Frequently Asked Questions for MS without Thesis Programs

• Basic computer science knowledge is required for acceptance to the program. Specifically, we require students to have a basic knowledge of mathematics (three courses from the topics such as calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, numerical methods, discrete structures, symbolic logic, probability, statistics, formal languages, and dynamical systems), computer systems and computer-based systems (three courses from the topics such as digital design, computer architecture, computer organization, parallel and distributed systems, operating systems, embedded systems, database management systems and computer networks), and three courses focusing on software development such as introduction to programming, data structures, object oriented programming, programming languages, and algorithms.
• We only offer CENG 791 Technical Communication for Computer Engineers I (Fall semesters) and CENG 792 Technical Communication for Computer Engineers II (Spring semesters) in the deficiency program. Students are allowed to take non-deficiency regular program courses in the Not Included (NI) status. If the students get a BB or a better grade from these NI courses, after the deficiency program, the students may file a petition to have these courses counted towards their degree.
• All the students are required to follow the insructions, about the course registrations, at the newsgroups “metu.ceng.secondprog.ceng”, “metu.ceng.secondprog.se” and “metu.ceng.secondprog.general” accessible through ceng news server or http://cow.ceng.metu.edu.tr To access these, you will need a CENG department account. Your department account is different from the account provided by the METU Computer Center. You will receive your account through your e-mail at the beginning of your first semester.
• Sometimes, we experience capacity problems in some popular courses. In that case, senior students will have higher priority than the freshmen.
• The CENG (the non-thesis master of science program in CENG) students may take at most two, sometimes three, SE (the non-thesis master of science program in software engineering) courses (except “SE560 Software Development Studio”). Those courses offered with SE codes under the CENG program are also accepted as a CENG course.
• The students may take only the non-thesis program courses.
• Non-thesis courses are not scheduled to start before 15:00. They generally start after 16:00 (mostly at 16:40 or at 18:00) on weekdays, or any time on Saturdays.
• When two sections of the same CENG course is offered in a semester, normally, the first section belongs to the with-thesis program whereas the second section is for the without-thesis program.
• Our students are expected to take 2 or 3 courses per semester (the exceptions could be the pre-requisite semesters or their last semesters in the program).
• Courses from other departments' non-thesis programs can be taken only with the consent of department.
• For SE students; SE560 Software Development Studio course should be taken after taking SE550, during the last two or three semesters of the SE students, but normally before the Term Project.
• We strictly advise SE students to take SE550 when first offered and complete restricted electives first.
• Our students with non-CENG background are expected to take CENG525 when first offered, which is normally offered biennially. Others might also take that course, but we do not suggest this.

For the CENG program we try to offer courses from the systems and theory area at least once a year.

For the SE program, in fall semesters we generally offer,

• SE550: Software Engineering
• two restricted electives

and in spring semesters we generally offer,

• SE560: Software Development Studio
• two restricted electives