Rabb School of Continuing Studies, Division of Graduate Professional Studies

Overview

In 1992, the Rabb School of Continuing Studies was named in honor of Norman S. and Eleanor E. Rabb in recognition of more than four decades of support for Brandeis.

With three divisions — Graduate Professional Studies, the Summer School, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Brandeis — the Rabb School seeks to serve lifelong learners by supporting the university in its mission of providing open inquiry and outstanding teaching in a world of challenging social and technological transformation.

In 1997, the Division of Continuing Studies, now the Division of Graduate Professional Studies, was established in the Rabb School specifically to extend the opportunity for excellent, applied professional education at the graduate level to a more diverse, part-time, working-adult population. All degree programs in the division are professionally oriented, applied in nature (combining requisite theory with the practical application of learned material), and taught by expert adjunct faculty who are practitioners of their subject matter in their professional lives.

Master’s degrees in seven applied, professional fields are offered in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies of the Rabb School and are overseen by the Rabb School Council, made up of faculty representing the other schools in the university and chaired by a full-time faculty member.

New degrees, as well as substantive changes to the curriculum, are reviewed for approval by the Rabb School Council and as necessary by both the Council of the Graduate Professional Schools and the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees.

The Division of Graduate Professional Studies in the Rabb School currently offers seven master's degree programs, requiring 10 to 12 three- or four-credit courses, in applied fields:

The division offers an opportunity for students to earn two degrees, sequentially, transferring up to three courses, if appropriate, from the first program to the second.

Programs in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies have traditionally been offered on campus part-time in the evening, in three 10-week terms, year-round. Given the Rabb School’s commitment to making graduate, credit-bearing and professionally oriented academic resources at Brandeis available to as many qualified part-time students as possible, the division gradually expanded into distance learning (Web-supported learning), receiving the New England Association for Schools and Colleges’ approval for its first online credential (graduate certificate in software engineering) in 2004.

Six complete degrees, the Master of Software Engineering, Master of Science in Information Technology Management, Master of Science in Information Security, Master of Science in Virtual Management, Master of Science in Management of Projects and Programs Programs, and Master of Science in Health and Medical Informatics are available entirely online. The Master of Science in Bioinformatics remains a campus-based program.

In addition, the division collaborates with corporate partners in offering credit-bearing courses to special student groups at corporate sites or welcoming corporate-sponsored students in on campus or online courses. There are no degree programs offered at or online (electronically) through sites other than the Brandeis campus.

Admission

How to Apply

Admission policies and procedures for graduate degree programs in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies are described in detail in both the Division Web site and the Student Handbook located on the Web site. Standards of admission to all programs are clear, consistent and simple. Applicants to graduate programs in the Rabb School generally hold bachelor’s degrees from regionally accredited U.S. institutions or their equivalent.

All formal applications for admission are evaluated by a faculty/staff committee. Applications and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, with entry points at the beginning of each of the three standard 10-week terms (September, January and May).

Brandeis undergraduate degree candidates are not eligible for application to master's degree programs in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies without specific permission from their department. Brandeis graduate students from other schools are eligible to register for GPS courses; tuition payments are in full.

Academic Regulations

Academic Standing

Prior to filing a formal application, students may take up to two graduate courses, thereby determining whether commitment to both the chosen field and a master’s degree program is appropriate for them. It is standing policy that a course graded below B – may not be applied toward a degree, regardless of when it is taken. Students are allowed a maximum of 12 courses to complete a 10-course master's degree.

Given the part-time nature of all Rabb School programs, and recognizing that working people frequently encounter unanticipated life experiences, students may take up to five years to complete a 10- to 12-course program. (Most students complete their degrees in less than three.)

Additional Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirement for Students Receiving Financial Aid

Federal regulations require that a student receiving federal assistance make satisfactory academic progress in accordance with standards set by the university. The Division of Graduate Professional Studies is responsible for monitoring academic progress within its graduate programs. To receive federal funding, a student must successfully complete two courses (B- or higher) in each semester in which he or she receives federal loans. If he or she fails to successfully complete two courses in a semester in which he or she receives federal loans, he or she will be allowed to receive federal loans for the next semester but will be placed on probation. If he or she fails to successfully complete two courses during the probationary semester, he or she will lose eligibility for federal loans from this point forward. A student may submit an appeal if there are extenuating circumstances that prevented him or her from successfully completing coursework for two subsequent semesters.

Requirements for the Degrees

Detailed information about the requirements for the degree programs offered by the Rabb School, Division of Graduate Professional Studies, can be found in a later section of this Bulletin. Please refer to these pages for the requirements and expected learning outcomes for specific degrees. Specific course lists may be found at www.brandeis.edu/gps/programscourses.

Auditing Courses

Auditing Rabb School courses is not permitted.

Change of Program

Courses may be dropped with modest financial penalty until the second meeting or distance learning module, after which students may drop courses until the ninth (of 10) meetings/online modules with no refund of tuition. Final course grades below B – may not be applied toward a master's degree.

Incompletes

Incompletes are granted in exceptional cases, arranged between the student and the instructor and documented, including specific closure date, in the division’s office. Unaddressed incompletes become failures after the established deadline.

Transfer of Credit

Rabb School degree candidates are not permitted to cross-register either in other graduate programs on campus or in programs elsewhere, although they may with advance approval take a course elsewhere and transfer it to the Rabb School. Up to two courses not previously counted for any degree program may be considered for transfer into a Rabb School degree, although not as either of the final two courses in the program. Very occasionally, a student may test out of a particular course, waiving that requirement but replacing it with an additional course from the program.

International Students

International student applicants to the Rabb School’s entirely part-time programs are required to submit their overseas academic credentials to an evaluator designated by the division, to declare and sign that they are in the United States legally Applicants whose first language is not English or who have not graduated with a bachelor’s degree from an English-speaking institution in Australia, Belize, the British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, or South Africa must take and submit scores for the TOEFL or IELTS. Test scores should be no more than five years old.

Fees and Expenses

The following tuition and fees are in effect for the 2012–13 academic year. These figures are subject to annual revision by the Brandeis University Board of Trustees.

Payment of tuition occurs per course registration and must be completed in full in order for the registration to be official and for students to attend the first class meeting or online course module. Except under rare, prearranged circumstances, students not paid in full are not permitted to attend classes. Late registration, while unusual, is permitted on a space-available basis, the week before classes begin, and carries a late fee.

  • Tuition per three-credit course: $2,953
  • Tuition per four-credit course: $3,937
  • Late registration fee: $70 (in addition to the fees above)
Other Fees
  • Course materials fee (dependent on course needs): $100
  • Application fee for admission to a degree program: $50
  • Application to graduate fee: $100

Refunds

All fees other than tuition (late registration, course material and application fees) are nonrefundable. Students who wish to cancel their registration and receive a tuition refund must state their intention to withdraw by completing a course add/drop form and submitting it to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies.

Tuition will be refunded according to the following schedule:

  • Withdrawal before the first class meeting or distance learning module: 100 percent
  • Withdrawal before the second class meeting or distance learning module: 75 percent
  • No refund thereafter

In compliance with federal law, special refund arrangements apply to students receiving federal financial aid under Title IV (i.e. Federal Direct Stafford and PLUS Loans). Contact the Office of Student Financial Services for additional information.

Financial Aid

While the Rabb School of Continuing Studies offers no financial aid, students are able to participate in both federally and privately funded student loan programs, based upon eligibility. Arrangements are made on an individual basis through the Associate Director, in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies and the Office of Student Financial Services.

Federal Loans

Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are enrolled at least half-time in a degree or certificate program and who demonstrate need by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Graduate students may borrow up to $8,500 per year in subsidized money. The maximum aggregate limit for the program (including undergraduate borrowing) is $65,500.

