M.Sc. in Computational Sciences

Computational Science is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the theory and application of computer science and mathematics to the solution of real world problems. More specifically, it involves the use of theoretical and applied computer science, software engineering, scientific computation, high performance computing, applied mathematics, statistics and mathematical modeling methods and techniques to solve business, industrial, medical, and scientific problems.

The M. Sc. program in Computational Sciences is designed to appeal to two groups of students: the first, Computer Science and Mathematics graduates interested in pursuing Masters degree in scientific computation or advanced applications in computer science, and second, the Science and Engineering graduates interested in using advanced computational methods to solve problems in their field. Since the ultimate goal is to prepare students for the design and use of sophisticated computational methods in research and industry, the program's course work is structured so as to provide necessary computational background, yet leave some space for the acquisition of application specific knowledge.

Program Regulations

The general regulations governing the operation of graduate programs at Laurentian University are set out in the Laurentian University School of Graduate Studies and Research Calendar.  Relevant details are outlined below.

Admission Requirements

The normal admission requirement for the M.Sc. program in Computational Sciences is a bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Computer Science or a suitable field at the Honors level (or equivalent), with a minimum average grade of 70 % (B average).  Applicants must provide evidence of suitable educational background and potential to conduct advanced and independent research in an appropriate field.

The Advisory Committee and Project Selection Form must be completed and submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator within four (4) months of the initial registration into the program. This form requires the student and the supervisor(s) to specify a project and obtain the signatures of the members of Advisory Committee.

Advisory Committee

Following admission, the Principal Supervisor in consultation with the graduate committee and the student will establish an Advisory Committee for the student, consisting of the Principal Supervisor and at least two secondary advisors, including co-supervisor (if applicable). The Advisory Committee will be responsible for monitoring and guiding the overall progress of the student.  This role will include selection of course-work to ensure adequate preparation for the proposed research topic,  recommendations of additional technical training necessary in the chosen field, if necessary, and review of the student's research proposal, draft, and final copies of the thesis.

Degree Requirements and Evaluation Procedures

In order to graduate, a Masters student must successfully complete the following minimum requirements.

1. Five one-term (3 credit) graduate courses (listed here).
2. The Graduate Advisory Committee may require the student to take additional courses.
3. The following two courses are required for all students in the M. Sc. in Computational Sciences.

   • CPSC 5006 Matrix Computations
   • CPSC 5016 Seminar in Computational Sciences

4. A student must choose at least one elective course (listed here). A student may take at most one cross-listed course as an elective.
5. A student may take elective courses from a list of approved graduate courses offered by the faculty of Science and Engineering with the approval of the supervisor and the graduate advisory committee.
6. A student may be allowed to transfer at most 3 credits of a graduate course from another university that was not counted towards a graduate program requirement; these transfer credits may only serve as an elective and must be approved by the supervisor and the graduate advisory committee.
7. Students must obtain a minimum grade of 60% in each graduate course in order to pass the course. Students must obtain an overall average of 70% in their coursework in order to complete the degree requirements.
8. Preparation and submission of a Research Proposal that is approved
   by the student’s Advisory Committee and by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.  This proposal must be submitted and approved by the end of the second academic term of study in order for the student to continue in the program.  Changes to the Proposal must be approved by the Advisory Committee.
9. Completion and defense of the Master’s thesis (CPSC 5000, 6 credits).
   General regulations regarding thesis defense procedures are outlined in the
   School of Graduate Studies calendar.

No later than seven weeks before the expected date of a Master’s thesis defense, the Graduate Program Coordinator will submit a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies regarding the composition of the Thesis Examination Committee.  The Committee will normally have the same composition as the Advisory Committee, with the addition of the External Examiner who is chosen based on expertise in the subject area.  The External Examiner will be given a minimum of five weeks prior to the defense to review the thesis.  Each member of the Committee will review the thesis and will submit a thesis report in confidence to the Dean of Graduate Studies, indicating whether or not the thesis should proceed to defense.

At the thesis defense, the Committee will reach one of the following three decisions:

1. PASSED: the thesis is acceptable in present form, or with minor revisions;
2. REFERRED: the thesis is not acceptable in its present form, but could be made acceptable by major revisions;
3. FAILED: the thesis is unacceptable, even with extensive revisions.

Annual Progress Report

All M.Sc. students (full-time and part-time) are required to fill out the Annual Progress Report. The completed form, which will be used to evaluate the student’s performance, must be submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator by August 31 every year. It will then be forwarded to the Vice President, Research and Graduate Studies for approval.

