ATSU_MS in Computer Science

Alabama Commission on Higher Education NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL (NISP) FOR A NEW PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION Institution: Athens State University Date of NISP Submission: 6/30/2021 Contact Person and Title: Dr Catherine Wehlburg, Provost/VP for Academic Affairs Telephone: (256) 233-8120 E-mail: Catherine.wehlburg@athens.edu Program Identification: Award Level: Master of Science Title: Computer Science 6-digit CIP: 11.0101 Program Administration and Implementation: Name of College/ School: College of Arts and Sciences Name of Dean: Dr Stephen Spencer Name of Department: Mathematical, Computer, and Natural Sciences Name of Chairperson: Dr Ronald Merritt Proposed program implementation date: Fall 2022 Anticipated ACHE meeting to vote on proposal: December 2021 Anticipated date of approval from institutional governing board: Board of Trustees – July 2021 Other considerations for timing and approval (e.g., upcoming SACSCOC review): N/A NISP Revised 8/20/20 Program Design: Brief Description of Program and Objectives: Athens State University is proposing a Master of Science in Computer Science The program is designed to prepare students to be more productive as computer science professionals in business and industry The program will offer students the opportunity to focus advanced study in three areas: Software and Systems, Data & Visualization, and Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence For individuals working in the computing fields, a master’s degree can provide career advancement by providing a path to expand their expertise in the field For example, a graduate degree in computing helps students acquire specialized skills in one or more areas of technology, including software and systems, machine learning, or data science and analytics A graduate with an M.S in Computer Science from Athens State University will have the ability to: • Communicate computer science concepts, designs, and solutions effectively and professionally, • Apply knowledge of computing to produce effective designs and solutions for specific problems, • Identify, analyze, and synthesize scholarly literature relating to the field of computer science, and • Use software development tools, software systems, and modern computing platforms Students are deemed to have achieved the learning outcomes through demonstrated mastery of material and content throughout their coursework and successful completion of either a Capstone Project and Presentation or Thesis Presentation and Defense to the assembly of all faculty in Computer Science and Information Technology In addition to faculty assessment of student learning through evaluation of course work, faculty members regularly work with students individually in the creative process and through independent study The program will utilize information collected through student learning outcomes assessments to make and document continuous program improvements Proposed delivery format (In-person, online, hybrid): One goal of Athens State University is to strive to “serve the student effectively and efficiently by providing flexible scheduling, varied modes of delivery and cooperative arrangements with other institutions.” The design of this proposed program accomplishes this goal through a novel approach that includes opportunities for both a low-residency and a traditional program Flexibility is the key to student success Students can move between the traditional and the low-residency options each semester to facilitate completion in a timely manner Regardless of the option chosen, the cohort for any given academic year will have ample opportunity to form educational and professional relationships with peers and the faculty NISP Revised 8/20/20 If hybrid, what % of program will be delivered online? All courses in the M.S in Computer Science degree program will be offered in either a blended hybrid format or fully on-line format in a two-year course rotation dependent upon demand and cohort preference Please identify any specialized accreditation agency that may apply to this program and explain why your institution does or does not intend to seek specialized accreditation The Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science and Information Technology at Athens State University are both accredited by the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission (ABET CAC) The ABET CAC does not currently accredit graduate programs in computer science, but Athens State University will pursue such accreditation as soon as it is offered Will the curriculum require work-based or experiential learning (internship, practicum, etc.)