main IT Department Phone Number: 678-915-4292

Department Chair Dr. Andy Wang 678-915-3718

Ms. - Administrative Secretary

Software Engineering – SWE (J370)

Hours: M–Th 7:30AM–6PM, F 7:30AM–5PM

Main Department Phone Number: 678-915-7406

Department Chair Professor Barbara Bernal Thomas 678- 915-4283

Ms. Rosemary Brannen - Administrative Secretary

Each departmental office attends to all student requests (petitions, scheduling problems, curriculum issues); also acts as liaison with Admissions and the Registrar offices; handles transfer credit and graduation evaluation (including substitutions); processes undergraduate petitions; advises students on any issues concerning their academic progress.

School of Computing & Software Engineering Faculty CS/IT/SWE Advisors Calculating your Grade Point Average

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I. Program Goals

The School of Computing and Software Engineering provides courses and academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This document only focuses on undergraduate programs.

Mission Statement

The mission of the School of Computing and Software Engineering at SPSU is to provide university-level education and professional preparation in computing and its related fields of computer science, software engineering and information technology. More specifically:

§ To produce academically and technically proficient graduates well-prepared for professional positions in all aspects of software development, systems integration, and technical management through coursework and programs for majors at the undergraduate and masters levels

§ To prepare non-degree seeking participants to be technical professionals ready for productive work in programming, software construction, and systems configuration through professional and graduate certificates

§ To provide service courses for other departments as needed

§ To engage in applied research in computing working closely with local industry and other sister institutions, and establish strategic partnership with regional and national organizations

§ To foster global education by actively seeking international opportunities for cooperation.

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Programs

Our School of Computing and Software Engineering (CSE) includes degree programs in the following areas:

Computer Science (CS)

The Computer Science program’s goal is to educate students about the science and practice of developing and using computer systems and their related software. Computers and software are used in many application areas including information management, multimedia, internet applications, engineering and scientific computing, networks and distributed systems, and real-time embedded systems. Computers may be designed to support one user or multiple users and may consist of a single computer or networks of interconnected, potentially distributed, computers.

The baccalaureate programs emphasize the entire scope of computer science, ranging from fundamental hardware and programming principles, to more advanced topics in databases, operating systems, programming languages, theoretical concepts and new developments underlying computer science discipline. The Bachelor of Arts degree is designed for students desiring an international flavor for their study while the Bachelor of Science degree is designed for students desiring maximum technical exposure.

Software Engineering (SWE)

Software Engineering is a specialized area of computing that emphasizes solving the problems and complex issues associated with developing and maintaining mission-critical software to meet the needs of business and industry. SWE uses the life-cycle concept from traditional engineering with an emphasis on specification, design, and implementation but calls on the focused application of computer science concepts rather than those of traditional engineering. The position “software engineer” has become a common job title for software developers in business and industry and represents the fastest growing segment of software professionals.

The baccalaureate program in Software Engineering emphasizes a broad range of programming courses ranging from programming language concepts to software testing and it incorporates some computer science courses as well.

Information Technology (IT)

Information Technology is a term used to describe the convergence of information systems and communications systems. It embodies elements of computer science, management and telecommunications. This program of study includes courses in information technology, computer science, software engineering, and management.

The baccalaureate program in Information Technology emphasizes the management and performance of information systems planning, development, implementation, and operation. It also includes the development of the information technology infrastructure to support the process necessary to achieve organizational objectives.

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II. Student Advisement

Overview

All CSE students are required to meet with their respective advisors. There are three types of students for advisement and registration. These types of students are New Students (freshman and transfer), Continuing Students, and Students on Probation. To set up an initial appointment for advisement, students should see Ms. Beth Haynie, the undergraduate coordinator of their major, or their Department Chair. See Appendix B for a list of advisors and departments.

Every new Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Information Technology student, either freshman or transfer, must report to an advisor at the beginning of their academic career at SPSU. Continuing SPSU students should seek periodic advisement.

In summary, advisement is broken down as follows:

1. New Students

2. Freshman - Though not mandatory, it is strongly recommended that freshman students seek advisement their first two semesters. They should see Entering Student Advisors CS, SWE, IT or corresponding undergraduate coordinator to help them plan their degree program at SPSU.

3. Transfer Students - Though not mandatory, it is strongly recommended that transfer students seek advisement their first semester with Entering Student Advisors, CS, SWE, IT, or corresponding undergraduate coordinator. Transfer students need to find out what courses transferred to SPSU for credit, enabling them to better plan their degree program.

4. Continuing Students (with Ms. Beth Haynie, CS, SWE, IT, or corresponding undergraduate coordinator)

5. Students on Probation are required to be advised by Ms. Beth Haynie or the undergraduate coordinator. Their registration will be deactivated until they seek advising

Periods of Advisement

Orientation

All students entering SPSU are required to attend the orientation meeting held at the beginning of their first semester unless special provisions are made with the department of their major. Students will be introduced to SPSU as well as advised and registered for courses.