Please note that the Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan is no longer available to graduate students whose loan period begins on or after July 1, 2012.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are available to students who are not eligible for subsidized Stafford Loans based on need, or whose loan period for the 2012-20123 academic year begins on or after July 1, 2012. Applicants must still file the FAFSA. Graduate students may borrow up to a maximum of $12,000 a year with an aggregate maximum of $73,000 in unsubsidized money. Eligible students may borrow from the subsidized and the unsubsidized Stafford programs, as long as the annual total does not exceed $20,500.

The interest rate on both versions of the Stafford Loan is a fixed rate of 6.8 percent and the origination fee is .5% for loans first disbursed before July 1, 2012 and 1.0% for loans first disbursed after July 1, 2012.

Repayment of a Stafford Loan begins six months after the borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. The standard repayment period is 10 years, during which time interest is charged. (Please go to www.studentloans.gov for information about alternate repayment plans.) There is no interest charged during the in-school period for subsidized loans, however, interest will accrue during the six-month grace period. Students are required to pay the interest during the in-school period, or have it capitalized and added to the loan balance, for the unsubsidized loan.

The terms for the above loan programs are subject to federal legislation, regulations and other guidance, and may change. Additional current information is available from the Graduate School.

Students wishing to apply for loans should contact the Graduate School for application materials.

The Graduate PLUS Loan is a federal loan that allows graduate students to borrow up to their total cost of education less any financial aid received. The student must pass an independent credit review. The PLUS Loan has an origination fee of 2.5 percent for loans first disbursed before July 1, 2012 and 4.0 percent for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2012. The interest rate is a fixed rate of 7.9 percent. Go to www.studentloans.gov to apply for this loan.

Additional Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirement for Students Receiving Financial Aid

Federal regulations require that a student receiving federal assistance make satisfactory academic progress in accordance with standards set by the university. The Division of Graduate Professional Studies is responsible for monitoring academic progress within its graduate programs. To receive federal funding, a student must successfully complete two courses (B- or higher) in each semester in which he or she receives federal loans. If he or she fails to successfully complete two courses in a semester in which he or she receives federal loans, he or she will be allowed to receive federal loans for the next semester but will be placed on probation. If he or she fails to successfully complete two courses during the probationary semester, he or she will lose eligibility for federal loans from this point forward. A student may submit an appeal if there are extenuating circumstances that prevented him or her from successfully completing coursework for two subsequent semesters.

Requirements for the Degrees

Degree of Master of Software Engineering

The Master of Software Engineering prepares students to participate fully in integrated teams of software developers, software acquirers and software end users.

Students have the necessary software engineering skills and knowledge to ensure the delivery of reliable software to increasingly large, complex and international end-user markets (available online).

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Software Engineering requires one core course plus at least one choice from each of three core areas: programming, design and software engineering fundamentals. It further requires six electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Apply a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the cost-effective development, operation and maintenance of software systems to the satisfaction of their beneficiaries, within some or all of the following areas of specialization: application development; database programming and management; network and Web security; Web development.
  • Build solutions using different technologies, architectures and life-cycle approaches, in the context of different organizational structures, with demonstrated programming expertise in at least one language among C, C++, Java and C#.
  • Foster the development, adoption and sustained use of standards of excellence for software engineering practices.
  • Communicate effectively and think critically about a wide range of issues arising in the context of working constructively on software projects.

Degree of Master of Science in Information Technology Management

The Master of Science in Information Technology Management prepares students for knowledgeable leadership in the broadest scope of application of information technology.

By understanding information technology’s importance to an organization and its use in a global economy, students will acquire the skills and knowledge to direct the development and deployment of information systems of high quality (available online).

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Science in Information Technology Management requires six core courses and four electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Develop and lead teams of technical people toward the achievement of established goals, and manage the development of their product.
  • Identify the ways in which technology can be applied to solve both existing and anticipated problems.
  • Leverage technology to realize strategic management goals and opportunities.
  • Assure the quality and value of information to those who ultimately use it for decision making.
  • Think, write and speak cogently and persuasively about ongoing and anticipated work with colleagues, end users and corporate leadership, and listen carefully to feedback.

Degree of Master of Science in Management of Projects and Programs

The Master of Science in Management of Projects and Programs provides current project managers and potential project managers with an integrated understanding of a broad scope of business functions at the upper-middle, team-leading level of corporate operations, combined with the technical skills and knowledge to analyze, organize and manage the expression of projects, on time and on budget.

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Science in Project and Program Management requires seven core courses and three electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Initiate, plan, execute, control, evaluate and close out projects in a way that assures the delivery of the negotiated scope and quality level while meeting time and budget constraints.
  • Effectively communicate the project/program status, issues, expectations and risks, both verbally and in writing, to project and program stakeholders.
  • Demonstrate how projects contribute to an organization's ability to realize its strategic goals and business benefits.
  • Exercise management and leadership skills in the conduct of programs and projects of various size, scope, and complexity that may be international in nature.

Degree of Master of Science in Bioinformatics

The Master of Science in Bioinformatics brings together disciplines including biology, computer science, statistical data modeling and information technology.

Students must develop an understanding of and be able to contribute directly to the analysis of biological data, the design of databases for storage, retrieval and representation of biomolecular data and the development of novel computational tools.

Students’ work will support better understandings of biological systems, human disease and drug development, ultimately affecting the practice of modern medicine.

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Science in Bioinformatics requires two foundation courses, three core courses; one advanced programming language, one scripting language, one database course, and four electives, totaling 12 courses (36 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Apply a variety of skills to the processing, storage, analysis and modeling of many types of biological data.
  • Provide valuable insights into the understanding of complex biological systems and their quantitative data.
  • Positively impact research projects in the corporate and academic sectors.
  • Effectively communicate and present bioinformatic analysis to multidisciplinary project teams.

Degree of Master of Science in Information Security

The Master of Science in Information Security addresses the growing need for information security professionals who possess a balance of analytical skills and business sense. The program is unique in its emphasis on the policy, management and technology aspects of information security and risk management.

Students gain a combination of technology and management expertise that will enable them to make educated technical decisions in order to support enterprise-wide security objectives.

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Science in Information Security requires four core courses and six electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Assess risks to the security of proprietary information in an organization and understand the technical, organizational and human factors associated with these risks.
  • Evaluate information technology tools designed to protect against threats facing organizations.
  • Assess the impact of security policies on existing complex systems and organizational objectives while simultaneously considering regulatory requirements and compliance.
  • Oversee the information assurance lifecycle of an organization, including planning, acquisition, development and evolution of secure infrastructures.

Degree of Master of Science in Virtual Management

The Master of Science in Virtual Management examines granular business operations from the perspective of communication, giving students a framework for understanding and managing socio-cultural, regulatory and geographic issues in worldwide business environments.

The program prepares students to manage the development and direction of teams at distance, the dynamic of communication within an organization, the impacts of distance and diversity on business practices and activity, the expectations of diverse legal and ethical environments and culturally diverse business habits.

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Science in Virtual Management requires that students complete six core courses and 4 electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Apply knowledge of virtual team leadership techniques and worldwide environments to foster better virtual team building and direction
  • Apply communication theory and methods to create effective communication, team building, mutual confidence for virtual teams
  • Apply knowledge of the virtual communication tools and technology to establish successful ongoing team interaction, communication and exchange of information
  • Formulate and implement strategies for managing distributed employees and teams, maximize their productivity
  • Negotiate and manage contracts in various environments and identify and resolve conflicts in a virtual environment

Degree of Master of Science in Health and Medical Informatics

Health and medical informatics is the application of principles of computer and information science to the effective organization, analysis, management, and use of information in health care. With evolving health care reform, the development, implementation, evaluation, and management of information technology solutions are critical, and core technologies and standards must be addressed.

The Health and Medical Informatics program in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies addresses the growing need for professionals who need to possess both analytical skills and business acumen with the goal of improving health care delivery systems through information technology.