? If yes, please explain Students in the proposed M.S program will engage in experiential learning opportunities through participation in either capstone or thesis experiences In the Capstone option for the degree, students will work with external clients to identify, design, implement, and deliver computing projects for these clients For the Thesis option, students will join faculty and peers in the community in the process of research in their selected elective area Students who select the Thesis option will be expected to publish their work in peer-reviewed venues including conference proceedings and/or appropriate technical journals Will the program be designed to meet educational requirements licensure and/or certification required for entry-level employment? If yes, please list license and/or certification(s) N/A Relationship to other programs within the institution: Is the proposed program associated with any existing offerings? If yes, please explain If this is a graduate program, please list any existing undergraduate programs which are directly or indirectly related If this is a doctoral program, also list related master's programs Athens State University offers ABET-accredited B.S degrees in Computer Science and Information Technology The B.S degree in Computer Science includes concentrations in; 1) Software and Systems; 2) Cybersecurity; or 3) Machine Learning The Information Technology degree includes concentrations in Applied Information Technology, Computer Networking, and Health Information Technology The M.S in Computer Science degree is designed so that students in these programs can seamlessly move into the graduate program upon completion of their undergraduate degree NISP Revised 8/20/20 Will this program replace any existing programs or specializations, options, or concentrations within existing programs? If yes, please explain This program will be a new program within the College of Arts and Sciences and will not replace any existing programs or specializations Relationship to programs at other Alabama public institutions: List programs at the same degree level that use the same or similar CIP codes If no similar programs exist within Alabama, please list similar programs offered within the 16 SREB states Alabama Commission on Higher Education Academic Program Inventory Degree / CIP Search Institution University of Alabama Degree M.S in Computer Science Program COMPUTER SCIENCE CIP Code CIP Description 110101 Computer and Information Sciences, General Jacksonville Master of Science State University COMPUTER SYSTEMS 110101 & SOFTWARE DESIGN Computer and Information Sciences, General Alabama A&M University Master of Science COMPUTER SCIENCE 110101 Computer and Information Sciences, General University of Alabama in Huntsville Master of Science COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES 110101 Computer and Information Sciences, General Troy University Master of Science COMPUTER SCIENCE (MTG, TROY) 110101 Computer and Information Sciences, General University of Master of Science in COMPUTER AND South Alabama Computer INFORMATION Information SCIENCES Sciences 110101 Computer and Information Sciences, General University of Alabama at Birmingham 110101 Computer and Information Sciences, General Master of Science COMPUTER SCIENCE If the proposed program duplicates, closely resembles, or is similar to any other offerings in the state, please provide justification for any potential duplication Athens State University’s proposal for M.S in Computer Science will provide an affordable option for students in the state of Alabama to develop the specialized skills required to progress in their careers NISP Revised 8/20/20 Our proposal for an M.S in Computer Science program differs in several key characteristics from other programs in the state: • LOCATION: Athens State University is in the Tennessee Valley and the Huntsville Metropolitan Area This area is in the midst of a rapidly developing industrial area and the expansion projects, new industry, and influx of new population is expected to continue A workforce-development focused graduate program in computing will complement rather than compete directly with programs in our immediate service area and throughout the state of Alabama • PROGRAM EMPHASIS ON THE WORKING PROFESSIONAL: For many institutions, the Master of Science degree is considered a checkmark upon the journey towards the Ph.D Athens State’s proposal is designed for the student who needs the specialized training in computing to compete successfully for a position in a dynamic high-tech workplace while providing the speed and focus such students desire • ACCELERATION: Adults attending college later in life are especially motivated to earn their degrees quickly An accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s degree program where students can take graduate courses as they complete their baccalaureate degree may be the most efficient way for such students to proceed For instance, combining an accelerated 2+2 program with transfer to Athens State followed by an Athens State graduate program would allow a student to move from high school diploma to graduate degree at an accelerated pace • FACULTY: The personalization of the learning experience is always a hallmark of unique quality at Athens State University • COST: The most affordable tuition in the state • COMMUNITY: Community development and enrichment within the Tennessee Valley are necessary with the population increase and rise of new industry in the region Addressing this need requires the creation of engaging and creative educational programs within the