Graduate Studies in Computing and Technology

Computing and Technology

Master of Science in Data Science
Master of Science in Information Technology
Master of Science in Software Engineering
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Data Science
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Information Technology
Certificate of Graduate Studies in Software Engineering

Fortune Mhlanga, Dean, School of Computing and Technology; Director of Graduate Studies in Computing and Technology

Core Faculty

Eddy C. Borera, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Alan Cantrell, Instructor of Computer Science
Ken Mayer, Assistant Professor of Information Technology
Fortune S. Mhlanga, Professor of Computer Science
Arisoa S. Randrianasolo, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Chris Simmons, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Information Security
Tim Wallace, Associate Professor of Data Science

Full-time faculty is supplemented with adjunct faculty members who are experts in their fields.

The College of Computing and Technology offers innovative and uniquely multi-disciplinary programs that prepare graduates for entrepreneurial, technical and executive leadership positions within our industry, and further advanced degrees.

Admission Policies and Procedures

Applicants to graduate programs must submit the following:

Application Form. Each applicant must complete an application form. The application form is available at lipscomb.edu/admissions/graduate then click on “Apply by Program” to complete the online application.
Application Fee. Each application should be accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee ($75 for international students).
Standardized exam score. Each applicant must submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination. For more information on the GRE, visit www.ets.org/ and click on GRE. Applicants taking the GRE test should contact the program office for current requirements. Students who have already earned a master’s level degree may not need to complete the GRE standardized test.
Eligibility. Each applicant must submit documentation verifying course work or demonstrated competency in information technology concepts and terminology, statistics and computer literacy and must satisfy one of the following:
- Hold an advanced degree (master’s or doctorate) in a relevant area of health care.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant area of study, with five years of related work experience.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant area of study and submit GRE scores with application, if less than five years of related work experience.
References. Two letters of reference are required as follows: one from a college or university administrator or professor and one from a professional supervisor/employer, or personal reference.
Official Transcript(s). Each applicant must submit an official transcript, showing degree conferral when appropriate, from all schools attended.
Health Form. Each applicant must submit a completed health form signed by a health care provider. (To print a copy of the health form, visit www.lipscomb.edu/healthcenter/forms.)
FERPA. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act affords students certain rights of access to educational records; even if you are independent of your parents, you must submit this form prior to enrollment.
Resume. A resume detailing the applicant’s work and academic experience is required.
Personal Statement. Each applicant must submit an expanded goals statement concerning the applicant’s interest in and application of the program’s curriculum to expected career progression.
TOEFL. The Test of English as a Foreign Language is required for international students. (See section titled International Students for more information.)

All application items should be submitted to the College of Computing and Technology office no later than 30 days before the beginning of the semester or term in which the student plans to enroll. Forms should be submitted online or mailed to: Graduate Studies in Computing and Informatics, Lipscomb University, One University Park Drive, Nashville TN 37204-3951.

Transfer of Courses

Although all graduate credit hours may be transferred from another accredited institution, a maximum of six hours will be counted toward a master in the School of Computing and Informatics. The program director or appropriate faculty member of the graduate program will evaluate the course(s) being proposed for transfer and make a determination of suitability. No course with a grade below a “B” will be considered for transfer.

Documentation

Students are required to provide satisfactory documentation of personal identification for off-site learning experiences required in many programs of graduate study at Lipscomb University. Failure to provide proper credentials will result in failure to complete the desired course of study. For complete policy, see section entitled Required Documentation for Off-Site Learning Experiences in the opening section of this catalog.

Student Classifications

Students are admitted to graduate courses in one of five categories:

Graduate Student: one who has satisfied all admissions requirements. (Average of 2.75 on undergraduate work, GRE acceptable scores.) A student with an incomplete admission file will be accepted to the program at the discretion of the program director but will be placed on an academic hold which will prevent registration for the following semester. Once the proper admissions documents have been received, the hold will be removed and the student will be allowed to register for the following semester.
Conditionally Admitted Student: one who has been admitted conditionally, at the discretion of the program director, without satisfying all admission requirements. Students admitted with the following criteria may be required to complete a minimum of nine hours of graduate work with a grade of “B” or above.
1. From an unaccredited school or with a substandard GPA or GRE/MAT score.
2. A transfer student with a graduate GPA between 2.50 and 2.99. The transfer student must be in good standing at the previous institution attended.
3. As a student who has not completed a bachelor’s degree program. The transfer student must be in good standing at the previous institution attended.
Non-Degree Student: one who has been admitted to graduate studies and has met all admission requirements except GPA or GRE. The student may take up to nine semester hours for graduate credit. Those hours may be applied toward a master’s degree if the student makes a grade of “B” or better in the courses taken for credit and if all admission requirements (GPA and entrance test score) are met and the student is formally admitted to a graduate program as a degree-seeking student.
Visiting Student: one who is currently enrolled as a student in good standing at the post-bachelor’s level at another graduate school, wishes to take courses at Lipscomb and desires to have transcript evidence of course work done at Lipscomb provided for the school of primary enrollment.
Probationary Student: one who has been readmitted to a graduate program following academic suspension from the program.

