Graduate Program - Master of Science in Software Engineering Science

Thesis and graduation guidelines

The following provides some guidance to graduate students as to identify research topics, to pursue a research topic, and to conduct research with a graduate faculty.  The students are encouraged to meet with different graduate faculty and identify a research topic and a thesis advisor.  After conducting preliminary research studies in the chosen topic, the students are required to prepare a prospectus outlining the research work towards their thesis.  The students are also expected to form a thesis committee consisting of a thesis advisor and two graduate faculties from the Department of CIS and an external thesis advisor.  The students are then expected to present their prospectus to the committee members and others in public forum.  Once the prospectus is approved by the thesis committee, the students conduct and complete the proposed research, write the thesis and defend their thesis.

Students planning to graduate during a given semester should be aware of the following schedule regarding prospectus and thesis preparation and presentation:

Prospectus Preparation and Presentation:

1.     Form the thesis committee:  The thesis Committee should be formed by the end of the second semester into the graduate program and this is the responsibility of the student.

2.     Prepare the prospectus:  The prospectus should be completed at least one semester prior to your graduation.  This prospectus is your contract with your committee to do the work you are proposing.   Without approval of the prospectus, your work may be IN VAIN.

3.      Present the prospectus:  The prospectus should be given to the thesis committee at least two weeks prior to prospectus presentation and announcements regarding the prospectus presentation should be posted two weeks prior.  This announcement should include the thesis title, date of prospectus presentation, name, place of presentation, committee involved, and the thesis advisor. Posting should be on each floor of the building. The prospectus should be prepared and presented at least one semester prior to graduation. 

4.     Obtain Approval for the Prospectus:  Your committee must approve your prospectus prior to your work beginning. Work done prior to committee approval is subject to major changes and may delay your graduation. Your prospectus should be completed in the semester prior to your graduation.

5.     YOU MUST be registered for at least one hour of thesis in the semester you plan to graduate (even the summer).   Also, if you are graduating during the summer semester, this schedule demands that you have your thesis is delivered to your committee prior to the end of the spring term.  

Thesis Preparation and Defense:

1.     Deliver thesis to the committee members:   A thesis should be prepared following the guidelines of the Office of the graduate studies and Research at least seven weeks prior to end of semester.  Committee members must be given at least two weeks to review the thesis.

2.     Announce the Thesis Defense:  Students should announce their intend to defend the thesis five weeks prior to end of semester.  Students must post a flyer with information regarding their thesis defense with the title, presentation date, presentation place, thesis advisor, department name, and school (Arts and Sciences). The flyer must be posted on each floor of the building and a copy should be registered with the Dean of Graduate Studies.

3.      Present or defend the Thesis:  Students should defend their thesis three weeks prior to end of semester.

4.     Bind the final thesis:  Students should submit the final version of their thesis two weeks prior to the end of semester after making all the corrections requested by the thesis committee members.  Students have approximately one week to correct their thesis and submit the thesis for binding.  Student should provide a receipt for binding to the Graduate Director for final graduation approval.