community that focus upon the needs of the working professional The experiential learning opportunities inherent in the Capstone and Thesis options in this proposal will contribute to the development of the community and help stimulate business growth and economic development • HISTORY: Athens State University has a long and continuous history of providing instruction and baccalaureate programs in computing Athens State University’s unique mission as the only upper-division institution in the state of Alabama and its focus upon the needs of transfer student positions the institution well for providing workforce-development focused graduate instruction NISP Revised 8/20/20 If you plan to explore program collaboration with other institutions, please explain Not at this time, but collaboration will be considered as opportunities arise Projected program demand What is the primary methodology you will use to determine the level of student demand for this program? (Survey of current or former students, enrollments in existing programs or courses) Data provided by the Athens State Office of Institutional Research showing past performance of the current BS programs in Computer Science and Information Technology has been used to identify student demand for graduate education in computing What is the primary methodology you will use to determine state need for this program? (Labor market information, expert market analysis, state or regional economic development strategy) Faculty have researched the regional economic strategy for the Region of the Alabama Department of Labor’s Workforce Region (http://www2.labor.alabama.gov/LAUS/ALWorksMap.pdf) and for the state of Alabama overall The Alabama Department of Labor predicts that in 2024, three of the top 10 highest demand occupations in the state of Alabama will be in the computing related disciplines Labor Market Analysis data from EMSI focused on our prime service area (Madison, Limestone, Morgan, Marshall, and Cullman Counties of Alabama) for the first three quarters of 2020, there were a total of 28,963 job postings in the selected area Of these, 4,475 fit the category of computer science related job postings In that group, 1,940 of those postings either required or preferred applicants with graduate degrees in computer science Using EMSI’s analysis of supply and demand of relevant skills, we can see a significant gap in the availability of sufficiently credentialed applicants to fill these positions (with 86% of the positions requiring an advanced degree in computing vs 27% of the workforce holding such degrees NISP Revised 8/20/20 PROPOSAL FOR A NEW DEGREE PROGRAM M.S in Computer Science Prepared for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education Submitted: August 24, 2021 Alabama Commission on Higher Education PROPOSAL FOR A NEW DEGREE PROGRAM Date of Proposal Submission: 08/31/2021 Full program name and level: Master of Science in Computer Science CIP Code: 11.0101 Learning Outcomes and Program Review: A graduate with a M.S in Computer Science will have the ability:  to communicate computer science concepts, designs, and solutions effectively and professionally,  apply knowledge of computing to produce effective designs and solutions for specific problems,  identify, analyze, and synthesize scholarly literature relating to the field of computer science, and  use software development tools, software systems, and modern computing platforms Employment Outcomes and Program Demand Indicate the primary industry where graduates would seek employment using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS): https://www.naics.com/search/ NAICS Code: 511520 Software Publishers 54151 Computer Systems Design and Related Services 51821 Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services Select at least one and up to three Standard Occupational Codes (SOCs) where graduates of the new program would seek employment: https://www.bls.gov/soc/2018/major_groups.htm SOC (Required): 15-1200 Computer Occupations Please explain whether further education/ training is required for graduates of the proposed program to gain entry-level employment in the occupations you have selected Students who complete the Master of Science in Computer Science degree at Athens State University will far exceed the requirements for entry-level employment in listed occupations They will be able to compete successfully for advanced positions in both software development and information technology operations while being prepared for continued graduate studies in the field Please describe how you will determine whether graduates are successful in obtaining relevant employment or pursuing further study Employment success of graduates will be determined through institutional research data and contact with alumni We will document the success of our graduates through formal and ongoing annual assessment of program-operational outcomes, institutional accreditation records and reports, Career Services surveys and reports, recruitment records, graduate surveys, and employer surveys Briefly describe how the program fulfills a specific industry or employment need for the State of