The Database Systems (DB) specialization emphasizes designing, implementing, maintaining, and administering large database systems. Students will become proficient in database programming and SQL (in Oracle and SQL Server). Students of this specialization will also be able to identify and utilize tools to be able to work with the vast amounts of data.
This program will require students to take four database courses, two software engineering courses, two advisor approved database electives, and a two-semester capstone project or two-semester thesis.
This degree may be completed online. Students local to the UWF campus may also take graduate electives in traditional face-to-face classrooms.
NEW - Scholarships for Veteran's
Tuition scholarships are available for veteran's located world-wide to begin in January 2011. More information for Hometown Heroes.
eMail: cshometownheroes@uwf.edu
Note: Effective June 3, 2011, Hometown Heroes is no longer accepting applications for the scholarship program.
View the Computer Science Department's Academic Learning Plan, a pdf reader is needed to view this document.
Navigate via the Graduate Admissions link below to access and submit an online application. Additionally, each applicant is required to:
1. Request transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended to be sent to the UWF Department of Computer Science (address below).
2. Take a graduate admissions test or use one previously taken - request scores be sent to UWF. Applicants may take either (a) the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)--the General Test only, (b) the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), or (c) the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
Although no one particular admission criteria will be used to disqualify an applicant, we would like our applicants to achieve minimum scores as follows on one of the graduate admissions tests.
GRE Verbal 450, Quantitative 500, and Analytical 3.0
GMAT 500
MAT 370
Practice tests and other resources are available online, for the MAT, and the GRE.
The GRE and the MAT may be taken at the UWF Testing Center.
The GRE Institution Code is 5833
The GRE Department Code is 0402
The MAT Institution Code is 1089 (no department code is needed)
Note: Applicants may be considered for admission without these scores, but will be at a disadvantage when compared to other applicants who have taken one of these exams--students admitted conditionally without test scores must take one of these exams during the first half of their first semester.
3. Submit a personal letter of intent, that at a minimum addresses your (a) motivation for applying to this program, (b) objectives regarding future use of your education in the field, and (c) work experience in this field. Please send this as a hard-copy letter, directly to the UWF Department of Computer Science (address below).
4. Request three personal letters of reference from employers/professors who can attest to your potential to succeed in this program. We do not have an online form or a standard format for these letters. Those writing references typically address an applicants demonstrated ability to learn, maturity, self-discipline, etc. Hard-copy letters should be sent directly to the Department of Computer Science (address below).
Note regarding minimum GPA and minimum GRE/MAT test scores: Applicants are expected to have a minimum cumulative GPA from an undergraduate degree of 3.0. Applicants with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 may still be considered and conditionally admitted if the rest of the application package is of high caliber and the department review committee deems that the student has the potential to succeed. The admissions committee will evaluate all materials relevant to each applicant and rank students based on those materials. The applicants with the best total rankings will be selected for admission.
The university deadlines for submitting the online application for admission are intended to permit sufficient time for all admissions materials to be received in time for departmental review. The university deadline for submitting online applications are:
and the departmental deadline for receipt of all additional materials (e.g., transcripts, letter of intent, letters of reference, graduate admission test score/s) are:
Please be advised that it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all admissions materials are received in time for review by the departmental admissions selection committee. Applicants may check the receipt/status of their materials in the UWF portal for prospective students at https://nautical.uwf.edu/lighthouse/ called Lighthouse.
Please have all application materials (transcripts, test scores, letter of intent and 3 personal letters of recommendation) sent to:
University of West Florida
Department of Computer Science
Attn: Dr. Sikha Bagui
11000 University Parkway
Pensacola, FL 32514
Database Systems Program Director
Dr. Sikha Bagui
Bldg 4 Rm 227
(850) 474-3022
1. Contact the Graduate Database Systems Program Director, bagui@uwf.edu, for initial advising.
2. Register for course(s) through Lighthouse--the UWF Portal for prospective students at https://nautical.uwf.edu/lighthouse/ Notice that toward the end of the registration process a link to the UWF bookstore and books for registered courses will be provided.
3. Once registered for first courses through Lighthouse, activate ArgoNet account which provides access to the UWF Portal for students and faculty--my.uwf.edu--at my.uwf.edu. Take the tour of my.uwf.edu linked on my.uwf.edu, and review the user guide also linked on the same page.
4. Go to the UWF online learning management system, elearning.uwf.edu, and watch the demo for ArgoNet users.