Department of Computer Science

Specializations

The following specializations are optional and are not a requirement for the M.S degree.

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Specialization

Artificial intelligence (AI) includes the study of AI principles and techniques, as well as foundational material on topics such as logic, probability and language. Topics in the AI concentration include knowledge representation and logical reasoning, robotics, machine learning, probabilistic modeling and inference, natural language processing, cognition, and applications.

Cybersecurity Specialization

The cybersecurity specialization covers the fundamental concepts underlying the construction of secure systems with the use of cryptography to secure interactions. These concepts are illustrated with examples drawn from modern practice and augmented with hands-on exercises involving relevant tools and techniques. Successful participants will develop a way of thinking that is security oriented, allowing for a better understanding of how to think about adversaries and how to build systems that defend against them.

Data Science Specialization

The data science specialization focuses on core competencies in machine learning, data mining, data visualization and cloud computing. It also includes interdisciplinary data science coursework offered in cooperation with BSU's Department of Mathematics.

  • The machine learning coursework focuses on tool-oriented and problem-directed approaches to machine learning with applications in computer vision, natural language processing, simulations, and voice and music synthesis.
  • The data visualization coursework is designed to create effective and understandable data presentations, using database visualization tools such as Tableau.
  • The data mining coursework teaches students how to discover patterns in structured data. Students also learn how to retrieve information from unstructured data sources, such as natural language text and images.
  • The cloud computing coursework covers cloud computing technology, infrastructure and application development that is essential for supporting the discovery and extraction of knowledge from big data.