Courses

NOTE: This site is an archive of 2010–2011 programs and policies at Boston University Metropolitan College. If you are looking for current information about Metropolitan College and its programs, please go to our official website: www.bu.edu/met.

• MET CS 703: Network Forensics
  This course provides a comprehensive understanding of network forensic analysis principles. Within the context of forensics security, network infrastructures, topologies, and protocols are introduced. Students understand the relationship between network forensic analysis and network security technologies. Students will learn to identify network security incidents and potential sources of digital evidence and demonstrate the ability to perform basic network data acquisition and analysis using computer based applications and utilities. Students will also identify potential applications for the integration of network forensic technologies and demonstrate the ability to accurately document network forensic processes and analysis.
• MET CS 713: Advanced Digital Forensics
  This course provides an introduction to the advanced digital forensic topic relating to malicious software (malware), which represents an increasing information security threat to computer systems and networks. Students will review software engineering design fundamentals and reverse engineering techniques utilized to conduct static and dynamic forensic analysis on computer systems and networks. Students will learn about the importance of forensic principles, legal considerations, digital evidence controls, and documentation of forensic procedures. This course will incorporate demonstrations and laboratory exercises to reinforce practical applications of course instruction and will require an independent research paper related to the course topic.
• MET CS 732: Advanced Game Graphics
  This is the second class in the four-course Certificate in Multimedia and Video Game Engineering. It assumes an understanding of computer graphics. The course is an update and re-orientation of MET CS 732, an existing course that has not been offered for at least five years. The first half of this course applies the basics of computer graphics covered in CS 532. It extends these by exploring lighting, texture, and rendering algorithms. The second half explores geometrical techniques for 3D representation and their application to intersection and collision.
• MET CS 733: Real-Time Multimedia Simulation
  This class examines core game engine techniques that form the basis for most modern computer games. Students will implement two games of their own, one built from scratch and the other using the OGRE 3D Rendering Engine. Topics covered include Windows & DirectX Programming, Game Engine Architectures, User Input, Sound, an introduction to 3D Games Architectures, Animation, Path Planning & Movement Control, Performance Optimization, and Networked Multiplayer Games.
• MET CS 734: Artificial Intelligence for Video Games
  The course explains the basic role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in game play. It covers languages and scripting that enable AI. AI is used in planning the paths of game-owned assets. The course shows how AI moves the story and its characters forward. The second half of the course shows how game programs can learn responses and generate plans and movements based on players’ actions. These ideas are applied to traditional video games, action games, strategy games, role-playing games, and other genres.
• MET CS 751: Web Services
  Architecture of Web Services; review of XML Shemas; SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol); WSDL (Web Services Description Language); UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration); Web Services in .NET; Sun and Apache tools; Company-specific Web Service API’s; Java API’s for XML Messaging; Java Application Servers; review of Security, transactions, and business process languages (e.g. BPEL) among Web Services.
• MET CS 755: Cloud Computing
  Cloud computing leverages the World Wide Web to fulfill computing needs. It packages applications, computing power, and storage as a metered service similar to a utility. This model is designed to supplant the traditional mechanism of desktop computing in many cases. This course will cover the origin, theory, enabling technology, and hands-on labs for key concepts in cloud computing. Students will: (1) Learn the unique set of problems and challenges in developing cloud computing applications; (2) Learn the platform, tools, technology and processes for developing cloud computing applications using Hadoop as the main example; and (3) Propose, develop, and run applications for the platforms covered.
• MET CS 767: Fuzzy, Expert, Genetic, and Neural Systems
  Theories and methods for automating the solution of problems with inexact specifications, input, models, or output (e.g., text checkers, help desks). Expert systems, fuzzy methods, neural net architectures, and genetic algorithms are examined and compared. Algorithms and a term project are implemented using shells and C++ or Java. Laboratory course.
• MET CS 770: Object-Oriented Analysis and Design
  The object-oriented paradigm is key to the predictable development of reliable software-intensive systems. Object-oriented methods consist of languages, distribution, analysis and design. Languages change and so does distribution (the manner in which processing is distributed). Basic to Object-Orientation, however, are Analysis and Design, which have remained remarkably stable. The course emphasizes ways to retain the goals of the object paradigm, the exploitation of use cases, the construction of sequence diagrams, the selection of classes, the relationships among them, and their utilization to implement systems. The course covers the relationship of GUI's to classes, and relates OO Analysis and Design to refactoring.
• MET CS 773: Software Quality Management