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Science in Health and Medical Informatics requires that students complete six core courses and 4 electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Facilitate the development and advancement of emerging information technologies to improve health care delivery and cost efficiencies.
  • Gain an in-depth understanding of new and existing health information management systems within the context of the U.S. health care system.
  • Become proficient in the "language" of health care, navigate the rules around using medical data, and obtain relevant information to assess changes to the health care system.
  • Participate in the development, implementation, evaluation and management of information technology solutions to improve patient care and the health care delivery process.
  • Utilize health information technology for decision support, knowledge management, strategic planning, and outcomes assessment to optimize cost efficiencies in the health care system.
  • Effectively interface between the data systems developers and the user community.

Sequential Master's Degrees

Program of Study
Students must complete the first degree in its entirety. Transfer of up to three courses from the first to the second program is permitted (if appropriate). The student must fulfill any outstanding core requirements in the second degree, along with the requisite number of electives to total 17 to 22 courses (51 to 66 credits, depending on programs).

Courses of Instruction

Listed below are courses of instruction for the Rabb School of Continuing Studies, Division of Graduate Professional Studies. Courses meet for three hours a week unless otherwise specified. Courses offered online are presented in 10 discrete weekly modules contemporaneous with the 10-week, on-campus term.

Most courses are available to all students qualified to take them. Access to some courses is governed by the signature of the instructor. Other courses impose a numerical limit to preserve environmental conditions suitable to the pedagogy the instructor employs.

Generally, a course is offered with the frequency indicated at the end of its description. The frequency may be designated as every semester, every year, every second year, every third year or every fourth year. The university reserves the right to make any changes in the offerings without prior notice.

RBIF 100 Introduction to Bioinformatics Scripting and Programming
Note: This is a four credit course which runs for 13 weeks.
This course is a high-content introduction to scripting and programming with applications in bioinformatics. It is appropriate for students with little or no previous programming experience. The course focuses on the fundamentals of programming, including basic training in Python, object-oriented programming and graphical applications, and Perl programming including the BioPerl packages for parsing of biological data. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 101 Structural Bioinformatics
This course builds a foundation in the interrelationship between protein structure, sequence, and function. This is used as basis for evaluating database search results and protein sequence alignments and phylogenies. The course also covers use of advanced molecular visualization and modeling tools and structure based drug discovery. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 102 Genomics and Genetics
This course covers concepts of classic genetics, from Mendelian inheritance to quantitative and complex traits, associations and population genetics. It addresses the anatomy and function of genomes from humans and model organisms. Using the Human Genome Projects as an example, sequencing and mapping technologies are covered. Basic sequence analysis methods are introduced, along with techniques to navigate genome browsers and other relevant databases. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 103 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
This course introduces probability and statistics in the bioinformatics context, building a foundation for the “probabilistic thinking” method with applications to real life problems within biophysics, bioinformatics and data analysis. The course addresses probability theory with one and many random variables, classical and Bayesian methods, Poisson processes and Markov chains and applications to sequence analysis, gene finding and phylogenetics, and the fundamentals of the Mathematica programming language and its uses in computational probabilistic experiments. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 105 Proteomics: Analytical and Computational Principles
Proteomics constitute the parallel characterization of the set of proteins from an organism’s genome. High-throughput, parallel study of proteins is invaluable to the discovery of modern medicines and diagnostics. This course covers emerging analytical techniques for the study of proteomes, as well as the computational needs that support them. Concepts addressed include the physicochemical and biological properties of proteins and their relationship to the genome; protein separation technologies; technologies for high throughput expression, isolation, and characterization of proteins; protein networks and protein-protein interactions; data management tools, data integration, and knowledge management. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 106 Drug Discovery and Development
There are high expectations for bioinformatics to contribute to drug discovery. This course explores issues faced during drug discovery and development. Topics include the drug discovery process, its major players and its origins; scientific foundations of drug discovery; target product profile; disease and drug target selection, sources of drug-like molecules; assays and screening; medicinal chemistry; pharmacology; toxicology; and clinical trials. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 108 Computational Systems Biology
Computational systems biology is a field that aims to provide an integrative, system-level understanding of biology through the modeling of experimental data. The course covers interacting systems by defining the basic structures of the biological network that allow a living cell to maintain homeostasis under different conditions and perturbations. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 109 Biological Sequence Analysis
This course provides a foundation in sequence analysis and associated algorithms. Topics include homology searching, multiple sequence alignment, transcription factor binding site discovery, phylogenetics, gene prediction, RNAi sequence analysis, Gibbs sampling, Markov chains, Hidden Markov models, Genetic algorithms, information theory, expectation maximization, maximum likelihood, Bayesian methods, Markov chain Monte Carlo methods.

RBIF 110 Molecular Modeling and Cheminformatics
This course covers modeling at the molecular level, with a focus on topics relevant to protein-ligand binding and cheminformatics. The first half of the course will cover topics in basic macromolecular structure and thermodynamics relevant to prediction and analysis of macromolecular interactions, and includes crystallography, energetics of hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions, and structure-based docking. The second half of the course will introduce the basics of cheminformatics, covering chemical structures, chemical descriptors, and methods for clustering and similarity-searching for compounds. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 111 R for Biomedical Informatics
This course is an advanced mathematics and applied statistics course that will introduce students to data analysis methods and statistical testing. It provides a foundation for Biological Data Mining and Modeling (RBIF 112) and Design and Analysis of Microarray Experiments (RBIF114). The course covers R (a statistical programming language) to introduce students to descriptive and inferential statistics, basics of programming, common data structures and analysis techniques. The course covers methods important to data analysis such as t-tests, chi-squared analysis, Mann-Whitney tests, correlation and regression, ANOVA, LDA, PCA, tests of significance, and Fisher’s exact test. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 112 Biological Data Mining and Modeling
The development of new bioinformatics tools typically involves some form of data modeling, prediction or optimization. This course introduces various modeling and prediction techniques including linear and nonlinear regression, principal component analysis, support vector machines, self-organizing maps, neural networks, set enrichment, Bayesian networks, and model-based analysis. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 113 Biological Database Systems
In order to be properly utilized, biological data storage systems must be designed to cross-reference against a host of different sources. In addition, biological data tends to have certain formatting issues with storage and transmission. This course addresses these topics by introducing relational databases and their design as related to biological data management. The formats of common public repositories are covered, such as NCBI and ENSEMBL, as well as federation techniques between different types of data. This course includes methods of data transfer (BioPax, MLs, and others). Usually offered every year.

RBIF 114 Whole-Genome Gene Expression Analysis
Microarrays are routinely used in genomic studies to detect changes in mRNA expression levels. These experiments have fundamental statistical and data processing challenges associated with them. This course covers: the statistical aspects of experimental design, biological and technical replicates, preprocessing, quality assessment, parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, multiple-hypothesis testing, P-value correction and false discovery rates, visualization techniques (e.g. heatmaps, volcano plots), and biological significance (e.g. functional annotation, pathways, hypergeometric tests, gene set enrichment). Usually offered every year.

RBIF 115 Statistical Genetics
This course covers methods in statistical genetics used to detect disease or quantitative trait loci in experimental and human populations. Basic concepts in Genetics, Genomics and Genetic Epidemiology are reviewed, with an emphasis on the statistical and practical issues involved in genetic analysis. Both linkage and association approaches will be covered, with a focus on applications in the human genome wide association (GWAS) setting for both SNPs and CNVs. Approaches to extracting and enriching GWAS through genotype imputation, GSEA, meta-analysis and genetics of gene expression analysis will also be covered, along with topics relevant to pharmacogenetics and techniques to analyze next generation sequencing data in a population setting. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 120 Advanced Topics in Computational Biology
This course introduces the basic techniques of bioinformatics research and its grounding principles in the scientific method. A committee of instructors assists each student in the design and execution of an advanced research project in computational biology. General focus for independent student projects will be chosen by the faculty committee, usually focused on a systems biology question. Student projects must incorporate programming and database-focused integration and management of empirical data, and involve two or more of approaches in systems modeling, sequence analysis (genomics/proteomics), artificial intelligence/pattern detection, discrete mathematics and statistics, or phylogenetics. Usually offered every year.