Alabama Please refer to the State’s “In-Demand Occupations List” (see ACHE’s Academic Program page for most recent list) or include local and statewide occupational projections, along with data sources as appropriate The Alabama Department of Labor predicts that in 2024, three of the top 10 high demand occupations in the state of Alabama will be in the computing related disciplines: Avg Percent Annual Avg Change Growth Annual SOC Occupation 2014 2024 (%) (%) Salary 151132 291141 151121 291123 172112 151133 172141 132011 499041 291171 414012 131111 151151 413021 Software Developers, Applications Registered Nurses Computer Systems Analysts Physical Therapists Industrial Engineers Software Developers, Systems Software Mechanical Engineers Accountants and Auditors Industrial Machinery Mechanics Nurse Practitioners Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products Management Analysts Computer User Support Specialists Insurance Sales Agents 4,910 45,920 4,390 2,120 4,380 5,860 52,570 5,440 2,820 5,000 19.35 14.48 23.92 33.02 14.16 1.78 1.36 2.17 2.89 1.33 $93,782 $57,170 $80,610 $86,538 $86,347 4,330 3,480 16,630 10,120 2,080 5,190 4,100 18,450 12,570 2,760 19.86 17.82 10.94 24.21 32.69 1.83 $100,645 1.65 $89,020 1.04 $68,761 2.19 $51,054 2.87 $92,567 24,180 5,350 5,960 6,880 26,560 6,080 7,080 7,610 9.84 13.64 18.79 10.61 0.94 1.29 1.74 1.01 $62,788 $94,824 $47,092 $76,607 Source: Alabama Department of Labor, Labor Market Information Division Looking closely at the data from the Department of Labor, within the computing related disciplines approximately 30% of the available positions are directly computer science related: Top Specialites in Information Technology By Rounded Employment Computer Programmers Software Developers, Applications 8% 7% 5% 4% 4% 61% Computer User Support Specialists Computer Systems Analysts Software Developers, Systems Software Management Remaining Occupations Source: Alabama Department of Labor, Workforce Development A graduate- level degree in Computer Science is increasingly a requirement for professionals in the field Using Labor Market Analysis data from EMSI focused on our prime service area (Madison, Limestone, Morgan, Marshall, and Cullman Counties of Alabama) for the first three quarters of 2020, there were a total of 28,963 job postings in the selected area Of these, 4,475 fit the category of computer science related job postings In that group, 1,940 of those postings either required or preferred applicants with graduate degrees in computer science Using EMSI’s analysis of supply and demand of relevant skills, we can see a significant gap in the availability of sufficiently credentialed applicants to fill these positions (with 86% of the positions requiring an advanced degree in computing vs 27% of the workforce holding such degrees): Please indicate the maximum number of credits that can be transferred in from another institution and applied to the program: Six credit hours, per institution policy Please describe any work-based learning (WBL) activities that are required or recommended for program completion (including internships, practical/clinical experience, applied research, or other immersive experiences designed to prepare graduates for employment in the field) Definitions and examples of different types of WBL are available at https://www.alapprentice.org/ Students in the proposed M.S program will engage in experiential learning opportunities through participation in either capstone or thesis experiences In the Capstone option for the degree, students will work with external clients to identify, design, implement, and deliver computing projects for these clients, including business, industry, and community organizations For the Thesis option, students will join faculty and peers in the community in the process of research in their selected elective area Students who select the Thesis option will be expected to publish their work in peer-reviewed venues including conference proceedings and/or appropriate technical journals Does the program include any options/concentrations? If so, please describe the purpose and rationale for the options, and list the courses for each in the table below N/A Please complete the table below indicating all coursework for the proposed program, specifying any new courses developed for the program, along with courses associated with each option as applicable Include the course number, and number of credits Coursework listed should total the number of hours required to complete the program Computer Science Core Courses CS 514 Programming Language Theory CS 518 Advanced Object-oriented Programming CS 575 Theory of Computation CS 551 Advanced Software Engineering and Methods Select TWO elective groupings Software and Systems: CS 509 Advanced Computer Architecture CS 515 Operation Systems Design and Implementation CS 516 Embedded Systems Design and Implementation Data & Visualization: CS 513 Data Mining, Analysis, and Visualization CS 527 Advanced Database Systems and Information Retrieval CS 523 Computer Graphics and Image Processing Artificial Intelligence: CS 585 Intelligent Systems: Theory, Design and Implementation CS 