At the Orientation session, the following will occur:

§ Orientation materials (handbooks, curriculum flowcharts, registration booklets, etc.) will be distributed to students. These materials will explain program goals, pertinent departmental information, and the advisement process.

§ Students will be introduced to the Dean of the School of Computing & Software Engineering, the Department Chairs of Computer Science, Information Technology, and Software Engineering, coordinators, and their academic advisor. Transfer Students will have their credits assessed and will be advised on course requirements needed to complete their degree.

§ A recommended sequence of courses will be provided to all students during the Orientation session. Students then will be expected to prepare their own schedules. Students will have an opportunity to discuss a proposed schedule with an advisor and will register for recommended courses.

Registration (See Registration section for additional details)

All students register for courses online using the SPSU Web-Banner (www.spsu.edu/registration). Prior to registration, students should visit with an advisor if necessary (see Appendix B) to discuss course selection and scheduling.

General Advisement

Academic advising continues throughout the student’s tenure at SPSU. The form and frequency of advisement will be determined by a student’s situation. Mandatory advisement for freshman students and Entering Transfer Students gives the advisor an opportunity to work with the student to keep them on schedule for graduation. The student will then continue to visit an advisor for long-range academic planning and to discuss problems, goals, and progress.

The advisor is required to establish and maintain an ongoing relationship with the student so that the student’s degree progress is monitored on a regular basis. Recommendations for course selections are provided as appropriate, and career related counseling is provided as the student nears completion of the degree program

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III. Registration

Registration for classes is held during Advanced Registration and Regular/Late and Drop/Add registration. Students may register if they:

§ have received an official letter of acceptance to Southern Polytechnic State University and have attended orientation, or

§ are returning to Southern Polytechnic State University and are not on dismissal, or

§ have no holds on their records and have not been out of school more than one semester

If a student is out more than one semester (not counting summer) he/she will be required to complete a readmission form. This form can be obtained in the Records office (B building).

Advanced Registration

Advanced registration materials are e-mailed to students two weeks before registration begins. Students are eligible to participate in Advanced Registration if they are currently enrolled or have attended SPSU during one of the two previous semesters and are not on academic probation.

Step	Action
1	Follow guidelines for registration provided in the Registration Bulletin Schedule of Classes.
2	Print your fee statement ( See Registration Bulletin)
3	Take your fee statement to the Business Office (basement of Norton Dorm) and pay your fees. You may also pay with your credit card online or by phone to the Business Office (678-915-7216). There is also a drop box inside the Police Department for fee payment.

Figure 1 Phase 1 Registration Procedure

Important: If fees are not paid by the deadline, class schedules are canceled and students must wait to register again during Regular and Late registration. Students will NOT receive additional registration materials by mail.

Regular/Late Registration

New students, students who were readmitted, students who missed Advanced Registration, or those who failed to pay by the deadline, must go through Regular/Late registration.

Regular/Late registration takes place a week before the semester begins. Students should follow the procedure above to register and pay fees.

Important: If fees are not paid by the deadline, class schedules are cancelled.

Drop/Add

Students may amend class schedules and/or register late during the drop/add period (except for Entering Freshmen and Transfer students in their first year). Changes to the class schedule made during the Drop/Add period involve removing or adding courses with no penalty. After that period, students may only withdraw from some or all of their courses. If students withdraw from all classes, they will receive a percentage refund (see Registration Bulletin for the Refund Schedule). If students withdraw they must be sure to withdraw from a class or classes before the withdrawal deadline (which can be found in the Schedule of Courses calendar section).

Cross Registration (registering for courses at other universities)

Students may be able to register for courses taught at any college or university in the University System of Georgia and even some private schools (please check your Student Catalog for a current listing of these schools) and have the course credit transferred to SPSU. Students register at SPSU but attend class at the institution offering the course. Cross registration allows students in good standing (GPA 2.0 +) to take courses that are relevant to their curriculum, but are not offered at SPSU.

Step	Action
1	Have the course approved by your advisor and the Undergraduate Department Chair before you cross register, to be sure it will be accepted for your degree. * You must have a GPA of 2.0 or better in order to Cross Register.
2	Pick up a cross registration form in the Registrar's Office (Administration Building), (678-915-7267)
3	Take the completed form to the Enrollment Management office (Administration Building, Room B162), (678-915-7370)

Figure 2 Cross Registration Procedure

The full-time course load for undergraduate students is 12 hours (minimum) with the exception of summer semester when full-time is 8 hours. The maximum number of hours an undergraduate student may register for is 21 hours, which requires permission of the Department Chair.

