New graduate student in computer engineering
What classes should I take in the fall for computer
systems architecture focus area?
What classes should I take in the spring
for computer systems architecture focus area?
What CpSc classes are good to take
for computer systems architecture focus area?
How do I get a teaching assistantship or grading
assistantship?
How do I get a research assistantship?
Research projects
What are your current research projects?
How do I get involved in one of your research projects?
Can I do a Master's thesis on one of these projects?
TA/GA assignments
When will TA/GA assignments be made?
What do I have to do to get a TA or GA?
What is my priority for getting a TA or GA?
I was recommended for a TA or GA position, does
that guarantee the assignment?
I taught a lab last semester - does that mean
I'll get one this semester?
I didn't get an assignment on the latest
draft, what do I do?
I didn't get an assignment on the final
posting, what do I do?
New CpE majors with a CSA focus area should take ECE629 (architecture)
and ECE852 (software engineering) their
first semester. If you have any remedial work required on your acceptance
letter try to take that as well. Otherwise, take another course from
ECE or your planned minor (such as Computer Science or Math). Some good
ECE courses often offered in the Fall are ECE 638 (computer
communiations), ECE 854 (robotics), ECE693s5 (compilers). You must
take at least 9 hours (3 courses) and need to have 12 hours on your
schedule. You can register for 3 hours of 891 (MS thesis research) or
you can take a 4th course if you want to get ahead in courses.
New CpE majors with a CSA focus area should take either ECE851 (distributed memory archtiecture), ECE842 (shared memory architecture),
or ECE873 (parallel algorithms) whichever is offered and ECE845 or ECE848 whichever is offered.
The following CpSc classes may be good choices for CSA focus area
majors: CpSc628 (languages), CpSc629 (compilers), CpSc662 (databases),
CpSc822 (OS), CpSc823 (OS), CpSc825 (computer comm),
CpSc826 (computer comm), CpSc838 (data structures), CpSc862 (databases),
CpSc872 (software engineering).
You must see Mimi Qian in Riggs 102 and fill out a preference form for
each semester that you want a TA or GA assignment. You must do this
even if you have been offered an assistantship by the department or if
you have had a TA or GA before. If you do not fill out this form
you will not be offered an assistantship.
You must talk to professors about their research and work out an RA
with the professor who is running a project. The department does
not offer RAs directly to students. Many professors will require
that you prove yourself on a project by working on it for academic credit
first.
My current research projects are:
The best thing is to see the PhD student who is responsible for the
project (listed above) and find out what is going on in the project and
what areas might be good for you to work in. This might take a little
time to figure out. After that you, the student, and I would meet
and discuss the proposed work. Recommendation from my graduate students
is a VERY important part of becoming part of a project team.
Yes, if we can agree on a suitable thesis topic related to one of the
projects that is possible. Before I will agree to an MS thesis I
need to see some of your work, so plan on working on the project for at
least a semester before I agree to a thesis. A thesis is a BIG commitment,
so be aware that I will only agree to a thesis with students who are highly
motivated and self-directed. Finally, I require that a student publish
at least one paper from their thesis research in order to graduate.
TA assignments normally are posted as a draft a few days before classes
begin, and become final a few days later. GA assignments usually
get posted a few days after classes begin and become final a few days later.
When the assignments are made they are posted outside of Mimi Qian's office
in Riggs 102. If they are not posted they are not done. Do
not call, email, or come by and ask Dr. Ligon when they will be posted.
You must see Mimi Qian in Riggs 102 and fill out a preference form for
each semester that you want a TA or GA assignment. You must do this
even if you have been offered an assistantship by the department or if
you have had a TA or GA before. If you do not fill out this form
you will not be offered an assistantship.
Students with a TA or GA offer in writing from the department have their assignments made first. They get first priority and are the only students who are guaranteed an assignment. Students who are specifically requested by the instructor teaching a lab or class are assign next, if possible. Next, students who prior experience teaching a lab generally have priority over those who have not, and students whose major and focus area match with the lab generally have priority over those whose do not.
We strive to assign only sections of the same lab to any given student, or baring that, to assign sections of no more than 2 labs to any given student. Students must have a minimum of 10 hours assigned to get a tuition waiver. Consequently we assign at least 2 lab sections, and typically do not assign more than two sections unless this is needed to work out schedules or to satisfy other criteria. Students cannot be assigned to sections that conflict with their schedule, thus sometimes assignment priorities cannot be followed due to scheduling constraints.
Thus, priority for assigning TAs and GAs is not a simple function and
cannot be easily determined for any one person but can only be evaluated
in the context of the complete set of requests and constraints that are
present. Inquiries beyond this point typically do not satisfy.
No. The only students who are guaranteed an assignment are
those who have an offer in writing from the department, and in that case
they are only guaranteed that an assignment will be made, not what that
assignment will be. A student who refuses an assignment forfeits
his right to an assignment.
Not neccessarily. The deparment is only required to pay you at
least the amount listed in your offer letter and can require no more than
the number of hours listed in your offer letter. Sometimes better
positions may be available and the department may make an assignment that
pays more, or that requires fewer hours, but that does not mean you will
continue to get that kind of assignment. The number of labs and the
number of TAs and GAs changes every semester so the department must seomtimes
hire students that do not have an offer or hire a student for a better
position than they are committed to. If you get one of these assignments,
this is your good luck, but we cannot commit to continuing those assignments.
If you have a written offer of an assignment, see Dr. Ligon. Otherwise,
wait. The draft assignments are updated at least daily.
If you have a written offer of an assignment, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
See Dr. Ligon NOW! Otherwise, we are sorry, but we do not have enough
positions for every applicant.