577 Event Modeling and Simulation CS 586 Machine Learning: Theory and Methods Hours 3 3 18 Core Required Hours 30 Non-Thesis Students ONLY CS 598 Project Design & Development 3-6 Thesis Students ONLY CS 597 Research Methods CS 599 Thesis 1-3 Non-Thesis Requirement Hours: Thesis Requirement Hours: 33-36 34-36 Intended program duration in semesters for full-time students: Six semesters Intended program duration in semesters for part-time students: Up to 10 semesters Please indicate any prior education or work experience required for acceptance into the program: Entry into the Computer Science master’s program requires knowledge of undergraduate computer science topics and computing-related mathematics In addition to satisfying the general University requirements for graduate programs, students are expected to have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, preferably in computer science, computer engineering, or information technology Students with undergraduate degrees in other areas are encouraged to apply but may be required to background work before entering graduate study Describe any other special requirements for the program: N/A Specific Rationale (Strengths) for Program What is the specific rationale for recommending approval of this proposal? List 3-5 potential program strengths   LOCATION and COMMUNITY: Athens State University is in the Tennessee Valley and the Huntsville Metropolitan Area This area is in the midst of a rapidly developing industrial area and the expansion projects, new industry, and influx of new population are projected to continue A workforce-development focused graduate program in computing will complement rather than compete directly with programs in our immediate service area and throughout the state of Alabama Community development and enrichment within the Tennessee Valley are necessary with the population increase and rise of new industry in the region Addressing this need requires the creation of engaging and creative programs within the community that focus upon the needs of the working professional The experiential learning opportunities inherent in the Capstone and Thesis options in this proposal will contribute to the development of the community and help stimulate business growth and economic development PROGRAM EMPHASIS ON THE WORKING PROFESSIONAL: For many institutions,    the Master of Science degree is considered a checkmark upon the journey towards the Ph.D Athens State’s proposal is designed for the student who needs the specialized training in computing to compete successfully for a position in a dynamic high-tech workplace while providing the speed and focus such students desire Athens State University has a long and continuous history of providing instruction and baccalaureate programs in computing that meet the needs of working students Athens State University’s unique mission as the only upper-division institution in the state of Alabama and its focus upon the needs of transfer student positions the institution well for providing workforce-development focused graduate instruction ACCELERATION: Adults attending college later in life are especially motivated to earn their degrees quickly An accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s degree program where students can take graduate courses as they complete their baccalaureate degree may be the most efficient way for such students to proceed For instance, combining an accelerated 2+2 program with transfer to Athens State followed by an Athens State graduate program would allow a student to move from high school diploma to graduate degree at an accelerated pace FACULTY: The personalization of the learning experience is always a hallmark of unique quality at Athens State University Students are taught by full-time, credentialed faculty who are committed to teaching and student engagement COST: Athens State has the most affordable tuition in the state Please list any external entities that have supplied letters of support attesting to the program’s strengths, and attach letters with the proposal The following letters of support are provided as Appendix A:  Dynetics, Inc  Raytheon Intelligence & Space  Mission Multiplier Consulting, LLC  Sentar, Inc Program Resource Requirements A Faculty Please provide or attach a brief summary of primary and support faculty that includes their qualifications specific to the program proposal Note: Institutions must maintain and have current and additional primary and support faculty curriculum vitae available upon ACHE request for as long as the program is active, but you not need to submit CVs with this proposal Please provide faculty counts for the proposed program: Faculty Type Status Primary Support Current- Full Time -Current-Part Time -2 Additional-Full Time (to be hired) 1* -Additional-Part Time (to be hired) *One new faculty member is proposed but will teach in both the B.S and M.S Computer Science programs Therefore, the estimated new expenses included are prorated over the first seven years of the program starting at 25% in the first year As enrollment grows, the amount will increase to 50% and then to 75% of total cost Primary Faculty NAME