New MS in QSE Program (in NJ, close to NYC)

New MS in QSE Program (in NJ, close to NYC)

[David Klappholz]

Stevens Institute of Technology

Master of Science in Quantitative Software Engineering

Program Description
Stevens Institute of Technology offers a Master of Science in
Quantitative Software Engineering.  It differs drastically  from other
programs in that:

�	it is quantitative and problem-solving-oriented rather than
qualitative
�	it deals with the execution and management of small, medium and
large software projects
�	it recognizes that software process is not one-size-fits-all, but,
rather, must be tailored to the situation at hand
�	like the best MBA programs, it is hands-on in that every course is
based on actual case histories, not case histories to be read, but,
rather, case histories to be worked through by teams of students
�	like the best MBA programs, its admission criteria are very high
�	its co-directors are a Fellow of both the ACM and the IEEE with a
distinguished thirty-five year career of software project management
for Bell Laboratories, and a software research supervisor/educator
with twenty-seven years of experience.
�	its instructors all have extensive industry experience and are
hand-picked by the co-directors
�	its courses are content-coordinated with one another by the
co-directors.  Content coordination is facilitated by the fact that
the program is lock step, with all students taking the same two
courses each trimester, and with at least one of the co-directors
attending all classes
�	it is practice-motivated rather than theory-motivated;  that is,
where theory is necessary, it is motivated through the use of critical
examples
�	classes are held on Saturdays so as not to interfere with the work
week
�	it is completed in five 12-week trimesters over eighteen months
�	there are breaks for Thanksgiving, the holiday season and New Years,
and the months of July and August
�	it follows the IEEE-sponsored Software Engineering Body of Knowledge
guidelines
	
	Every student takes two courses during each 12-week trimester. 
Classes meet Saturday mornings and afternoons.  Each course earns
three credits toward the 30-credit degree.  Holiday breaks include
Thanksgiving, a mid-winter recess, Easter and the months of July and
August.
	
	The program emphasizes modern software engineering techniques and
disciplines, including
�	requirements 
�	analysis and design
�	component-based architecture
�	configuration management
�	testing, verification, and validation
�	group dynamics
�	management dynamics

Students hone their skills as members of software development teams. 
After completing the course of study all students are prepared to
effectively lead software groups and some are prepared to become
executives in software development organizations.

Acceptance Criteria
Students must have either an undergraduate degree in Computer Science
or Computer Engineering with a notable grade point average and/or
notable extracurricular achievements, or, alternatively, an
undergraduate degree in another field and extensive on-the-job
experience in software development.  A working knowledge of a
programming language is mandatory; C++ is the preferred language. 
Application involves a written exam, an interview, and at least one
letter of recommendation.  Applicants should understand that letters
of recommendation should be specific as to the applicant’s
achievements rather than generally laudatory.  Interview dates for
classes beginning in January, 2002 are: October 20, November  10,
December 1, and December 8.  First trimester courses will begin on
January 19, 2002.

Difference Between MS in CS and MS in QSE
The MS program in Computer Science focuses on the fundamental
underpinnings of computers and software.  It is geared towards the
student who wants to know the why as well as the how.  A Computer
Science graduate can anticipate and contribute to technical
developments in this rapidly changing field.  Students in this program
tend to be technical innovators.

The MS program in Quantitative Software Engineering emphasizes the
skills needed to apply software technologies to the realization of
software products on time, within budget and with known quality.  The
MS in Quantitative Software Engineering is geared towards three kinds
of student:

�	The formally educated computer professional who aspires to a
managerial career and wants comprehensive hands-on training in the
skills needed to identify customer requirements, develop software
designs, manage a software development team and evaluate the resulting
software product relative to customer specifications.
�	The formally educated computer professional who wants to remain an
individual contributor yet wants a solid foundation in the practical
application of Computer Science technology to the realization of
software products
�	The computer professional whose educational background is not in
computer science or computer engineering, but who has learned software
skills on the job and who now wants a software engineering education.

Courses
Introduction to Software Engineering
Software Requirements Acquisition and Analysis
Software Architecture and Component-based Design.
Software Construction and Configuration Management.
Software Testing, Quality Assurance and Maintenance.
Software Cost Estimation, Microeconomics and Process.
Software Technology, Tools and Methods.
Software Project (three trimesters)

Co-directors:
Lawrence Bernstein is a former Vice President of AT&T where he managed
small-, medium-, and large-scale software projects, both commercial
and military, for thirty-five years.  He is a Fellow of both the IEEE
and the ACM.  He is currently Industry Research Professor of Computer
Science. His current research interests include the design of novel
methods for motivating and teaching Software Engineering.

David Klappholz has twenty-seven years of experience teaching computer
science and performing and supervising technology research sponsored
by such organizations as NSF, DOE, IBM Research, and The New Jersey
Commission on Science and Technology.  His major research has been in:
programming  languages for parallel- and super-computers, and software
tools for parallelizing sequential code.  He is currently Associate
Professor of Computer Science. His current research interests include
the design of novel methods for motivating and teaching Software
Engineering.

For More Information and/or to Schedule a Test/Interview Date
Contact: Professor David Klappholz, co-director, by e-mail
(preferably) at d.klappholz@att.net or by phone at 201-216-5509.