Residence Requirements

For full-time students, a minimum of two terms of full-time residence will normally be required. This requirement may be modified in appropriate circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
The degree requirements applicable to part-time students are generally identical to those which apply to full-time students, with two important exceptions:

•  The deadline for approval of the Research Proposal may be extended by the Advisory Committee by up to eight months, although part-time students are strongly encouraged to complete their Research Proposals as soon as possible.
  
• Two part-time terms of residence count as one term of full-time residence. For example, the residence requirement may be fulfilled by enrolling part-time for four terms.

Time Limits for Completion of Graduate Program

Students in the Master’s program (full-time and part-time) must complete all the requirements within four (4) years from the date of initial registration in the program. It should be noted that this specific period is the limit and not indicative of normal program duration. The normal time for completion on full-time basis is two (2) years for a Master’s degree. Extension of the prescribed time limits may be granted for good reason in consultation with the Advisory Committee and the Graduate Program Committee. If the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science supports the request, it must be referred to School of Graduate Studies.

Intellectual Property

Laurentian University has what is commonly called an “inventor owned” intellectual property policy. This and other aspects of commercialization, including the division of the revenue proceeds, are contained in the Collective Agreement between the Board of Governors of Laurentian University and the Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA). The agreement can be viewed on Laurentian University Faculty Association’s website. Further information on university policies on intellectual property can be found at the IPMO (Intellectual Property Management Office) at Laurentian University.

Student Funding

Graduate Teaching Assistantships/Graduate Fellowships (GTA/GFs) are available to qualified full-time Master’s students ($6,950/year for the first 2 years, as of 2008) from the School of Graduate Studies.

Laurentian Summer Fellowships (valued at $2,000 as of 2008) are also available to full-time M.Sc. students to work on their research in the summer following their first year of study.
Students registered full-time in the program will be guaranteed a minimum of $14,000 of yearly financial support from all sources for the first two years of study. This money will consist of GTA/GF, Summer Fellowship, NSERC scholarship, OGS scholarship, funding from industry and funding received from the supervisors.

International students are not eligible for GTA/GF. However, they may be eligible for an international fee waiver.

M.Sc. in Computational Sciences

Computational Science is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the theory and application of computer science and mathematics to the solution of real world problems. More specifically, it involves the use of theoretical and applied computer science, software engineering, scientific computation, high performance computing, applied mathematics, statistics and mathematical modeling methods and techniques to solve business, industrial, medical, and scientific problems.

The M. Sc. program in Computational Sciences is designed to appeal to two groups of students: the first, Computer Science and Mathematics graduates interested in pursuing Masters degree in scientific computation or advanced applications in computer science, and second, the Science and Engineering graduates interested in using advanced computational methods to solve problems in their field. Since the ultimate goal is to prepare students for the design and use of sophisticated computational methods in research and industry, the program's course work is structured so as to provide necessary computational background, yet leave some space for the acquisition of application specific knowledge.

Program Regulations

The general regulations governing the operation of graduate programs at Laurentian University are set out in the Laurentian University School of Graduate Studies and Research Calendar.  Relevant details are outlined below.

Admission Requirements

The normal admission requirement for the M.Sc. program in Computational Sciences is a bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Computer Science or a suitable field at the Honors level (or equivalent), with a minimum average grade of 70 % (B average).  Applicants must provide evidence of suitable educational background and potential to conduct advanced and independent research in an appropriate field.

The Advisory Committee and Project Selection Form must be completed and submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator within four (4) months of the initial registration into the program. This form requires the student and the supervisor(s) to specify a project and obtain the signatures of the members of Advisory Committee.

Advisory Committee

Following admission, the Principal Supervisor in consultation with the graduate committee and the student will establish an Advisory Committee for the student, consisting of the Principal Supervisor and at least two secondary advisors, including co-supervisor (if applicable). The Advisory Committee will be responsible for monitoring and guiding the overall progress of the student.  This role will include selection of course-work to ensure adequate preparation for the proposed research topic,  recommendations of additional technical training necessary in the chosen field, if necessary, and review of the student's research proposal, draft, and final copies of the thesis.

Degree Requirements and Evaluation Procedures

In order to graduate, a Masters student must successfully complete the following minimum requirements.

1. Five one-term (3 credit) graduate courses (listed here).
2. The Graduate Advisory Committee may require the student to take additional courses.
3. The following two courses are required for all students in the M. Sc. in Computational Sciences.