RBIF 123 Java Programming for Bioinformatics
This course provides a foundation in bioinformatics and scientific computing using the Java programming language. Following a brief introduction to Java and integrated development environments, the course focuses on developing basic bioinformatics tools, including the use of the BioJava API to retrieve and manipulate sequences, advanced I/O and indexing techniques to handle and search large sequence databases, JDBC methods to query complex genomic databases, and the application of code optimization techniques and numerical recipes to CPU intensive bioinformatics algorithms. Usually offered every year.

RBIO 101 Molecular Biology Lab: From DNA to Protein
This hands-on course covers basic molecular biology techniques, including how to manipulate DNA and RNA; how to clone a gene using polymerase chain reaction; how to insert the cloned gene into plasmids; and how to express the gene and translate it into a protein. Basic detection and imaging techniques are applied to visualize DNA, RNA and proteins. This course provides the necessary ‘wet lab’ experience required to successfully communicate and collaborate with biologists. Usually offered every third year.

RBIO 102 Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
Note: This is a four credit course which runs for 13 weeks.
The course covers the basic concepts of molecular, cell and developmental biology. Concepts addressed include the anatomy of cells, its building blocks and their function; genetic information, how it is stored, replicated and translated into proteins; inheritance and genetic variation; DNA technology and relevant experimental methods; communication between cells and their environment; regulation and pathways; development and cancer. The course also covers how this knowledge is applied in biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and the related bioinformatics challenges. Usually offered every year.

RCHE 101 General, Organic, and Biochemistry
Note: This is a four credit course which runs for 13 weeks.
This course is designed for students coming from diverse backgrounds; it surveys some fundamental concepts and definitions in General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. The course braids together different sub-disciplines within the larger domain of Chemistry with an emphasis on biological systems. As often as possible the course explores relevant issues in human diseases and drug discovery. Concepts covered include scientific methodology; error and measurement; atoms and spectroscopy; chemical bonding; chemical reactions, kinetics and thermodynamics; acids and bases; basic organic chemistry concepts; biomolecules; enzymes; carbohydrate metabolism; fatty acid metabolism; genomics. Usually offered every year.

RCOM 102 Professional Communications
This course prepares professionals with communication skills necessary for success in their fields. The course addresses interpersonal, small group and public communication, and involves extensive practice writing and speaking on a variety of informative and persuasive topics. Usually offered every year.

RHIN 110 Perspectives on Health/Medical Information Systems
This course serves as an introductory course in the Health and Medical Informatics curriculum. Students interested in the Health Care field will be able to gain the fundamental understanding of Health Care Systems, from provider types to vocabularies to efficiencies, and the impact of Information Technology on the Health and Medical Informatics discipline. Through key assignments, case study analysis, and a research project, students will be able to explore and gain perspectives on Health and Medical Informatics in the context of their own interest fields. Additionally, actual applications of IT in the Health and Medical Informatics domain, from clinical information systems to e-Health, will be analyzed. Usually offered every year.

RHIN 115 Health Data and Electronic Health Records (EHRS)
This course is designed to provide current and aspiring health/medical IT professionals with an understanding of the challenges of collecting and maintaining electronic health data. The course focuses on issues specific to health data and the systems implemented to collect and store it. This includes an overview of various types of hospital systems; methods used to interface between systems; and operations issues typical of hospital systems. The course also includes a study of controlled medical vocabularies typically used to define various types of health data as well as a survey of existing and evolving government driven standards and regulations. Usually offered every year.

RHIN 120 Health/Medical Information Systems Security
This course addresses security, privacy, and compliance issues as they impact health information systems. The course explores and evaluates the moral and ethical concepts of information security. Students will explore security issues including restricted access and physical security of hardware/software along with the evaluation of information security tools. The course covers health data integrity, risks, and audit ability techniques along with regulatory compliance, confidentiality and privacy of patient data. The overall goal of the course is the evaluation and implementation of security in health information systems. Usually offered every year.

RHIN 125 Data Analysis and Decision Support for Health Informatics
This course is designed to familiarize students with the different types of healthcare data, assure the quality of the data and how to understand and communicate the information provided in support of effective decision making by the various stakeholders of the healthcare system. Study and discussion topics will include how to choose the correct information for different decisions and communicate its meaning to users. Students will evaluate statistical methods and tools. The difference between research databases and operational databases will be covered along with techniques to effectively communicate quantitative healthcare data using tables and graphs. Methods for choosing the right medium will be explored in depth. Usually offered every year.

RHIN 126 Advanced Health Care Data Analytics
This course will provide an in depth and real-world understanding of modern day health care data analytics. Students will be able to understand the business goals and objectives as to why various types of health care organizations and emerging models of care are utilizing and dependent upon health care data analytics. Students will be able to understand the importance of the various types of electronic healthcare systems and integration models in order to ensure accurate and reliable data in providing effective and efficient health care data analytics. Through assignments, case studies and class exercises, students will be able to understand the tools and techniques used to evaluate key components of health care analytics including operations, financial, quality, utilization, care retention, policy and contract management. Furthermore, the understanding of payor claims data and various types of healthcare data standards will be an integral part in understanding the foundational elements in providing health care analytics. Finally, students will not only be able to analyze and interpret various categories of health care data analytics, they will also be shown the most effective ways to illustrate and present data to a number of different types of key stakeholders in various health care organizational settings. Usually offered every year. Usually offered every year.

RHIN 130 Health Care Delivery in the U.S.
The healthcare delivery system in the U.S. is complex and in order to navigate it successfully students must have a fundamental understanding of the events and policies that have shaped the current environment in which they will be working. In addition to providing an overview of how the U.S. system has developed, this course will place a substantial focus on how healthcare data has developed over time and the ways in which it has informed the changes to the delivery system. Usually offered every year.

RHIN 150 Emerging Technologies in Health/Medical Informatics
In today’s dynamic health care information technology environment, emerging technologies represent a critical and exciting field of study. Advances in technologies across all aspects of health care promise to make dramatic impacts in terms of the efficiency and efficacy of care with major implications for clinical quality and cost. This course introduces students to a number of emerging classes of health care information technologies. In addition, the course considers the unique challenges that the healthcare industry presents in terms of planning, implementation, and adoption of new technologies. While the content of the class is dynamic and continually evolving, emerging technologies are broad enough to be split into static categories. The categories present emerging technologies that represent the major fields within Health and Medical Informatics, including: Health/Medical information systems (including hospital-based information systems, billing, scheduling, etc.), Clinical/decision support systems, including standardized language lexicon Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Health Information Exchange (HIE) technologies including integration issues and standards. E-health, telemedicine, connected health, location-based technologies, personalized medicine.Inter-disciplinary integrations: Bioinformatics (Biomedical informatics), etc. Usually offered every year.

RHIN 160 Legal Issues in Health and Medical Informatics
This course will offer students an opportunity to understand an historical perspective of Health Law, including how to assess liability in the workplace, the impact of information management and health care records, medical malpractice, risk management, current ethical and legal dilemmas in the practice of health care. This course focuses on some of the legal issues encountered in creating electronic interfaces between patients and the health care system in a variety of ways in which health care data is being utilized to support and enhance patient care, including documenting medical encounters, and serving as a benchmark of provider quality. Topics covered will include statutory and case law applicable to medical records and the developing regulatory infrastructure for such records. We will discuss the importance of use of electronic data in medical practice, institutional healthcare information systems, the inter-institutional record systems, and the risks, benefits and challenges, including how to manage risk of the employer and patient through the use of health information management medical records and how to determine personal risk and how to recognize potential litigious issues. Usually offered every year.

RHIN 170 Clinical Business Issues in Health Informatics
This course is an introduction to health care business systems and models with a particular emphasis on the value of IT to the organization. This includes departmental design and management, capital and operating budgets, the budget planning process, and infrastructure design and strategic planning. Other topics include evaluation of vendors, vendor selection, purchase agreements and contracts, writing an RFP, analyzing an RFP response, clinical administration systems, and the design and management of integrated delivery networks. Usually offered every year.

