Welcome to the CS Department at SFSU!

The purpose of this note is to let you know how to obtain Computer Science Graduate Advising, and where to find information you need to plan your Program of study. The CS Graduate Advising assistant can be reached via email at csgrad@sfsu.edu, by telephone (415) 405-3950, or in person in the CS Department Office (Thornton Hall 906, please contact the CS Office for hours of availability). Although the primary responsibility of the Graduate Advising Assistant is maintaining the Cs Department's graduate files, the assistant can also answer questions and/or direct your questions to the appropriate office on Campus.

1. All incoming graduate students should take the Graduate Essay Test (GET). The GET Test is mandatory for all students in the program. As a departmental policy no waivers are given. All Computer Science students admitted to the MS program will be required to satisfy the English Level I requirement no later than their first semester of enrollment in the core graduate courses. English Level I can be satisfied by either a score of PASS on the Graduate Essay Test (GET, Administered by the SFSU Testing Office), or a passing grade in SCI 614. Students are only allowed to take the GET once, preferably prior to their first semester of enrollment.


2. The Computer Science MS Degree requirements are posted in the SFSU Bulletin: http://www.sfsu.edu/~bulletin/current/programs/computes.htm. Course descriptions of both Undergraduate and Graduate courses are posted in the SFSU Bulletin as well: http://www.sfsu.edu/~bulletin/courses/discplns.htm.


3. All new students MUST
   • Schedule a meeting with a graduate advisor upon start of graduate studies either on CS Advising Day (see below) or shortly thereafter. Students should schedule meetings with advisors by going to the department office or sending an email requesting an appointment to csgrad@sfsu.edu.
   • Attend the first Graduate Seminar during their FIRST term. The seminar will take place on a Wednesday at 5:30pm and the date will be posted on the web site. The Chair will discuss many important issues regarding our graduate program at the seminar.
   • Attend the Chair’s welcome meeting on CS Advising Day (see below)

   In summary, new students should attend the CS Advising Day meeting with the Chair, see a graduate advisor the same day or shortly thereafter and attend the first meeting of the Graduate Seminar. Subsequently, students should meet with an advisor at least once per term.
   On the CS Advising Day, Graduate Advisors will be available to meet with students for Academic advising. Prior to that date, informal advising will be available via email (csgrad@sfsu.edu), messages will be forwarded to an advisor as necessary, or in person by appointment (please schedule an appointment through the Graduate Advising Assistant so that your files can be prepared before your meeting).

4. If you are not sure which courses to enroll in then you can either:

Sign up for candidate courses and later drop those courses that will not be required (there is a small administrative fee for this option, and pro-rata tuition charges for any reduction in units after the first day of instruction, see the information posted by the Bursar's office for details: http://www.sfsu.edu/~bursar/Feepayment/index.htm). This strategy will allow you to register in courses that might otherwise be closed due to over-enrollment.

or

Wait until you arrive on campus and register for courses after advising; however please be aware of the university fee payment schedule. See previous link for detail.

Most of the usual questions that incoming graduate students have are answered on the university or department website. The University website (http://www.sfsu.edu) has an excellent search engine, so if you don't see what you are looking for in the following list you might check there as well. Here are some of the most useful University Web Sites:

• Recommended Sequence of Study: http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/grad/grad_recom_sequence.html
• Office of International Programs (Note ALL Foreign Student's Visa Questions should be directed to this office): http://www.sfsu.edu/~oip/
• Graduate Division (University Policies & Procedures): http://www.sfsu.edu/~gradstdy/
• Office of Financial Aid: http://www.sfsu.edu/~finaid
• Schedule of courses being offered, along with course textbooks: http://www.sfsu.edu/online/clssch.htm
• Instructions for Registering in Courses (either on-line or by telephone): http://www.sfsu.edu/~admisrec/reg/ttreg.html
• Housing @ San Francisco State University: http://www.sfsu.edu/~housing/index.html
• Directions to SFSU/Public Transportation Information: http://www.sfsu.edu/~parking

International Students:
Welcome to USA and SFSU. Please be aware of the additional conditions for international students such as:

• Maintaining your GPA >= 3.0
• Maintaining a minimal course load of 9 units
• In case you wish to work off campus (highly recommended during summer) you have to follow special procedures outlined here              http://www.cs.sfsu.edu/forms/student%20forms/opt_cpt_letter_instructions.html http://www.sfsu.edu/%7Eoip/
• Note that in order to facilitate your internships with local industry we have a “practicum” option in our program allowing you to take additional 3 one unit CSC 893 courses. This will allow you to follow INS guidelines with respect to working locally.

Also, do not forget to explore the USA and the Bay Area. The Bay Area is one of the most beautiful regions in the USA in terms of geography and culture. Learning more about USA customs and the way R&D and business is done will provide a great assistance in your career, wherever it is.

Best of luck in your graduate studies at SFSU!
Professor Barry Levine
Computer Science Department Graduate Coordinator