Admission to a program does not imply admission to candidacy for the master’s degree. Only those students who meet the requirements for “graduate student” described above are eligible for candidacy.

Academic Policies

Course Load

A student enrolled for six hours is considered a full-time student. A student enrolled for less than six hours is considered a part-time student. No student will be permitted to enroll for more than 15 hours per semester without special approval from the director of the graduate program.

Academic Standing

Good Academic Standing: To remain in good academic standing, the School of Computing and Informatics student must maintain a cumulative 3.00 GPA and a 3.00 GPA on the most recent 12 semester hours of work.
Probation: Should the student’s cumulative graduate GPA fall below 3.00, he or she will be placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation will not be allowed to enroll for more than six hours during any term the probation applies.
The probationary student is required to achieve a 3.00 cumulative GPA by the time the student has completed the next nine hours of course work. A course(s) may be repeated to achieve the requisite GPA. If the requisite GPA is attained, the academic probation status will be removed.
Suspension: If the requisite GPA is not attained, the student will be suspended from graduate studies at Lipscomb for the following semester, after which the student may apply for readmission. The student may be required to appear before the graduate committee. Failing grades will provide no credit toward the degree but will be included in figuring scholarship level, unless replaced with a higher grade by repeating the course(s). A 3.00 GPA must be maintained to be eligible for financial assistance.
Appeals: Appeals to suspension decisions should be made in writing to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. Appeals must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Monday of the week before classes begin for the term during which the student wishes to be readmitted.

Degree Completion Requirements

Residency

No period of formal residency is required for a degree in a master’s program.

Statute of Limitations

All requirements for a degree in the College of Computing and Technology must be completed within a five-year period from the time of initial matriculation.

Candidacy

Admission to a program does not imply admission to candidacy for the master’s degree. During the course of pursuing a degree in the School of Computing and Informatics, the student must be admitted to “candidacy.” For admission to candidacy the student must satisfy the following:

Complete all required undergraduate deficiencies if admitted on condition.
Complete at least twelve hours of graduate work.
Maintain a 3.00 GPA on all courses taken toward the requirements for the degree with no incomplete grades.
File a degree plan and application for candidacy in the graduate program office which meet all requirements and are approved by the administrator of the graduate program and the dean of the college. The degree plan must be filed during the second semester of graduate work in the program.

After admission to candidacy and approval of the degree plan, any changes in the degree plan must be approved by the administrator of the graduate program and the dean of the college. The application for candidacy must be filed before the beginning of the student’s last semester in the program. No student will be allowed to graduate in the same semester in which the application for candidacy is filed.

Minimum GPA

The minimum cumulative grade-point average for all graduate education programs is 3.00 for all graduate courses taken for graduate credit while pursuing the degree. No grade below a “C” is acceptable. Such grades will not apply toward degree completion.

Graduation

Students must register for GN 999X the semester in which all course work will be completed for graduation. Students who do not file their intent to graduate form in the registrar’s office by the end of the first week of their last semester may be delayed in graduating.

Graduate students receiving degrees are hooded during the May and Dec. commencement exercises.

Appeals

Any exceptions to the above stated requirements would require approval by the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs in collaboration with the Dean of the College and the Program Director.

Financial Information

Tuition and Fees for 2019-20

Tuition
Tuition per credit hour (includes all textbooks)	$1,288
Tuition to audit	50% of tuition

Fees
Application fee	$50
Application for Graduation	$195
Returned payment fee	$30
Payment plan enrollment fee (per semester)	$60
Withdrawal fee	$195

Course Designations

MSDS - Data Science

ISEC - Information Security

MSIT - Information Technology

MITM - Information Technology Management

MSSE - Software Engineering

Program of Study Requirements

Master of Science

(Applied behavior analysis, biomolecular science, engineering management, exercise and nutrition science, health care informatics, information security, informatics and analytics, information technology management, clinical mental health counseling, psychology, software engineering and sustainability)

Certificate