  This course covers the theory and practice of quality assurance and testing for each step of the software development cycle. It introduces, defines, and contrasts the two pillars of software quality: Verification and Validation. The course covers test case design techniques, test coverage criteria, and tools for static and dynamic analysis. IEEE standards for test design and documentation are included. The course explains test-driven development and its relation with validation in the small and the large. QA for maintenance and legacy applications are covered. The course explores experimental and contemporary approaches to quality such as those inherent in agile development.
• MET CS 775: Advanced Networking
  In-depth coverage of the architecture, interfaces, protocols, and technologies of high-speed broadband networks. Topics include broadband wide-area network (WAN) technologies such as gigabit routers with IP switching, MPLS, ATM and Frame Relay; broadband LAN technologies: Fast Ethernet and Ethernet Switching, Gigabit Ethernet, and FDDI; broadband access technologies: DSL and Cable modems, as well as discussion of network performance, congestion control and traffic management, provision of different levels of quality of service (QoS),resource reservation, unicast and multicast routing, and multimedia compression and security in broadband networks. Students are required to complete a research project in one of the advanced Internet technologies. Labs on network performance analysis.
• MET CS 779: Advanced Database Management
  This course covers advanced aspects of database management systems including advanced normalization and denormalization, query optimization, object-oriented and object-relational databases, data warehousing, data mining, distributed databases, XML, XSL, and databases for web applications. There is extensive coverage of SQL and database instance tuning. Students learn about the advanced object-relational features in DBMS such as Oracle, including navigational query, BLOBs, abstract data types, and methods. Students learn about database programming in Oracle’s PL/SQL language, including triggers, stored procedures, and methods. By the end of the course, students should understand the basic concepts in all of these advanced database topics. Students define independent advanced database term projects, which may be related to their work or other interests. The students prepare reports and audio-video presentations for their classmates using PowerPoint and Impatica. 4 cr
• MET CS 780: Database Administration
  This course prepares students to perform day-to-day administration of a database system. While most of the examples in this course are based on Oracle database administration, the course also covers the differences in administering Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL and examples. The course covers administration on Windows, Linux, and Unix platforms. The course is conducted in the MET computer laboratories, where students will use virtualizations of Oracle and MSSQL on virtualized platforms to perform exercises and gain experience administering databases. Students will also have the opportunity to install these virtualizations on their own PCs. Students interested in obtaining Oracle's Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) Database certification will find this course very relevant. A database management course comparable to MET CS579 or CS669, or consent of the instructor, is the prerequisite for this course.
• MET CS 782: IT Strategy and Management
  This course provides an overview of contemporary information systems technology (IT) management. It explains the relevant issues of effective management of information services activities and highlights the areas of greatest potential application of the technology. No assumptions are made concerning the reader's experience with IT, but it is assumed that the reader has some course work or work experience in administration of management.
• MET CS 789: Cryptography
  Modern symmetric ciphers (Data Encryption Standard, Advanced Encryption Standard), Public key ciphers (The RSA cipher, ElGamal cipher), Protocols (Diffie-Helman Key Exchange, Oblivious Transfer, Zero-Knowledge Proofs), Random number generators, Modern factorization attacks, Elliptic Curves
• MET CS 795: Directed Study
  Prereq: Consent of advisor. Requires prior approval of student-initiated proposal. Independent study on special projects under faculty guidance.
• MET CS 796: Directed Study
  Prereq: consent of the instructor. Requires prior approval of student-initiated proposal. Independent study on special projects under faculty guidance. variable cr
• MET CS 799: Advanced Cryptography
  This course is a continuation of CS 789 Cryptography and introduces students to elliptic curves ciphers, digital signatures, cryptographic hash functions, block ciphers and key management issues.
• MET CS 810: Master’s Thesis in Computer Science
  This thesis must be completed within 12 months. Students majoring in Computer Science may elect a thesis option. This option is available to Master of Science in Computer Science candidates who have completed at least seven courses toward their degree and have a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Students are responsible for finding a thesis advisor and a principal reader within the department. The advisor must be a full-time faculty member; the principal reader may be part-time faculty member with a doctorate. Permission must be obtained by the department. 4cr.
• MET CS 811: Master’s Thesis in Computer Science
  This thesis must be completed within 12 months. Students majoring in Computer Science may elect a thesis option. This option is available to Master of Science in Computer Science candidates who have completed at least seven courses toward their degree and have a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Students are responsible for finding a thesis advisor and a principal reader within the department. The advisor must be a full-time faculty member; the principal reader may be part-time faculty member with a doctorate. Permission must be obtained by the department. 4cr.

Note that this information may change at any time.

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