COSC 6321 - Research Methods in Computer Science (Fall 2021)

 

SYLLABUS

Course description

In this course, we understand and master the research methodology used in computer science. The course will cover topics ranging from the principles of experiment design, statistics, to various aspects of reading, writing, evaluating papers, and presenting research. There will be assignments during the semester allowing the students to practice different research skills and methodologies covered in the lectures. There will be a semester-long project in which students select, design, and execute research project and present the result at the end of the semester.

Textbook

There is no textbook for the course. We will use lecture notes and videos, read research papers and webpages, which will be freely available on the course website.

Prerequisites

The course does not have any formal prerequisites. You must have a research project in sufficient maturity so you can finish a meaningful portion of your research and a complete paper by the end of the semester. The research topic can be a portion of your MS or PhD thesis project, a significant extension of course projects from the past, or something you are passionate about. This course is most appropriate for graduate students who are interested in research but do not have extensive prior research experience.

Tentative list of topics

Exams

There are no exams in this course.

Homework

There will be homework in which students will analyze data, draw graphs, read/write/review papers, and do oral presentations.

Emergencies

If you cannot submit your homework, projects or be in class for the exam due to family, personal, or medical emergencies, you must send a notice to the instructor as soon as possible and document your case with the appropriate UH officials.

Academic Honesty

All the work you submit will be yours. If we find any evidence of plagarism, you will get an F in the course. Please refer to the UH Student Handbook for details.

COVID 19 Related

Face Covering Policy

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, the University strongly encourages everyone (vaccinated or not) to wear face coverings indoors on campus including classrooms for both faculty and students.

Presence in Class

Your presence in class each session means that you:

If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms that are not clearly related to a pre-existing medical condition, do not come to class. Please see Student Protocols for what to do if you experience symptoms and Potential Exposure to Coronavirus for what to do if you have potentially been exposed to COVID-19. Consult the Graduate Excused Absence Policy for information regarding excused absences due to medical reasons.

COVID-19 Information

Students are encouraged to visit the University’s COVID-19 website for important information including on-campus testing, vaccines, diagnosis and symptom protocols, campus cleaning and safety practices, report forms, and positive cases on campus. Please check the website throughout the semester for updates.

Vaccinations

Data suggests that vaccination remains the best intervention for reliable protection against COVID-19. Students are asked to familiarize themselves with pertinent vaccine information, consult with their health care provider. The University strongly encourages all students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated.

Syllabus Changes

Due to the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, please note that the instructor may need to make modifications to the course syllabus and may do so at any time. Notice of such changes will be announced as quickly as possible through MS Teams.