Helpful hints for registration:

There is a wait list located on the CSE website (http://cse.spsu.edu) for students trying to get into a closed class. Please go online and fill out information and submit. The Department Chair will review the wait list before drop/add and notify student if opening becomes available.

There is also a discussion group site for CSE students to ask specific questions addressed to individuals; however, questions to the advisor or department chair should be individually emailed and not posted to the discussion group site.

Your Registration Bulletin Schedule of Classes is filled with important information for the semester so please take time to review the pages before the course section.

Financial Aid

Undergraduate students may apply for financial aid in the form of work study opportunities through the CS Department and scholarships through the Financial Aid Office.

For additional information about student financial aid visit the Financial Aid link on the SPSU website: http://www.spsu.edu/home/services/finaid.html.

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IV. Program Options and Requirements

Each student will be given a packet at orientation which includes curriculum sheets detailing their program options and requirements.

School Information

The School of Computing and Software Engineering is organized as follows:

§ Academic Advisor/Counselor

§ Computer Support Specialist

§ Dean

§ Department Chairs

§ Lab Manager

§ Secretaries

§ Student Assistants

§ Undergraduate and Graduate Coordinators (for CS, SWE, and IT)

§ Undergraduate and Graduate Faculty

The School faculty represents varied backgrounds and areas of expertise; all regular graduate faculty members have doctoral degrees in their teaching fields and possess extensive scholarly experience in their fields of specialty.

University Facilities

The university maintains modern, up-to-date facilities for use by its students.

The campus is wired with a fiber optic backbone, which provides Ethernet connectivity to all campus buildings. Campus access to the Internet is provided by a high-speed connection to the University System of Georgia’s Peachnet data communications network.

The Information Technology/Operations division (different from the academic IT department), the Library, and the Instructional Technology department provide general computing resources open to all students.

The campus general purpose labs are open seven days a week. General purpose applications like word processors and web browsers as well as software applications required by beginning CS, SWE, and IT students are available in these labs. The Information Technology Operations division also provides e-mail accounts and access to mainframe platforms.

State of the art publishing and graphics software applications are available in the Instructional Technology Lab. The library provides PC terminals, which provide access to all library resources of the University System of Georgia as well as a number of academic and commercial databases.

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School of Computing & Software Engineering Facilities

The CSE Labs are located in the Atrium (“J”) building and are available to students enrolled in courses offered by the School of Computing and Software Engineering.
Lab Personnel include:

Mr. Ray Walker

Lab Manager

678-915-4286

J 263B

rwalker30004@spsu.edu

Mr. Micah Rowland

Support Specialist

678-915-6833

J263A

mrowland@spsu.edu

CSE Open Lab 678-915-7484 Room J263

To see the specific current lab times, click Current Lab Times. During periods when classes are in session the CSE open labs are open from:

9AM–11:45PM Monday through Thursday,

9AM–6PM on Friday,

1PM–6PM on Saturday, and Sunday

Application software required to complete assignments in CS, SWE and IT classes is provided for student use. Additionally the labs provide access to a wide variety of state of the art software applications packages for use by students who are preparing senior and Master’s projects or who are pursuing independent studies.

The CSE labs are staffed by two full time staff positions, and several student lab assistants. Lab personnel install and maintain lab hardware and software, assist students with the use of lab facilities, and assist with set up of hardware and software required for student projects. Lab personnel also conduct orientation sessions in the use of software applications, and assist students with programming language problems.

Lab Resources Available to Students

J263 Open Lab

This lab contains 62 networked computers configured with software necessary to complete assignments associated with classes offered by CSE. Operating systems currently include Windows 2000/XP, Solaris, and LINUX. Student lab assistants are on duty after 3PM on weekdays and on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

J213 Information Technology Lab

This is a lab dedicated for use by Information Technology students. It contains software for use in various Information Technology courses. The lab is equipped with 24 networked Pentium IV PCs.

J265 Network Lab

This special lab contains equipment for creating communications networks. Hardware includes UNIX, LINUX, and Windows workstations, switches, routers, and other miscellaneous network hardware components. Students enrolled in networking classes use this lab.

J251 Programming Languages Lab

Closed labs associated with programming classes are scheduled in this lab. It is equipped with 20 PC workstations running LINUX and Windows operating systems.

J261 Real Time Systems Lab

For the Teaching of real-time systems concepts, there is a multi-platform equipment configuration consisting of a SUN SPARC workstation connected via an Ethernet link to a Motorola VME-bus system housing multiple Motorola 68040 single-board computers. Each single-board computer hosts a real-time operating system. The physical target system used for real-time software projects is a digitally controlled model railway.

J260 Closed Lab

This lab is equipped with 24 PC workstations, LCD projector and smart board, and hardware for programming embedded systems. It is used by a variety of classes requiring students to have access to computer workstations.