EDUCATION Ph.D in Computer Science The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lewis, Adam M.S in Computer Science (F) The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga B.S in Mathematics The University of the South Ph.D in Computer Science (ABD) The University of Alabama in Huntsville Maxwell, Katia M.S in Computer Science (F) Midwestern State University B.S in Computer Science Midwestern State University Ph.D in Mathematics North Carolina State University Merritt, Ronald M.S Mathematics Education L (F) North Carolina Central University B.S in Mathematics and Secondary Education Greensboro College Ph.D in Computer Science The University of Louisiana at Lafayette M.S in Computer Science The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Chen, Jing (F) M.S in Environmental Engineering Pennsylvania State University B.E in Environmental Engineering Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, P.R.C M.S in Cybersecurity Agarawal, The University of Alabama in Huntsville Nisheeth MBA (Nick) (F) Alabama A&M University Fitzsimmons, M.S in Computer Science David L (F) Alabama A&M University B.A in Instrumentation with Computer Science minor Athens State University Support Faculty Ph.D in Electrical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology Kranz, M.S in Computer Engineering Michael E (P) Carnegie Mellon University B.S in Computer Engineering Cornell University M.S in Aerospace Engineering The University of Alabama in Huntsville Holguin, M.S in Management Information Systems Lionel M (P) Florida Institute of Technology B.A in Computer Science Athens State University Briefly describe the qualifications of new faculty to be hired Duties: In addition to adhering to the general faculty guidelines, as specified by the Employee Handbook, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Provost/VPAA, duties include:  Teaching a variety of upper-division (junior/senior) courses in support of Computer Science Programs,  Developing and delivering courses in a variety of modes, including traditional, blended, and online courses that ensure quality and effective assessment,  Working with a range of students in Computer Science and Information Technology to assist them in achieving academic and career success,  Engaging in professional development and/or scholarship appropriate for a teaching institution to maintain currency in disciplinary field(s),  Holding office hours and advising students,  Serving on committees and accreditation efforts,  Contributing to the University’s mission in terms of undergraduate teaching, research, creative activities, etc., and  Assuming any other professional duties and responsibilities as assigned by administrative personnel QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: An earned Ph.D or ABD with degree conferred by start of hire in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Information Technology or related area of Computing from a regionally accredited institution,  Strong foundation in core Computer Science concepts, including but not limited to programming and the capability to teach multiple courses that utilize different programming languages, and  College-level teaching experience Desired areas of expertise include software and systems, data science, artificial intelligence, or machine learning B Staff Will the program require dedicated staff? Yes X No If so, indicate the number or percentage of FTEs Salary/ benefits costs should be included in the program summary table below C Equipment Will any special equipment be needed specifically for this program? Yes D Facilities X No Will any new facilities be required specifically for the program? X Yes No E Library Will additional library resources be required to support the program? X X Yes No Please provide a brief description of the current status of the library collections supporting the proposed program The Kares Library at Athens State University currently supports a BS program in Computer Science In order to fully support a graduate level program, additional monographs will be added and, more importantly, additional current journal subscriptions to some top-tier peerreviewed journals will be included Current Holdings - Monographs The table below gives the number of monographic holdings for each subject heading, and subject heading combination, relating to computer science for the last ten years In all, the library’s collection contains over 15,000 monographs published in the last ten years to support these areas, of which 110 are in the print collection and the remainder are eBooks The numbers in the table below add up to more than 15,000 because some monographs may have multiple subject headings assigned Library of Congress Subject Headings Computer Science Computer Networks Security Measures Computer Networks Computer Programming Computer Graphics Systems Analysis Number of Books (Total) 15,673 822 Number of eBooks 4,666 820 Number of Print Books 56 2,852 7,355 2,841 7,341 11 14 905 231 899 231 Library of Congress Subject Headings Systems Design Computer Software Computer Forensics Software Architecture Number of Books (Total) 680 5,561 49 333 Number