2ND CYCLE PROGRAM IN
COMMUNICATIONS SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES

The Faculty of Communications Sciences and Technologies will offer a 2nd cycle degree course of study leading to a Masters Degree in Computer Science. 2nd cycle studies in the faculty will be divided into several areas of concentration, to be chosen by the student, and each with its specific course of study. These concentrations are: 1) Multimedia Design; and 2) Software and Applications Development.

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE GRADUATE OF THE PROGRAM

The 2nd Cycle Program in Computer Sciences at CST - addresses the skills to be learned, the knowledge to be acquired, and the competences to be achieved in Computer Sciences in order to answer to the needs of the Global ICT market with special emphasize to the SEE regional needs and Macedonian local perspectives of building Common European educational, working and research areas.
Given the above-defined market requirements and our own resources, the vision and the mission of the CST Faculty, the program will offer two kinds of orientation in the specialization: Applied and Research. By choosing of concentration areas of concentration these are translated in four applied and one research program. In terms of employability the local and regional conditions urges the improvement of the human ICT capacities of the country and the region. On one hand these capacities should address the needs of the emerging ICT industry, while on the other, they should build the needed ICT capacity on all levels for the EU integration process.
The program will incorporate and build both vocational and academic competencies with possibility to emphasize one of them by allowing the student to choose his programs and courses.
The vocational profile will be application oriented, strongly ICT business based and emphasize the skills needed for the emerging ICT market.
Recent surveys indicate the IT business sector in Macedonia as very promising with the highest growth rate (UNDP, USAID and GTZ analysis on IT cluster in Macedonia, 2003-2004). The qualitative analysis underlines several cluster of ICT specializations with promising predictions for the short and midterm development in Macedonia and region. The capacities of SEEU - CST can offer both infrastructural and academic resources to successfully cover several of those areas.

The Faculty of CST with offer two 2nd Cycle Degree Programs in Computer Science:

1) Multimedia Design and
2) Software & Applications Development.

II. LEARNING OUTCOMES

The skills to be earned through all programs include behavioral (intellectual and transferable) and technical (practical and knowledge-understanding). According to the chosen degree program, the skills to be acquired by the student in this program can be grouped in two major groups:

Multimedia Design:

Behavioural Skills: creativity, analytical ability, intercultural relationships; multilingual communication; flexibility and self learning; technical orientation.
Technical Skills: Design & Artistic Knowledge; Software Engineering; Systems Design and Development Methodology; Applications Design Concepts; Networking Concept; Human-Computer Interface; Multimedia Programming.

Software and Applications Development:

Behavioural Skills: Analytical Problem Solving; Technical Literacy; Detail Focused; Communication; Distributed Development; Planning & Organisation
Technical Skills: Programming Environment; Software Engineering; System Design; Usability and Testing; System Development Methods & Tools; Business Requirements; Project Management.

III. PROGRAM AND CURRICULUM DESCRIPTION - 2ND CYCLE DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCES

The 2nd Cycle Program in CST will be composed of 90 ECST credits and be taught full-time over the course of three semesters (30 credits each). The program is composed of core courses, elective courses, special studies (practical or research activities), and thesis work.
The student himself designs his own individual program in the one of the four mentioned profiles, through a selection of elective courses and thesis subject i.e. thesis advisor, mentor.

Core courses for the 2nd Cycle Program in Computer Sciences

This set of courses will prepare the candidates to meet the present and future technology challenges, with the critical thinking skills necessary to perform creatively, ethically, and effectively in a wide range of ICT contexts.
The candidate will learn to asses the information needs of an organization or a research plan, implement leading edge technologies, and discover innovative solutions to business and research programs.
The 2nd Cycle Program is designed with same first and third semester for all profiles, while the second semester changes and gives the students the liberty to shape their studies, and choose their profile.
The common 1st and 3rd semesters are:

Semester 1
• Research Methodology ( 6 credits )
• Programming Techniques and Technologies (8 credits)
• Advances in Data Structures and Algorithms (8 credits)
• Web Development and Networking (8 credits)

Semester 3
• Simulation and Animation of ICT Systems - (10 credits)
• Master Thesis (Writing and Presentation) - (20 credits)

For each of the concentration within the 2nd Cycle Program in Computer Science, students will take the following courses:

MULTIMEDIA DESIGN:
This degree is oriented on multimedia design and development using new media creation and production tools. This program is designated for career-oriented students with orientation for software developers in: Media, Computer Graphics, Virtual Reality, Computer Animation, and related fields. It is conceptualized to create both Multimedia Programmers and Designers-Analysts.

Semester 2
• Multimedia Development Techniques and Technologies (7 credits)
• Computer Graphics / Virtual Reality (7 credits)
• Computer Vision and Image Processing / Game Theory (8 credits)
• Multimedia Computer Networks / Distributed Databases (8 credits)

SOFTWARE AND APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT:
This concentration is oriented on software development with a “hands-on” experience on Development Programming Tools and Development Environments, and System Analyses and Design.

Semester 2
• Human-Computer Interface / Usability and Testing (7 credits)
• Software Engineering / Project Management (7 credits)
• System Analyses and Design / Corporate Development (8 credits)
• Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (8 credits)

IV. Admission Requirements

In addition to general SEEU 2nd cycle program requirements, the perspective student must have:
1) 1st cycle (Bachelor Degree) in Computer Engineering, Computer Sciences, Informatics and Communication Sciences and technologies (240 credits)
2) Excellent English proficiency (TOEFL 550; IELTS 6.0)
3) Undergraduate GPA greater then 8.0 preferred
4) Approval from the Admission committee (Students with degrees in other disciplines may be required to take undergraduate prerequisites as part of their program).

V. Instructors:

Dr. Vladimir Radevski (Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Image Processing, Computer Graphics)
Dr. Zamir Dika (Web Development, Multimedia Techniques and Technologies, The Web, E-Technologies)
Dr. Agni Dika (Data Structures and Algorithms )
Dr. Abdulah Zejnulahu (Optimization, Game Theory)
Dr. Ilir Spahiu (Optimnisation, Game Theory)
Dr. Margita Kon-Popovska (Information Systems and Retrieval, Distributed Databases, Computer Grpahics, Virtual Reality)
Dr. Aksentie Grnarov (Web development and Networking, Multimedia Computer Networks, Enterprise Network design and Administration, Network Security and Cryptography)
Dr. Biljana Percinkova (Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms and Intelligence, Game Theory, System Analyses and Design)
MSc. Arbana Kadriu (Programming Techniques and Technologies, Data Structures and algorithms, Computational Linguistics, Machine Learning)

MSc. Bekim Fetaji (Software Engineering, System analysis and Design, Human-Computer interface, E-Technologies, Multimedia Development Techniques)

Prospective Full time staff:
MSc. Arianit Kurti (Distributed Operating systems, Data Structures and Algorithms, Programming Techniques and Technologies, Strategic Information Management)

UP to 50 % percent of the program will be covered by E-Learning delivery from partner Universities, visiting Professors, and in the framework of International research and cooperation.