   • CPSC 5006 Matrix Computations
   • CPSC 5016 Seminar in Computational Sciences

4. A student must choose at least one elective course (listed here). A student may take at most one cross-listed course as an elective.
5. A student may take elective courses from a list of approved graduate courses offered by the faculty of Science and Engineering with the approval of the supervisor and the graduate advisory committee.
6. A student may be allowed to transfer at most 3 credits of a graduate course from another university that was not counted towards a graduate program requirement; these transfer credits may only serve as an elective and must be approved by the supervisor and the graduate advisory committee.
7. Students must obtain a minimum grade of 60% in each graduate course in order to pass the course. Students must obtain an overall average of 70% in their coursework in order to complete the degree requirements.
8. Preparation and submission of a Research Proposal that is approved
   by the student’s Advisory Committee and by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.  This proposal must be submitted and approved by the end of the second academic term of study in order for the student to continue in the program.  Changes to the Proposal must be approved by the Advisory Committee.
9. Completion and defense of the Master’s thesis (CPSC 5000, 6 credits).
   General regulations regarding thesis defense procedures are outlined in the
   School of Graduate Studies calendar.

No later than seven weeks before the expected date of a Master’s thesis defense, the Graduate Program Coordinator will submit a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies regarding the composition of the Thesis Examination Committee.  The Committee will normally have the same composition as the Advisory Committee, with the addition of the External Examiner who is chosen based on expertise in the subject area.  The External Examiner will be given a minimum of five weeks prior to the defense to review the thesis.  Each member of the Committee will review the thesis and will submit a thesis report in confidence to the Dean of Graduate Studies, indicating whether or not the thesis should proceed to defense.

At the thesis defense, the Committee will reach one of the following three decisions:

1. PASSED: the thesis is acceptable in present form, or with minor revisions;
2. REFERRED: the thesis is not acceptable in its present form, but could be made acceptable by major revisions;
3. FAILED: the thesis is unacceptable, even with extensive revisions.

Annual Progress Report

All M.Sc. students (full-time and part-time) are required to fill out the Annual Progress Report. The completed form, which will be used to evaluate the student’s performance, must be submitted to the Graduate Program Coordinator by August 31 every year. It will then be forwarded to the Vice President, Research and Graduate Studies for approval.

Residence Requirements

For full-time students, a minimum of two terms of full-time residence will normally be required. This requirement may be modified in appropriate circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
The degree requirements applicable to part-time students are generally identical to those which apply to full-time students, with two important exceptions:

•  The deadline for approval of the Research Proposal may be extended by the Advisory Committee by up to eight months, although part-time students are strongly encouraged to complete their Research Proposals as soon as possible.
  
• Two part-time terms of residence count as one term of full-time residence. For example, the residence requirement may be fulfilled by enrolling part-time for four terms.

Time Limits for Completion of Graduate Program

Students in the Master’s program (full-time and part-time) must complete all the requirements within four (4) years from the date of initial registration in the program. It should be noted that this specific period is the limit and not indicative of normal program duration. The normal time for completion on full-time basis is two (2) years for a Master’s degree. Extension of the prescribed time limits may be granted for good reason in consultation with the Advisory Committee and the Graduate Program Committee. If the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science supports the request, it must be referred to School of Graduate Studies.

Intellectual Property

Laurentian University has what is commonly called an “inventor owned” intellectual property policy. This and other aspects of commercialization, including the division of the revenue proceeds, are contained in the Collective Agreement between the Board of Governors of Laurentian University and the Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA). The agreement can be viewed on Laurentian University Faculty Association’s website. Further information on university policies on intellectual property can be found at the IPMO (Intellectual Property Management Office) at Laurentian University.

Student Funding

Graduate Teaching Assistantships/Graduate Fellowships (GTA/GFs) are available to qualified full-time Master’s students ($6,950/year for the first 2 years, as of 2008) from the School of Graduate Studies.

Laurentian Summer Fellowships (valued at $2,000 as of 2008) are also available to full-time M.Sc. students to work on their research in the summer following their first year of study.
Students registered full-time in the program will be guaranteed a minimum of $14,000 of yearly financial support from all sources for the first two years of study. This money will consist of GTA/GF, Summer Fellowship, NSERC scholarship, OGS scholarship, funding from industry and funding received from the supervisors.

International students are not eligible for GTA/GF. However, they may be eligible for an international fee waiver.