RHIN 180 Strategic Application of IT in Healthcare
This course will examine the strategic application of information technology in healthcare organizations. The course will focus on the challenges facing the health care CIO/Director with respect to organizational structure, alignment with enterprise strategy, portfolio management, and regulatory compliance. In addition the course will look at how the application of IT can transform healthcare delivery in the current environment. Usually offered every year.

RHIN 200 Health/Medical Informatics Independent Study Project
The purpose of this course is to provide students an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of a core competency in the health and medical informatics field. Students will write an in-depth research paper that summarizes and reflects upon their work. Prior to registering for this course, students must have an agreement for supervision from a faculty member and an approved statement of intent that includes an abstract of the project along with its objectives and preliminary milestones. Usually offered every year.

RIAS 101 Foundations of Information Assurance
Foundations of Information Assurance provides an understanding of the fundamental elements and technology “building blocks” of information assurance and computer security. The objective of the course is to provide coverage from the ground up on applied security concepts and technologies related to IT infrastructures, along with the attacks, threats and vulnerabilities currently faced by organizations. This course will expose students to fundamental security technologies and concepts in the areas of access control, cryptography, telecommunications and network security, application development security, and physical (environmental) security. This course provides the foundation for the remaining courses in the Information Assurance program. Usually offered every year.

RIAS 102 Foundations of Assurance Management
Foundations of Information Assurance management will expose students to higher-level security concepts, infrastructures, standards, protocols and best practices that are necessary for today's Information Assurance professional. Building on the knowledge of fundamental security technologies covered in Foundations of Information Assurance, students will develop an understanding of the fundamental tenets of information assurance solutions for businesses, government agencies and enterprises which require the establishment of a comprehensive security strategy and execution plan. This course will expose students to key concepts and principles in security operations; security architecture and design; information security governance and risk management; business continuity and disaster recovery planning; and topics in legal, regulations, investigations and compliance. Usually offered every year.

RIAS 110 Applied Cryptography and Access Control
Prerequisites: This course assumes prior knowledge of programming in any popular language for applications development.
This course covers the concepts, applied mechanisms, and practices of using cryptography and access control techniques in software applications. These techniques address security requirements such as confidentiality, integrity, authentication, authorization, and accountability, and have become the vital part of all business applications and electronic transactions. Concepts explored include common IT security challenges; critical application security exploits; the role of cryptography and its applied mechanisms; access control principles and techniques related to personal identification and strategies for enabling stronger authentication using Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI), smartcards, and biometrics; enterprise identity management concepts; industry standards for enabling identity provisioning, single sign-on, and federation. Usually offered every year.

RIAS 115 Information Technology Forensics and Investigations
This course covers both the principles and practice of digital forensics. It investigates the societal and legal impact of computer activity including computer crime, intellectual property, privacy issues, legal codes; risks, vulnerabilities, and countermeasures; forensic tools and techniques to uncover illegal or illicit activities left on disk and recovering files from intentionally damaged media; specific manifestations of cyber crime, including hacking, viruses, and other forms of malicious software; methods and standards for extraction, preservation, and deposition of legal evidence in a court of law. The course maps to the objectives of the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS) certification to provide credible, standards-based information. Usually offered every year.

RIAS 120 Securing Applications, Web Services, and Software-As-A-Service (SAAS)
This course covers applied security concepts, technologies, techniques, patterns, best practices and checklists intended for securing Web based applications, XML Web services and SOA. The course illustrates the real-world security challenges in IT applications and drills down on strategies for identifying security threats and risks; adopting a security design methodology; implementing security architecture using patterns and best practices; and performing security testing and production deployment. Usually offered every year.

RIAS 125 Principles of Incident Response and Disaster Recovery
This course presents methods to identify vulnerabilities and take appropriate countermeasures to prevent, mitigate, and manage information failure risks for an organization. The course provides a foundation in disaster recovery principles, addressing concepts such as incident response; disaster recovery planning; risk assessment; policies and procedures; roles and relationships of various members of an organization; implementation of the plan; testing and rehearsal of the plan; and actually recovering from a disaster to insure business continuity. Usually offered every year.

RIAS 130 Software Security Testing and Code Assessment
This course examines testing for security vulnerabilities, both as part of the security development lifecycle and as part of an auditing program that ensures that security policy objectives are met. The course addresses the importance of a security development process, and demonstrates how security testing is a critical component in that process. Concepts covered include threat modeling techniques and patterns; creation of tests to determine that these threats have been mitigated; evaluation of the effectiveness of these tests; assessment of issues related to secure deployment and communications following software delivery; auditing frameworks, including COBIT, ITIL, and NSA INFOSEC; and the role of software in demonstrating compliance with external regulations and internal security policy. Usually offered every year.

RIAS 172 Network Security
Network security covers a broad area, including the security of devices that comprise the network infrastructure, the security of the traffic sent over that infrastructure, the hosts (clients and servers) attached to the infrastructure, applications that utilize the network, the user community, the policies that govern usage of that network, and so forth. This course covers principles and practices of network security by using the first four layers of the OSI protocol stack (physical, link, network, and transport) to examine how devices and protocol at each layer provide "defense in depth" both by securing communications traffic and by preventing unauthorized access to the various networks segments interconnected by these devices. The course explores elements of a network security architecture, and design patters are used to understand how these elements can be combined into an integrated design that effectively supports the security policies of the enterprise.

RIAS 190 Special Topics in Information Assurance The field of Information Assurance and Security is continually evolving. New standards are introduced, organizations adopt novel approaches and refine existing methodologies for protecting information. This Special Topics course facilitates the introduction of cutting-edge assurance and security practices as they are introduced in the industry along with topics not covered by the required and elective courses.

RMGT 101 Perspectives on Information Technology
This course serves as an introductory course in the IT management curriculum. This course also serves as a strong foundation for the two-course sequence in strategic IT management: RMGT 102 and RMGT 103.
This course covers the wide range of technologies in use in modern organizations. The course covers the major issues involved in selecting and deploying particular technologies based on the requirements of a particular project. The course provides a foundation for future study in strategic deployment of information technology in support of the business. Usually offered every year.

RMGT 102 Strategic Information Technology: Operational Strategy
It is highly recommended that students successfully complete RMGT 101 prior to taking this course.
This course examines strategic operational issues from the perspective of the CIO or IT Director, exploring how IT organizations can best be managed. The course explores best practices for deploying limited financial and human resources for optimal results. Usually offered every year.

RMGT 103 Strategic Information Technology: Organizational Strategy
Prerequisite: RMGT 101.
This course covers strategic issues for the IT organization within the context of the larger organization and the relationship between the two. The course helps today's and tomorrow's IT Directors and CIOs effectively exploit information systems technologies within the context of a company's overall business needs. Usually offered every year.

RMGT 110 Leadership, Team-Building, and Decision Making
The course addresses the applicable organizational skills to function as a leader in an organizational setting, and places special emphasis on personal strategies for developing leadership skills. This course explores leadership as a process by which one person influences the attitudes and behaviors of others. It looks at leadership of large organizations and groups, including teams. Concepts covered include various leadership theories and models; leadership across cultures; leadership ethics and attributes; emotional intelligence; mentoring; team and relationship building; organizational change/development; and the role of the leader in establishing organizational culture and facilitating change. Usually offered every year.

RMGT 115 Knowledge Management
This course examines the relationship between knowledge management and information technology and its extensions for the innovative and strategic management paradigms of the future. The central message of the course is that knowledge, not money or technology, will be the primary economic unit of business in the twenty-first century. Concepts covered include the analysis of knowledge management as an organizational strategy; the characteristics of knowledge management systems; the building of knowledge management systems; and the implementation of knowledge management systems. Usually offered every year.

