From: Greg Shannon <shannon@luap.cs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Graduate Study in CS at Indiana University
Organization: Computer Science, Indiana University
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 92 04:53:46 EST


Indiana University at Bloomington

Department of Computer Science

Programs of Study:
The department offers broad programs leading to the Master of Science and 
Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

The PhD program is based on depth in one's research area and breadth 
through a graduate-level interdisciplinary minor.  Program components 
include written screening exams in the second year, an oral area exam one to
two years later, and a defense of a dissertation on distinguished research 
two to three years after the oral exam.  New students get an introduction to
research topics through talks in the week-long orientation for new students 
that runs the week before fall classes start.  Students are encouraged each 
year to take one or two of the ten or more research seminars typically 
offered, and student-advisor relationships are usually established in these 
research seminars.  

The department maintains a strong master's degree program, and since 1973, 
over 630 MS degrees in computer science have been awarded.  A large 
number of external courses may be applied to the MS in computer science; 
however there is an emphasis on depth in application areas.  Students 
typically complete the MS degree by taking ten or eleven graduate courses.  

All students who are not native speakers of English must take an
English proficiency exam.

Research Facilities:
In the summer of 1991, the department moved back into Lindley Hall after a 
$3.5 million department-specified renovation.  Lindley Hall is designed to 
serve as a modern facility for research and education in computer science well
into the next century.  The department's computing environment 
is based upon UNIX, Ethernet, NFS, and X and is fully connected to the 
internet.  The VAX 8800 and Alliant FX/8 provide large-system time-shared 
and mini-supercomputer capabilities.  Apollo, Sun, and NeXT workstations and
Atari, DOS, and Macintosh personal computers deliver desktop computing for 
faculty and students.  Stardent and Silicon Graphics workstations provide 
powerful graphics capabilities along with Sun, NeXT, and Macintosh systems 
with special graphics enhancements.  The total capacity of the department's 
200+ computing systems exceeds 900 MIPS, 40 GB of disk, and 1.2 GB of 
high-speed memory.  The department is on the standard national and 
international research networks.  For research in parallel computing, there 
is a 64-node BBN Butterfly and local access to a 1,000-node MassPar.
For input and output, there are over 30 laser printers, two color printers, 
a large format plotter, multiple scanners, video frame-grabbers, and CD-rom 
players.  There is a digital hardware lab with logic design and PC board 
fabrication facilities.  The computing facilities are complemented with a 
research, instructional, and administrative support staff of 29 people.  

Financial Aid:
Most PhD students and many MS students receive financial aid in the 
form of research (25), teaching (60), or facilities (6) assistantships.  For
teaching awards, all students who are not native speakers of English must 
pass an English proficiency exam designed for teachers.  The best PhD 
students receive full or partial fellowships (10).  Most awards include a 
stipend of at least $9,900 for 10 months plus tuition support for all fees 
except an unremittable portion of $21/credit hour.  About 30 summer teaching
assistantships are available in addition to research and facilities 
assistantships.  Many computer-related jobs are also available throughout 
the university and the Bloomington area.  

Cost of Study:
Tuition and fees are about $100 per credit hour for in-state students and
$290 per credit hour for out-of-state students for the 1991-92 academic year.
Mandatory fees and health insurance total about $190 per year.  

Cost of Living:
The cost for a single room and board in the graduate dorm about is $4,100 
for the 1991-92 academic year.  Average university family housing costs for 
1991-92 range from $3,300 to $7,600 including utilities.  There are a
large number of apartment complexes, condominiums, and houses for rent as 
well as studios, efficiencies and single rooms with shared kitchen and 
bathroom privileges.  The standard lease is 12 months and begins in August.  

Student Group:
Indiana University has about 25,000 undergraduates and 7,000 graduate 
students.  The Department of Computer Science has about 225 graduate 
students and 130 undergraduate majors.  

Location:
The 1,800-acre main campus of Indiana University is located in Bloomington, 
a city of 60,000 (excluding students), 45 miles southwest of Indianapolis in
the rolling hills of southern Indiana.  Bloomington combines small town 
charm with a wide variety of cultural activities including Indiana 
University's School of Music (ranked in the top five music schools in the 
country), the Theater and Drama department and the School of Fine Arts.  
With the Hoosier National Forest, three state parks, and Lake Monroe all 
less than an hour away, there are ample opportunities for outdoor 
recreation.  

The University and the Department:
Indiana University is a liberal arts school founded in 1820 with 
professional programs in medicine, law, nursing, and optometry.  In growing 
from an interdisciplinary program in 1967 to a robust research and teaching 
department today, faculty, staff, and students in the computer science 
department continue to relish the department's collegiality and 
interdisciplinary nature.  With the Cognitive Science Program, the Indiana 
University Logic Group, and the Center for Innovative Computer Applications,
there is strong interaction with the linguistics, philosophy, mathematics, 
psychology, physics, chemistry, and geology departments.  Contact the 
department at the address below to receive the most recent computer science 
annual report and to arrange to visit the department.  

Applying:
All applicants must have an accredited baccalaureate degree or its 
equivalent.  A strong computer science background is not required, but a 
solid maturity in mathematics and writing is expected.  Three letters of 
recommendation, two copies of the official transcripts from all previously 
attended institutions, current GRE scores, TOEFL scores (for international 
students), and a 300-500 word statement of purpose must accompany the 
official graduate school application.  Admission decisions are based on a 
careful review of these documents.  A decision will not be made until all 
application materials have arrived.  The application deadline for the fall 
semester is February 15 for admission with aid and June 1 for admission only.  

Correspondence and information:
    Admissions Secretary
    Department of Computer Science
    Indiana University
    Lindley Hall 215
    Bloomington, Indiana 47405
    plarson@cs.indiana.edu