of eBooks 672 5,549 49 332 Number of Print Books 12 Databases and Journals Kares Library subscribes to several databases that will support this program The tables below show the number of full text articles, both peer-reviewed and otherwise, that can be found under subject headings in the field of computer science in both ProQuest Computer Science and EBSCO’s Academic Search Premier In addition to these journal databases, access is provided to O’Reilly Higher Education, which supports this program with eBooks, videos, and tutorials ProQuest Computer Science “computer programming” “systems analysis” “computer graphics” “computer software” cybersecurity “intelligent systems” “computer forensics” Academic Search Premier (EBSCO) “computer programming” “systems analysis” “computer graphics” “computer software” cybersecurity “intelligent systems” “computer forensics” Number of FullText Journal Articles (Scholarly & Trade) 17,539 Number of Peer Reviewed FullText Journal Articles 6,741 Number of Peer Reviewed FullText Journal Articles 20102021 2,980 11,326 19,870 15,697 42,260 24,415 1,894 8,662 8,401 6,116 2,140 19,160 359 4,603 6,367 3,708 2,043 15,874 281 Number of FullText Journal Articles (Academic & Trade) 89,636 6,925 14,082 103,479 12,778 1,862 86 Number of Peer Reviewed FullText Journal Articles 18,238 5,579 6,289 21,809 1,647 1,772 12 Number of Peer Reviewed FullText Journal Articles 20102021 10,513 2,463 4,445 14,243 1,080 1,405 Some of the individual peer reviewed journal titles in these databases that would be particularly useful to students in this program are listed in the table below Journal Title Database Dates Available Journal of Computer Science and Technology Advances in Electrical and Computer Engineering Journal of Intelligent Information Systems ACM SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems Journal of Internet Services and Applications Journal of Management Information Systems Journal of the ACM IEE/ACM Transactions on Networking ProQuest Central 03/1999 ~ present Gale Academic OneFile ProQuest Central 02/2013 ~ present ACM Digital Library 03/1999 -~ present (365day embargo) 09/1969 ~ present ACM Digital Library 01/1979 ~ present ProQuest Central 01/2013 ~ present Business Source Premier Business Source Premier ACM Digital Library 06/1984 ~ present 03/2004 ~ present 02/1993 ~ present Borrowing Agreements with Other Libraries Kares Library at Athens State University is a member of the Network of Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL) and OCLC (a worldwide resource-sharing network) Through these consortia, Athens State students and faculty can receive specific materials from throughout the world via interlibrary loan Items held by libraries in NAAL generally have an especially short turnaround time Often, periodical articles can be received electronically on the same day of the request Monographs are delivered by UPS courier service to NAAL member libraries Kares Library at Athens State University maintains reciprocal borrowing agreements with many academic libraries in the area, including the University of North Alabama and Alabama A&M University As specified in these agreements, Athens State students and faculty are permitted to use the resources of other libraries and receive assistance Additional Collection Needs The monograph collection is sufficient to support this program with the addition of new monographs in this area in future years The e-book collections, EBSCOhost and O’Reilly, regularly add content to their collections O’Reilly e-book collection focuses mainly on business, computer science, and IT titles and was purchased to support those programs Thus, in terms of the e-book collections, adequate support exists for this graduate program The journal collection offers a considerable selection of journals with coverage to the present Possible purchase options are listed below Approximate Monograph Budget for Program The institution currently allocates a portion of the book budget to each program based on program level (certificate, minor, major, or graduate) and average book price for the subject matter A small increase in the budget is included for new programs that are significantly different from programs supported in the past, since we are essentially starting from scratch The following increases are recommended in support of this program Year Year and beyond $972 (allocation based on books) $648 (allocation based on books) Journal Subscriptions to Add Journal Computer Science Review Journal of Cryptology Management Information Systems Quarterly Annual Cost $766.00 $1,166.00 $1,000.00 These costs are reflected in the Program Proposal Summary F Assistantships/Fellowships Will you offer any assistantships specifically for this program? Yes X No If “Yes”, how many assistantships will be offered? NEW ACADEMIC DEGREE PROGRAM PROPOSAL SUMMARY INSTITUTION: Athens State University PROGRAM: Computer Science Master's Select Level: ESTIMATED *NEW* EXPENSES TO IMPLEMENT PROPOSED PROGRAM Year FACULTY Year 25616 Year 25616 Year 51232 Year Year 51232 51232 Year 76848 TOTAL 76848 358624 STAFF EQUIPMENT FACILITIES LIBRARY 3904 3580 3580 3580 3580 3580 3580 