RMGT 120 Legal and Ethical Practices in IT
This course focuses on the important legal, ethical, and societal issues associated with managing information technology resources, from multiple perspectives: technical, social, and philosophical. It examines the different ethical situations that arise in IT and provides practical techniques for addressing these issues. Concepts addressed include file sharing, infringement of intellectual property, security risks, Internet crime, identity theft, employee surveillance, privacy, and compliance. Usually offered every year.

RMGT 175 IT Security and Compliance
This course covers key bodies of knowledge and specializations in security, privacy, and compliance associated with enterprise information systems. The course explores the management of various technologies in emerging areas of information assurance including computer and network security, digital forensics, cryptography, and biometrics. Course concepts include cost/risk tradeoffs; technical, physical, and administrative methods of providing security and compliance; current privacy legislation; and technical means of providing privacy and IT compliance. Usually offered every year.

RPJM 10 Microsoft Project for Project Management Professionals
This non-credit course covers both fundamental and practical approaches to use Microsoft Project to manage both individual and multiple projects. The components of Microsoft Project that effectively meet the needs of each of the five fundamental phases of the project management are demonstrated, with examples of both effective and ineffective techniques. Usually offered every year.

RPJM 20 Preparing for the PMP Exam
This non-credit course prepares students for the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification, focusing on exam content from the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide, the most current edition) and other resources. The course will also prepare students for the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification for project team members and entry-level project managers. The course uses a combination of online lecture materials, discussions, exercises, self-study, and quizzes to prepare students to apply for and take the PMP examination.

RPJM 101 Foundations of Project Management
This course covers the history, current practice, and future directions of project management. Principles and concepts of project management are presented and discussed within the context of the knowledge areas and process groups defined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ®). Concepts covered include process groups from initiation through closure; techniques for estimating and reporting; management of risk, quality, resources, and communications; earned value analysis; adaptive and eXtreme methods; project office implementations. Usually offered every year.

RPJM 103 Advanced Scheduling and Control
Projects attempt to achieve maximum value for minimum cost, and they often compete with other projects and operations within the organization for resources and financing. This course covers recently developed methods and value based metrics that, properly applied, can significantly impact project and portfolio value and revenue. By quantifying each side of the classic Triple Constraint Triangle, the value returned by the project and its contribution to the organizational portfolio can be accurately assessed and optimized. The course focuses on the project as an investment, and addresses both the theoretical and practical skills necessary to successfully manage that investment. Techniques covered include Estimated Monetary Value of the project scope; critical path and precedence diagramming methods of scheduling; resource optimization; and decision-making processes that optimize both project performance and return on investment. Usually offered every year.

RPJM 110 Risk Management for Projects and Programs
This course covers risk management processes and techniques in depth, exploring the systematic and iterative approaches that encompass risk planning, identification, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, response planning, and monitoring & control. The course addresses risk management principles consistent with the PMBOK®. Techniques for building and applying a risk management toolkit are explored, as are methods to implement risk management programs within an organization. Usually offered every year.<

RPJM 113 Negotiating and Conflict Resolution
Conflicts of interest are common in project and program management, business environments, and daily life. This course provides a framework to understand the basis of conflict, to select an appropriate conflict resolution strategy, and to employ tactics that optimize results for both individuals and organizations. Characteristics of negotiation explored include the two fundamental strategies of negotiation; frames of reference; value creation; value claiming; and the impact of both tangible and intangible factors on the negotiation process.
With globalization of project management and the implementation of virtual teams, the challenges to successfully resolve conflicts become increasingly complex. Approaches to conflict resolution differ among collocated and virtual teams, and cultural differences, interests, and values influence negotiation strategy and tactics. As each element of the conflict resolution process is explored, the course highlights special considerations for virtual team members. Usually offered every year.

RPJM 115 Challenges in Project Management
This course examines the various challenges that more often than not arise within the project lifecycle, threatening its success. It examines the reasons these issues occur, when in the lifecycle they tend to happen, and solutions for anticipating, preventing, minimizing and/or mitigating these challenges. Because many of the challenges faced by project managers are relationship-based, the course explores communication as a vital skill in project management. Usually offered every year.

RPJM 117 Program Management: Theory and Practice
Programs connect a company's strategic plans to the projects necessary to implement them. Programs frequently span many years, include multiple product releases, involve numerous and diverse stakeholder groups, and necessitate the establishment of a program office. This course covers the history, current practice, and future directions of program management. Concepts covered include program versus project, product, and portfolio management; the program manager role; the program life cycle, its phases and process groups, consistent with the PMI Standard for Program Management; themes of program management including benefits management, stakeholder management, and program governance; key program management deliverables; program office models; portfolio management concepts; and program management implementation within an organization. Usually offered every year.

RPJM 118 Procurement and Contract Management
This course covers the procurement process in depth, including concepts, principles and ethics, pricing methods, awards, and all phases of contract administration from both the seller and buyer perspectives. It explores the development of bids and requests for proposals; the evaluation of responses; and the capabilities and use of various types of contracts and pricing mechanisms. It addresses outsourcing (including market investigation, key risks, requirements definition and evaluations using performance based service agreements), negotiation, and development and use of contract information systems. Usually offered every year.

RPJM 125 Special Topics in Project Management
The field of project and program management continually evolves. Project management professional groups such as the Project Management Institute (PMI) introduce new and revised standards each year; organizations adopt novel approaches and refine existing methodologies; updated industry data and case studies on the effectiveness of project management practices become available. This course facilitates the introduction of cutting-edge project management practices as they are introduced in the industry.

RPJM 130 Agile Project Management
Agile project management techniques are being applied within a growing number of companies of various sizes and industries, from the entrepreneurial to the conservative. This course covers characteristics and delivery frameworks for agile project management. The course also explores how agile methods differ from traditional project management, along with how to recognize projects that may be suitable for agile techniques. Additional topics include the values, roles, deliverables, and practices of Scrum; additional agile and iterative methods; scalability and enterprise-wide considerations.

RSEG 102 Advanced Programming in Java
This course explores advanced topics of Java programming language, including object- oriented programming concepts; exceptions; generic programming and annotations; collections; Java foundations classes (JFC); delegation event model; layout managers; swing components including panels, menus, toolbars, and text components; multi-threading; streams and input/output programming; networking; and Java database connectivity (JDBC). Usually offered every year.

RSEG 103 Advanced Programming in C++
This course provides a solid foundation of C++ with focus on object-oriented concepts and programming techniques. Concepts covered include classes, objects, abstract data types, file processing, inheritance, encapsulation, polymorphism, overloading, reuse, and templates. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 104 Advanced Programming in VB.Net
This course covers Microsoft .Net architecture, concentrating on more advanced features provided by the Visual Basic.NET programming environment. It addresses ways to use Visual Basic.NET features and the .NET framework to build real world distributed applications, demonstrating techniques and implementation steps to build each tier of a modern multi-tier application. Concepts covered include the Microsoft .NET architecture; object-oriented features of Visual Basic.NET; distributed application architecture; database connectivity features of .NET; implementing Windows based forms and web-based graphical user interfaces; web services; and performance and scalability issues. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 105 Java Enterprise Programming
This course covers Java Enterprise Edition (JEE) with the following advanced topics: Java EE Applications Architecture; Servlets; Java Server Pages (JSP); JSP Custom tags; Unified Expression Language; Java Server Pages Standard Template Library (JSTL); Java Server Faces (JSF); Enterprise Java Beans (EJB); and Seam Framework.Usually offered every year.

RSEG 107 Advanced Programming in Perl
This course covers Perl's invocation, basic syntax, regular expression parser, lists, hashes, filehandles, built-in functions, and control-flow mechanisms. Topics introduced include Perl's references and modules, which support complex data structures. Applications will include writing CGI scripts, and using Perl to access Web resources and SQL databases. Topics covered include: obtaining Perl and getting started; Perl syntax, data types, simple I/O; flow of control; regular expressions in Perl; manipulating files and accessing the OS; references and complex data structures; finding and using contributed modules; CGI programming; database access using Perl; special topics as time allows. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 108 Advanced C Programming for UNIX/Linux
This course provides an accelerated survey of C programming, providing prerequisite skills required for the exploration and practice with the SUS/POSIX (Portable Operating System) system interfaces for programming on UNIX/Linux systems. Techniques for the application of the UNIX system interfaces are explored. Experience with C illustrates the design decisions associated with pointers and low-level bit manipulations avoided by other modern programming languages; aids in the use of many C functions employed by other programming languages; and demonstrates performance and control capabilities required by embedded, hard-real-time applications for data acquisition, motor control, and robotics. Experience with UNIX transfers directly to other "POSIX-compliant" operating systems such as Windows and OS/390.Usually offered every year.

