Courses

NOTE: This site is an archive of 2012–2013 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 683: Mobile Application Development
  This course will be divided into two parts. The first part, two thirds of the course, covers the principles and problems associated with mobile device applications, using as examples Google Android, iPhone, and other platforms such as Nokia. The last third is an in depth coverage of the open source Android development platform. Issues covered will include Mobile Hardware and Cell Networks, Architectures, Operating Systems, Languages, Development Environments and Simulators, User Interfaces, Location-based Services, Storing and Retrieving Data. Students will accomplish the following. (1) Learn the unique set of problems and challenges in developing mobile applications compared with desktop applications; (2) Learn the platform, tools, technology and process for developing mobile applications using Google Android and the Apple iPhone platforms as the main examples; (3) Write applications for the platforms covered, simulate them, and test them on the mobile hardware where possible; and (4) Work collaboratively with fellow students on their projects.
• MET CS 684: IT Security Policies and Procedures
  This course enables IT professional leaders to identify emerging security risks and implement highly secure networks to support organizational goals. Discussion of methodologies for identifying, quantifying, mitigating and controlling risks. Students implement a comprehensive IT risk management plans (RMP) that identify alternate sites for processing mission-critical applications, and techniques to recover infrastructure, systems, networks, data and user access. The course also discusses related topics such as: disaster recovery, handling information security; protection of property, personnel and facilities; protection of sensitive and classified information, privacy issues, and criminal terrorist and hostile activities.
• MET CS 685: Network Performance and Management
  This course covers computer networks management including configuration, fault, performance, as well as security management. Particular focus and emphasis is given to security management. Problem solving techniques and network management tools are discussed and practiced during extensive laboratory sessions. Topics include LAN and WAN network management, fault detection, configuration, security, performance, accounting management. Strong focus on problem-solving techniques and network management tools based on SNMP, detailed discussion of multi-user computer systems security techniques, basics of cryptography, authentication techniques, and Kerberos, Secure operating systems. Software protection. Electronic mail. Web Security, IPsec, e-commerce: payment protocols, electronic cash. Risk assessment.
• MET CS 689: Designing and Implementing a Data Warehouse
  This course provides students with the technical skills required to plan, implement, and maintain a data warehouse using a DBMS such as Oracle Warehouse Builder. It describes basic data warehousing concepts. Key topics: Design a data warehousing system; implement a database designed with a star schema, gather data from primary data sources, transform data, and load data in to a DBMS. Students will create a cube using OLAP and analyze cube data using client applications. Upon successful completion, students will be familiar with the typical data warehouse components and architecture, and have an understanding of the practical uses of data warehousing.
• MET CS 690: Network Security
  This course will cover advanced network security issues and solutions. The main focus on the first part of the course will be on Security basics, i.e. security services, access controls, vulnerabilities, threats and risk, network architectures and attacks. In the second part of the course, particular focus and emphasis will be given to network security capabilities and mechanisms (Access Control on wire-line and wireless networks), IPsec, Firewalls, Deep Packet Inspection and Transport security. The final portion of the course will address Network Application security (Email, Ad-hoc, XML/SAML and Services Oriented Architecture security. As part of our course review we will explore a number of Network Use Cases.
• MET CS 693: Digital Forensics and Investigations
  Provides a comprehensive understanding of digital forensics and investigation tools and techniques. Learn what computer forensics and investigation is as a profession and gain an understanding of the overall investigative process. Operating system architectures and disk structures are discussed. Studies how to set up an investigator?s office and laboratory, as well as what computer forensic hardware and software tools are available. Other topics covered include importance of digital evidence controls and how to process crime and incident scenes, details of data acquisition, computer forensic analysis, e-mail investigations, image file recovery, investigative report writing, and expert witness requirements. Provides a range of laboratory and hands-on assignments either in solo or in teams. With rapid growth of computer systems and digital data this area has grown in importance.
• MET CS 695: Enterprise Information Security
  The course provides an in-depth presentation of security issues in computer systems, networks, and applications. Formal security models are presented and illustrated on operating system security aspects, more specifically memory protection, access control and authentication, file system security, backup and recovery management, intrusion and virus protection mechanisms. Application level security focuses on language level security and various security policies; conventional and public keys encryption, authentication, message digest and digital signatures. Internet and intranet topics include security in IP, routers, proxy servers, and firewalls, application-level gateways, Web servers, file and mail servers. Discussion of remote access issues, such as dial-up servers, modems, VPN gateways and clients.
• MET CS 699: Data Mining and Business Intelligence
  Data mining and investigation is a key goal behind any data warehouse effort. The course provides an introduction to concepts behind data mining, text mining, and web mining. The course surveys various data mining applications, methodologies, techniques, and models. Topics include classification, decision trees, association rules, and clustering. The course wraps up with data mining case studies using large data sets taken from real-world projects. Algorithms will be tested on data sets using the Weka Data mining software and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 (Business Intelligence Development Studio).
• MET CS 701: Rich Internet Application Development
  The Rich Internet Application Development course concentrates primarily on building rich client web applications in the browser for desktop and mobile devices. The course is divided into various modules covering in depth the following technologies: Flex, ActionScript, HTML5, jQuery, jQuery Mobile, and Silverlight. Along with the fundamentals underlying these technologies, several applications will be showcased as case studies. Students work with these technologies starting with simple applications and then examining real world complex applications. At the end of this course, students would have mastered the latest and widely used Web application development methodologies.
• 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 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 781: Advanced Health Informatics
  This course presents the details of information processing in hospitals, hospital information systems (HIS), and more broadly health information systems. It presents the architecture, design, and user requirements of information systems in health care environment. It focuses on Information Technology aspects of Health Informatics specifically addressing the design, development, operation, and management of HIS. The first part of this course covers the introductory concepts including information processing needs, and information management in health care environment. The second part covers detailed description of HIS including hospital process modeling, architecture, quality assessment, and applicable tools. The final part of the course covers management of HIS and related issues and extension of this topic to other health care organizations. The course will have a term project providing students a hands-on experience in design and research of HIS.

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