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Department of Computer Science
Computer Science: The Field:
Computers pervade all walks of life. These amazing machines have the capability to do trillions of calculations in a split second and can therefore be used to solve problems of immense difficulty. The trick is to know how to use the phenomenal computing ability of these machines to solve a particular problem and thereby arrive at a solution. Doing this requires knowledge about how problems can be shaped/posed and how computers work. This is what computer science is all about.
As a practical field, computer science encompasses knowledge and skills that enable us to solve multifarious problems: from calculating staff salaries to the automatic control of interstellar spacecrafts.
As a theoretical field, it applies the elegance of mathematics to shine light upon deep properties of applications hidden from view and explores the questions of what can be solved and what can not. The discoveries made in the theory of this young science are amongst the greatest intellectual achievements of mankind.
Computer Science: The New Challenges:
Whenever, the computer is used in solving a real world problem, the basic item around which the computing revolves is “information.” Thus the use of computers in real world applications has come to be known as Information Technology.
Information technology has infiltrated every sphere of life and has become indispensible. The modern day systems can not survive without it. This is true not only of the financial, economic and corporate world but also of the educational institutions and even to some extent of our personal lives. The dependence of everything on computer and information systems testifies to the ever-increasing breath of computer science. Today stock markets, military establishments, educational institutions, government offices, business corporations, and even small business booths rely on computer systems and information technology.
Every day the computer is being used in multiple novel ways to solve new problems. This highly active field warrants that new applications are always needed and that demand for computer scientists does not cease.
Computer Science at The University of Lahore:
The department of computer science at the University of Lahore has first-rate teaching facilities with staff chosen for their academic excellence, field expertise, teaching experience and research contributions. The faculty members keep abreast of the developments in their field and participate in seminars and conferences.
The computer science programs at the University of Lahore are tailored to prepare the students for the challenges in practical careers. The programs are continually reviewed and modified to incorporate new ideas and research. Our students are successfully serving in software development houses, banks, government organizations, engineering companies and academic institutions. A significant fraction of our graduates is studying in universities abroad.
Education Emphasized:
We aim to impart career-oriented education to our students. Our programs develop a solid foundation of fundamental concepts, upon which are based the skillful execution of techniques of software development. This is enhanced through market-oriented technology expertise.
A set of courses provides students with in-depth knowledge of cutting edge tools and technologies. A part of the curriculum is devoted to lab work. The students are exposed to real life problems and are encouraged to collaborate with the faculty for development and research.
A full-fledged real world problem is taken up and solved in a professional manner by the students in groups of twos or threes under the step-wise guidance and help of, primarily, a faculty member and, secondarily, of an industry professional. This important hands-on practice is titled Final Project and has a span of two semesters devoted to it. This enables students to get direct experience of the professional field beyond the class room and prepares them for forthcoming challenges in their careers.
Computer Science: The Job Market:
The ubiquitous nature of computing has ensured an ever-increasing variety of jobs for the computer scientist. The typical job for the BS graduate is software development and the typical job for the MS graduate is academic teaching. There are numerous jobs that don’t fit this typical profile but are successfully served by our graduates. Examples include IT consultants, IT managers, quality assurance personnel, trading software consultancy, prediction and planning jobs, R&D jobs et cetera.
However, from the point of view of local job market, there has been a feeling that IT has gone into recession. This was true a few years ago but is no longer true. The field has seen stable and consistent evolution. This has strengthened the local market to the extent that huge national IT projects dominate the scene and the foreign projects are reduced to a sizeable, though significant fraction. There are numerous job openings in every conceivable sphere of activity for the computer science graduate. |
Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS)
FACT FILE:
Short title: MSCS
Type and duration: Full Time, 2 Years
Entry requirements: BSCS
Other Qualifications Accepted: Bachelors/Masters with 16 Years Science Education
Credit hours: 30
Location: Lahore
Programme Description:
The basic objective of MSCS programme is to impart an advanced level of training in the field of computer science. This degree aims to place the graduates in the job market typically as academics and high-level software development experts. The programme is tailored to impart advanced knowledge of computer science together with sharpened skills of carrying out original research for new challenges in the field. An essential part of the programme is significant research activity carried out under the supervision of a faculty member on a real-world problem. It is represented in the coursework as a 6-credit thesis taken over the span of 2 semesters. It is expected that such original work is recognized externally as well, in the form of published papers.
Eligibility Criteria:
BSCS – 4 Years Degree Programme (120 Credit Hours)
MCS or MSc (CS) – 2 Years Conversion Degree completed after Graduation
BCS – 3 Years Degree (Students will be required to complete the deficiency of difference of total earned credit hours from 120.)
16 Years Education in Science and Engineering are eligible but they have to cover deficiency.
Programme Structure:
The programme is composed of core and elective courses, plus a thesis (optional). The students may opt for a non-thesis option in which case they are required to take 2 extra courses other than the required courses work for the degree. The students are offered a specialization option in one of the listed areas. The students can take minimum of 2 elective courses from the specialization area. However, the number and type of courses depends more on the discretion of the assigned supervisor than the minimum mentioned here.
Semester-1
Advanced Algorithm Analysis
Advanced Architecture
Advanced Software Engineering
Semester-2
Theory of Computation
Advanced Operating Systems
Research Methods
Semester-3
Elective - I
Elective - II
Thesis - I
Semester-4
Thesis - II
Specialization Courses
Software System Design & Architecture
Topics in Software Engineering
Object Oriented Software Engineering
Software Quality Assurance
Advance Computer Networks
Network Security & Cryptography
Internet Technologies & Protocols
Advance Databases
Object Oriented Databases
Data Mining & Data Warehousing
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Fee Structure
Master of Science in Computer Science |
| Semester |
Tuition Fee for Semester |
Semester Enrollment |
Examination Fee |
Total Fee for Semester |
| 1 |
27,000 |
1,500 |
900 |
29,400 |
| 2 |
27,000 |
1,500 |
900 |
29,400 |
| 3 |
27,000 |
1,500 |
900 |
29,400 |
| 4 |
9,000 |
1,500 |
300 |
10,800 |
| Total Fee for Four Semesters |
99,000 |
| Admission & Registration Fee (Payable once) |
19,600 |
| Total Programme Fee for MSCS |
118,600 |
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