RSEG 109 Object-Oriented Design
Object-oriented modeling and design form the foundation of many software projects today and are pre-requisites to developing in C++, Java, and other object-oriented programming languages. This course covers object modeling and design techniques as they are applied from the point the high-level project requirements are established, through high level and detailed design, to the point where implementation is ready to start. The course focuses on Unified Modeling Language (UML), an approach that combines previously competing object modeling theories, as well as concepts including distributed object frameworks; design patterns; existing object-oriented languages such as C++ and Java; and lifecycle and maintenance issues of object-oriented applications.Usually offered every year.

RSEG 110 UNIX Tools
This course covers UNIX programming tools and techniques including: UNIX operations; common commands; shells and shell programming; regular expressions and special characters; shells and shell programming; sed, awk, cron, and make. Comparisons to Windows are addressed to illustrate similarities and differences and to illuminate the UNIX system. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 113 Advanced Programming in C++ (Level 2)
This course covers advanced features of C++ needed to produce efficient, high-performance, and high-quality C++ code on large development projects. Concepts covered include the use of design patterns and programming idioms; Standard C++ Library and Standard Template Library (STL) classes; and best practices of programming techniques and issues of reusability, robustness, efficiency, and memory usage. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 120 Software Development Methodologies
This course covers non-programming related aspects and best practices of the software development process, from requirements engineering, architectural design, and quality management to software maintenance and process improvement. Concepts addressed include software engineering tools, models, and methodologies; requirements engineering and specifications; system modeling; business process analysis; VORD analysis; design foundations; high-level architectural design; control and distribution models; function-oriented design; object-oriented design; user interface design; estimating and scheduling; risk management; and software maintenance and improvement. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 122 Advanced Software Development Methodologies

This course is designed as a continuation of RSEG 120 Software Development Methodologies. This course will continue to explore software engineering through the remaining project processes – Architecture, Design, Testing, and Maintenance. This course will provide both theoretical discussion of the need for the various process components, but will also provide information useful in deciding when a particular is necessary or when it is excessive for a particular project. The course will cover the processes in the context of both waterfall and iterative development models. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 125 Foundations of Software Quality Assurance
This course covers a broad range of topics related to software quality assurance (SQA). The course explores the combined application of a variety of SQA components, including: SQA activities typically performed by external participants; extension of SQA activities to project schedules and budget control; SQA implementation issues, SQA risk management considerations; and costs associated with SQA. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 126 Release Engineering and Configuration Management
This course provides an introduction to theory, tools and techniques needed by software release engineers. It is intended to give students the skills to evaluate and establish tools to support structured development methodologies. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 127 Software Engineering Studio
This course provides an opportunity for students to work collaboratively on a complex software project. Organized in teams, students will analyze a software problem, develop requirements, designs, test plans, and deliver code. Students will synthesize skills learned in the Software Engineering program to deliver a significant project, under the guidance of faculty. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 128 User Interface Design
This course introduces user interface design principles and concepts of user centered design. User Interface concepts for web, desktop and mobile applications are practiced in a variety of design projects. Universal design concepts, accessibility design, navigational schemas and elements of screen design are also discussed. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 131 Software Testing Techniques
This course covers topics related to software testing methodology, with a focus on realistic, pragmatic steps for testing consumer and business software. Concepts covered include test cycles; testing objectives; testing in the software development process; types of software errors; reporting and analyzing software errors; problem tracking systems; test case design; testing tools; test planning; test documentation; and managing a test group. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 145 Linux Administration
This course covers a hands-on introduction to Linux installation, configuration, and administration, aimed at scientists and engineers who want to use Linux in a laboratory or similar setting. The focus is on individual users and small networks. Concepts covered include Linux installation; the GNOME desktop and RPM; managing users; automation (at, batch, and cron); backup and disaster recovery; mail servers; FTP and web servers; installing new software; complete project talks; and volume management. Applications of Linux for SMP and enterprise-class networking are not in the scope of this course, although the related skills can be applied to SMP and cluster computing. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 151 XML and Related Languages
This course surveys the open standards that are making data representations and documents increasingly interchangeable, searchable, dynamic, and customizable. The course addresses how to: design application-specific markup grammars using XML rules; validate the XML files with Document Type Definition (DTD) and XML Schemas; transform them using XSLT/Xpath/FO; and parse XML documents with DOM (Document Object Model) and SAX (Simple API for XML) programming interfaces. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 160 Computer Networks and Data Communication
This course covers the transport of multi-media information among distributed computer systems. It addresses how modern communication protocols support the architecture and design requirements of modern computer networks, including the Internet, and satisfy the differing requirements of the services that generate and use multi-media information. The "convergence" of real-time and non-real-time information transmission and processing is emphasized. The course covers the services that require secure, errorless, and very high speed transmission of inter-related real-time and non-real-time information, and how computer network architects and designers achieve this. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 161 Web Development Technologies
This course provides an extensive examination of client and server side technologies used in developing web applications. On the client side, concepts addressed include how to create attractive and well-functioning web pages using XHTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript. On the server side, concepts addressed include web development with servlets, JavaServerPages (JSP), JSP Custom Tags, Java Standard Template Library (JSTL), JavaServerFaces (JSF), Ant, and Ajax, and how web applications, built with these technologies, access and interact with databases using Java Data Base Connectivity (JDBC). Usually offered every year.

RSEG 165 Design Patterns
Prerequisites: RSEG 102 or RSEG 103 or RSEG 109 or equivalent.
Design patterns, an advanced area in object-oriented design, focus on solutions to problems commonly found in the design of object-oriented programs. This course covers the fundamentals of the core patterns: creational, behavioral, structural, and system patterns. Concepts covered include how to select a design pattern appropriate for a particular design problem; how to apply/implement this pattern in a language, such as Java or C++; and how these patterns are used extensively in the Java programming language and Java APIs, including patterns for reflection, security, AWT/Swing, RMI, JDBC, and J2EE.