J201 Closed Lab

This lab is equipped with 21 PC workstations, 1 UNIX workstation, and an LCD projector and Smartboard. It is used by closed labs associated with programming classes as well as by various other classes requiring students to have access to computer workstations.

J211 Network Security and System Administration Lab

This lab is equipped with PC and UNIX workstations and various network components including routers and switches. It is used by students enrolled in Network Security and Systems Administration classes.

J310 Research Lab

This lab is currently used for sponsored research projects directed by Dr. Bobbie.

J359 Research Lab

This lab is currently used for sponsored research projects directed by Dr. Hung.

J164 Usability Lab (ULAB)

This is a special-purpose lab containing equipment for observing and video taping human subjects and their interactions with computers and software. Usability evaluation involves users in a lab with a one-way observation mirror that allows the software engineers, developers, and interested parties to observe what happens when users attempt to use the product. Video cameras capture the keystrokes and body language of the users for later analysis. Computer programs can be used to record all activities as well. Test subjects can be interviewed before and after the test or, in some cases, can share their thinking processes by talking aloud, with their verbalized thoughts being recorded on tape for review by the developers. In the CS Department, the ULAB is used in the following courses: User Centered Design, Software Engineering, and Computer Graphics and Multimedia. With industry sponsored projects and the ULAB, students can participate in the entire usability evaluation process.

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Department Contact Information

Most general school information may be obtained from the School of CSE office, J377. The school phone number is 678-915-5573. For office locations and phone numbers of faculty and staff, consult the directory in Appendix A.

Dean of School of CS/SWE 678-915-4982 Room J377B

CS Department 678-915-3571 Room J355

CS Department Chair 678-915-5559 Room J355

CS Administrative Secretary 678-915-3571 Room J355

CS/IT/SWE Academic Advisor 678-915-3572 Room J393A

IT Department 678-915-4292 Room J393

IT Department Chair 678-915-3718 Room J393

SWE Department 678-915-7406 Room J370

SWE Department Chair 678-915-4283 Room J370

SWE Administrative Secretary 678-915-7540 Room J370

Fax Machine 678-915-5511 Room J370

CSE Open Lab 678-915-7484 Room J263

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V. Graduation and Beyond

Note: One semester before a student plans to graduate, they must complete a Petition to Graduate Form. Refer to the calendar at the front of the Registration Bulletin for due dates.

Step	Action
1	Go to the Department office or the Registrar's Office (Administration Building, 678-915-7276) to get a Petition to Graduate form.
2	Complete the form.
3	Take petition to Business office and pay a $25 graduation fee before the due date (see note below)
4	Return the completed form to your Departmental secretary.

Figure 3 Graduation Procedure

Note: If the student does not graduate when specified in the petition, the student must notify the Registrar’s Office (Administration Building, 678-915-7276) to update the petition to graduate. The first update is free; after that, there will be a $75 fee for each semester update.

Employment

The demand for computer professionals is high and expected to remain high. The following is a list of some of the computer related positions available to computer professionals:

§ Programmer/Programmer Analyst

§ Software Engineer

§ Database Designer/Administrator

§ Systems Programmer

§ Systems Analyst

§ Systems Support Specialist

§ Manager-Information Services

§ Network Specialist

§ Knowledge Base Administrator

§ Information Designer

§ Web Developer/Website Designer

Career and Counseling Center

Students looking for professional positions may request assistance through the Career and Counseling Center.

Note: Career and Counseling Center is located in the Student Center, A-243 – 678-915-7391.

Networking

§ Job Fairs – Our school partners with many businesses in the community to offer onsite job fairs to help students learn about employment opportunities.

§ Computing Women of SPSU – This organization’s mission is to engage in activities and projects that aim to improve the working and learning environments for women in computing. To learn about this organization visit their website at http://cse.spsu.edu/ComWomen/

§ Association of IT Professionals - Objective of this organization is to learn about and share information about jobs and general information about IT careers. Visit their website at http://cse.spsu.edu/AITP/html/index.html

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VI. School of Computing & Software Engineering Faculty

Bobbie, Patrick, Professor

Ph.D., University of Southwestern Louisiana; M.S. Marquette University;

B.S. University of Science & Technology Ghana

Brown, Bob, IT Instructor

M.S. Southern Polytechnic State University; B.S. Regents University

Dasigi, Venu, Professor - Department Chair Computer Science

Ph.D., University of Maryland; M.S., University of Maryland; M.E.E.,

Philips International Institute of Technological Studies; B.E. Andhra University

Duggins, Sheryl L., Professor –SWE Graduate Coordinator

Ph.D., University of Florida; M.S., University of Missouri-Columbia; B.A., University of Missouri-Kansas City

Faruque, Abdullah, Associate Professor