25384 ASSISTANTSHIPS OTHER TOTAL 29520 29196 54812 54812 54812 80428 80428 384008 *NEW* REVENUES AVAILABLE FOR PROGRAM SUPPORT Year Year Year Year Year Year Year TOTAL REALLOCATIONS EXTRAMURAL TUITION 43200 79200 TOTAL 43200 79200 100800 105600 105600 117600 122400 674400 100800 105600 105600 117600 122400 674400 ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS Note: “New Enrollment Headcount” is defined as unduplicated counts across years Year Year Year Year Year Year Year AVERAGE FULL-TIME HEADCOUNT Year - No data reporting required 4 5 4.166666667 PART-TIME HEADCOUNT Year - No data reporting required 12 15 16 16 17 18 15.66666667 TOTAL HEADCOUNT Year - No data reporting required 15 19 20 20 22 23 19.83333333 NEW ENROLLMENT HEADCOUNT Year - No data reporting required 9 10 10 11 9.5 DEGREE COMPLETION PROJECTIONS Note: Do not count Lead “0”s and Lead years in computing the average annual degree completions Year DEGREE COMPLETION PROJECTIONS Year - No data reporting required Year Year Year Year Year Year AVERAGE *New* entails additional expenses or revenues associated with program implementation Please include any planning or startup expenses within Year (even if these were incurred in Year or prior) Do not include expenses or revenues already budgeted for a department or instructional unit prior to the development of this specific program For instance, if new faculty will be hired to teach in this program, salary/benefits should be included for each year following hire, but salary/benefits for existing faculty would not be included Validation 1: Program revenues exceed or match expenses Validation 2: Students who graduated the prior year are not included in the total headcount YES OK Validation 3: There are enough new students enrolling each year to sustain completions Validation 4: Completion projections meet viability standard for this degree level YES MET APPENDIX A APPENDIX A Matt Osborne Tech Lead, Principal Cyber Engineer C: 256.655.9632 matthew.d.osborne@rtx.com Raytheon Intelligence & Space Department 1100 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA 22209 USA 18 August 2021 Dear Dr McGill and Representatives from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, Faculty at Athens State University have shared the program description, learning outcomes, and curriculum for a new proposed Master’s degree in Computer Science and for a proposed Master’s degree in Cybersecurity These would be welcomed programs that would help further prepare working professionals for positions related to computer science, and cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors We value the work that Athens State University’s College of Arts and Sciences is doing to respond to and meet the workforce needs of employers in our region and state We support the proposal for these two new Master’s degree in Computer Science and Cybersecurity Again, we applaud this initiative to offer a program that will prepare working professionals for career advancement and meet the growing and changing needs in our region Regards, Matt Osborne Principal Cyber Engineer Raytheon CODEX Huntsville, Alabama Matthew.D.Osborne@raytheon.com APPENDIX A Mission Multiplier Consulting LLC 1300 Meridian St., N Suite 101 Huntsville, AL 35801 Tel 256-829-8859 www.missionmultiplier.com August 17, 2021 Dear Dr McGill and Representatives from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, Faculty at Athens State University have shared the program description, learning outcomes, and curriculum for a new proposed Master’s degree in Computer Science and for a proposed Master’s degree in Cybersecurity These would be welcomed and highly sought after programs that would help further prepare working professionals for positions related to computer science, and cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors We value the work that Athens State University’s College of Arts and Sciences is doing to respond to and meet the workforce needs of employers in our region and state – to include my organizaiton, Mission Multiplier Please let it be know that we support the proposal for these two new Master’s degree in Computer Science and Cybersecurity As the CEO of Mission Multipler, a local cybersecurity company, I would like to ask that you support Athens State’s vision to offer a program that will prepare working professionals for career advancement and meet the growing and changing needs in our region Sincerely, We look forward to hearing from you soon Cheers, Mission Multiplier Jamie Miller CEO APPENDIX A ... of Science COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES 110101 Computer and Information Sciences, General Troy University Master of Science COMPUTER SCIENCE (MTG, TROY) 110101 Computer and Information Sciences,... Master of Science in COMPUTER AND South Alabama Computer INFORMATION Information SCIENCES Sciences 110101 Computer and Information Sciences, General University of Alabama at Birmingham 110101 Computer. .. M.S in Computer Engineering Michael E (P) Carnegie Mellon University B.S in Computer Engineering Cornell University M.S in Aerospace Engineering The University of Alabama in Huntsville Holguin,