RSEG 167 Service Oriented Architecture: Distributed Enterprise Computing
Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) has transformed the focus of enterprise computing from fine-grained, technology-oriented entities to business-centric services with business-level transaction granularity. This course explores SOA as an architectural blueprint which incorporates and integrates many different technologies with a focus on defining cleanly cut service contracts with a clear business orientation. The course investigates the fundamental principles system and application architects need to establish SOA at the enterprise level. The course explores the core service oriented concepts and best practices required for designing and implementing a distributed enterprise computing architecture. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 170 Database Management
This course covers data modeling, including relational, object-oriented, and object-relational database design concepts and issues. Concepts addressed include relational theory and database design; entity relationship modeling; normalization; issues of design and implementation; issues of database integrity, security, recovery and concurrence; and object-oriented databases. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RSEG 171 Data Warehousing and Data Mining
This course covers the foundations of data warehousing and data mining, and then explores how these technologies convert information into knowledge. Data warehousing is compared and contrasted with operational databases, and the use of various data mining techniques are considered in terms of a variety of problems. From a technical perspective, a special emphasis is placed on data warehouse design and the most common implementation issues. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 173 TCP/IP
This course covers the TCP/IP Internet Protocol Suite. It compares the suite to the OSI reference model, and describes the workings of a number of applications such as FTP, Telnet, TFTP, DNS, and DHCP, HTTP and IP Security (IPSec), and Voice over IP (VOIP). Concepts addressed include IP addressing and subnet masking; TCP operation; session-initiation, sequencing, acknowledgment, and windowing; routing including static and dynamic routing, distance-vector versus link-state, and interior versus exterior routing protocols. The course also covers the operation of the popular distance vector routing protocols, including RIP versions 1 and 2, Cisco’s IGRP and EIGRP, and BGP; the link state protocol standard, OSPF; the management operation SNMP; the next version of IP header called IP version 6; IP-VPN; and Voice over IP, also known as IP. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 175 Mobile Computing
Mobile devices are increasingly prevalent and consequently demand attention from organizations. Mobile devices are not only a telephone -- they are small personal computers including smart phones, PDAs and tablets/iPad. The devices allow the user to access the Web, as well as introduce a world of applications. The Web sites and applications used through a mobile device have serious business impact and potential. This course covers the study hand-held of mobile devices and teaches hands-on approaches to working with them. Concepts addressed include how to create Web sites for mobile devices and creating custom device-specific applications. Assignments will give students the opportunity to create web sites and mobile applications that they can run on simulators and/or on their own mobile devices. Having a mobile device is not required and will not impact coursework or grade. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 176 Cloud Computing
In this class, students will learn about new classes of "cloud-based" services, ranging from internet-based application suites such as Google Docs, to cloud-based infrastructure such as Amazon’s Web Services. The focus of this class will be on cloud-based architectures, security, and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), with coverage of other common cloud computing paradigms, "Software as a Service" (SaaS) and "Platform as a Service" (Paas). The class includes hands-on work using Amazon Web Services (AWS).

RSEG 177 Enterprise Application Development with Spring Framework
Enterprise Application Development with Spring Framework Spring Framework provides for Java Enterprise Development significant improvements in developer productivity, application performance and quality. Spring is powerful and easy-to-use because of its unique combination of a complete, lightweight container that allows developers to build a complex application from loosely-coupled Plain Old Java Objects (POJOs) and a set of easily understood abstractions that simplify construction, testing, and deployment. The course will reflect the latest features, tools, practices Spring offers to Java developers. The course begins by introducing the core concepts of Spring and then quickly launches into a hands-on exploration of the framework. Using hands-on applications, the course shows how to build simple efficient JEE applications with Spring. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 178 Windows Communication Foundation Programming with C#
This course provides an in-depth study of Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), which is Microsoft’s state-of-the-art service programming model. Topics covered include basic concepts of service oriented architecture and WCF, building, testing, and debugging WCF services, WCF best practices, applying LINQ to Entities to WCF services, securing WCF services, controlling transactions of WCF services and extending WCF services. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 180 Advanced Programming in C#
This course covers the programming language C# (pronounced “C sharp”), used to develop Windows applications. The focus of the course is learning the .NET programming environment, Windows programming and the syntax and capabilities of the C# language. Concepts covered will include Microsoft Visual Studio .NET IDE, C# language syntax, control structures, arrays, exception handling, Windows graphical user interface, multithreading, strings, graphics and multimedia, files and streams, XML, database SQL and ADO .NET, ASP .Net, web forms and web controls, ASP .NET and web services, networking, data structures and collections. Usually offered every year.

RSEG 185 Embedded Systems Programming
This course examines the unique characteristics, concerns, and constraints of embedded systems programming. It provides a brief overview of the hardware and software building blocks and tools used to create an embedded system as wall as specific constraints that the embedded SW engineer or programmer works within. The course discusses interprocess communications, resource utilization and overall design in the context of simple and complex embedded systems.

RSEG 290 Special Topics
Special topics courses are offered each semester. Please see the Schedule of Classes for specific topics offered.

RVTM 101 Foundations of Virtual Management across Cultures and Geographies
This course introduces an analytical framework for assessing the complex and varied geographic, cultural and regulatory environment(s) in which virtual and globally distributed team members work. The course covers strategies for recognizing, anticipating, and responding to cultural and individual diversity; relevant local, state and regional regulatory structures; and ethical dilemmas that may emerge in the management of virtual teams, particularly in the context of globalization.

RVTM 110 Management of Virtual and Global Teams
Prerequisites: RVTM 101 or RPJM 114.
This course explores techniques for building, leading, managing, and motivating teams that reside in multiple locations. The course addresses methods to overcome the challenges of leading a virtual team with members in various geographical locations, including satellite and global offices and telecommuters. Concepts covered include virtual team structure; effective multi-cultural communication; motivation and performance considerations; knowledge sharing and knowledge management in a virtual, distributed team.

RVTM 115 Collaboration and Communication Technology in Virtual Environments
Prerequisites: RVTM 101 or RPJM 114.
Virtual and global teams need collaboration and communication tools and technology in order to participate together in projects and team meetings, to perform their daily work, and to share and store information. This course explores a number of collaboration and communication tools that virtual teams can use to communicate person-to-person and as a group. Concepts covered include the principles that make e-collaboration successful; collaboration suites and knowledge resource tools; information sharing, information broadcasting and information gathering techniques; and hands-on experience with forming virtual teams for projects in order to research and practice various collaboration and communication tools.

RVTM 120 Organizational Systems and Communications
This course explores the roles of individuals and teams within organizations and the skills and techniques required to manage successfully in the diversified organizations of the 21st century. Social networks and virtual teams are replacing committee meetings. Values and self-leadership are replacing command and control management. Diversity and globalization have become challenges as well as competitive opportunities for organizations. Co-workers aren’t down the hall; they’re at the other end of an Internet connection located somewhere else whether it is another city, state or country. Concepts covered include employee motivation and behavior, team cohesion and leadership; social networks as a source of power and organizational effectiveness; relevance of organizational behavior concepts and practices to organizations located in diverse national cultures.
The course centers on three complementary perspectives, or "lenses", in an organization: the individual in the organization, and the foundations of individual behavior, including values, attitudes, job satisfaction, personality, emotions, and motivation; the groups and social processes, and the foundations of group behavior, including communication, group dynamics, team, management, decision making, power and conflicts; the organizational processes, and the concepts of organizational culture, principles of organizational structure, change management, learning and knowledge.

RVTM 125 Virtual Teams in Worldwide Environments
Prerequisite: RVTM 110.
This course explores the impact of virtual teams on the worldwide environment, as well the impact of the worldwide environment on virtual teams. Virtual teams today often operate in increasingly distributed, international settings, crossing geographical, country and cultural boundaries. Virtual teams are used in many areas of today’s economy, such as manufacturing, information technology, retail, pharmaceuticals, and many others. Concepts addressed include impacts of strategic decision making; supply chain issues, production, and labor/outsourcing; perspectives of employees, managers, and human resource professionals as they address the issues of building and managing a global team in a worldwide environment.

RVTM 140 Web Publishing and Content Management
Virtual and distributed teams often rely on team web sites and web-based content in order to share information. This course focuses on the concepts of publishing content on the web, and managing content through content management tools. Proven strategies for content creation, publishing, delivery and management are discussed.
Staff

RVTM 145 Virtual Management Independent Study
This course involves the demonstration of an integrated understanding and application of overall virtual team management and communication practices and techniques, through the creation and execution of an independent study project. It includes the development of a statement of intent before the start of the course that proposes an abstract for the project along with its objectives and preliminary milestones. Options for the project focus include: evaluate the virtual team management and communication practices in an organization; perform research in support of an organizational goal; explore current developments within the profession at the graduate level.

RVTM 290 Special Topics in Virtual Management
The field of management in virtual environments continually evolves. Legal, ethical, cultural, and regulatory habits and practices around the world are subject to rapid and potentially wide-reaching change. New technologies are introduced to foster improved collaboration and coordination among virtual teams. Techniques needed by managers to succeed in a virtual and worldwide marketplace must be expanded as one leads projects in various parts of the globe. This Virtual Management Special Topics course facilitates the introduction of cutting-edge practices and communication technologies as they are introduced in the industry. It also supports the coverage of cultural, legal, and regulatory issues of practical relevance to particular regions of the world.