Applied Computer Science Master's Project Form

Expectations

1. Students have three responsibilities during CIS 693: (1) complete the project work, (2) complete a written report, and (3) prepare and deliver a presentation. CIS 693 is not considered complete until all three components are satisfactorily finished.
2. Throughout the semester, students will meet periodically with their advisor.
3. We have two templates for a final report, one where software development is the focus, another where research is the focus. 
4. During the final exam week of classes, students give a formal, oral presentation of their project to the project advisor and to other members of the GVSU community.  
5. When the project work, report, and oral presentation have been completed, the advisor signs the final section of the project form indicating final approval of the project, and assigns students a grade. Projects are graded as “NC” (no credit), “P” (pass), or “PD” (pass with distinction).
6. If a student doesn’t complete their project in CIS 693, they will be given an “X” (deferred) grade. They will then be given a permit to enroll in CIS 696. Assuming they finish the project work in CIS 696, they are given a grade of “R” (research) in CIS 696, and the “X” in CIS 693 will be resolved into a grade. If not resolved, the “X” will be converted into “NC” (No Credit) after two years.

Grading

Evaluation of projects is based on the following areas:

• Initiative and self-direction
• Problem identification/significance
• Solution design
• Use of new technologies (new to the student)
• Quality and style of the written report
• Quality of the oral presentation

Pass with Distinction is granted only to those candidates whose performance is superior in most of the above areas and if the written draft presented at the presentation requires only minimal revision. Faculty advisors that want to award the Pass with Distinction grade must email a brief rationale to the Graduate Program Director.

Additional guidelines that might be helpful include, but are not limited to:

• The student's performance on the oral presentation is superior.
• The student showed extraordinary initiative and originality.
• The project is clearly in the top 10 percent of projects within the College of Computing.
• The project report is publishable at a peer-reviewed venue, in part or whole.
• The project had a significant impact on a company or industry.

Pass is the usual decision. It is awarded to students whose thesis work is good in all of the areas above, or whose work is superior in a few, but not most of the areas of evaluation.

No Credit is given when the work does not merit a passing grade.

Adapted from https://honors.uoregon.edu/files/documents/CHCThesisCriteria.pdf

Applied Computer Science Master's Thesis Form

Expectations

1. The student and thesis advisor will work together to select the thesis committee. The committee consists of two other members in addition to the advisor. The other committee members are usually computing faculty, but faculty from other departments and from local industries are eligible. The thesis advisor will complete the portion of the thesis form that specifies the committee members.
2. Throughout the semesters in which CIS 690 and CIS 695 are taken, students have four primary responsibilities: (1) develop a thesis topic (CIS 690), (2) perform research in support of the thesis, (3) produce a written thesis document, and (4) prepare an oral defense of the thesis research (CIS 695).  A thesis is not considered complete unless all four components are satisfactorily finished.
3. During the CIS 690 semester, students research and develop their thesis topic. Prior to the end of the CIS 690 semester, students prepare a formal written presentation of their thesis topic, which must be orally presented to the thesis committee. The thesis proposal acts as a contract specifying the work to be done by the student, and is used to judge completion of the thesis. 
4. Once the committee approves the thesis proposal, the advisor informs the Graduate Program Director who will enter a registration permit allowing the student to enroll in CIS 695.
5. Throughout the semester in which CIS 695 is taken, students perform research to support their thesis and work in close conjunction with their thesis advisor to prepare both the written thesis and the oral defense. At least four weeks prior to the end of the semester, students distribute copies of the written thesis to all members of the thesis committee in order to solicit feedback. Improvements to the written thesis typically continue until the end of the semester. The GVSU Library has full information regarding the preparation of theses. At minimum, the thesis must include a thesis final approval form.
6. During the final exam week of classes, students give a formal, oral defense of their thesis to the thesis committee and to other members of the GVSU community. 
7. When the written thesis and oral defense have been satisfactorily completed, the advisor and the two members of the thesis committee sign the thesis proposal form as their final approval of the thesis, and submit a final grade. Theses are graded as “NC” (no credit), “P” (pass), or “PD” (pass with distinction). The final thesis is then submitted to the dean of the College of Computing, as well as the Graduate Dean for their signatures. Once the thesis form has all the required signatures, the thesis is submitted to the library for inclusion in ScholarWorks.
8. If a student doesn’t complete their thesis in CIS 695, they will be given an “X” (deferred) grade. They will then be given a permit to enroll in CIS 696. Assuming they finish the work in CIS 696, they are given a grade of “R” (research) in CIS 696, and the “X” in CIS 695 will be resolved into a grade. If not resolved, the “X” will be converted into “NC” (No Credit) after two years.

Grading

Evaluation of theses is based on the following areas:

• initiative and self-direction

• significance and originality of the topic

• quality and originality of the research

• quality and style of the writing

• quality of the oral defense

Pass with Distinction is granted only to those candidates whose performance is superior in most of the above areas and if the draft presented at the defense requires only minimal revision. The decision of the committee must be unanimous to earn distinction.

Additional guidelines that might be helpful include, but are not limited to:

• The student's performance on the oral defense is superior.

• The student showed extraordinary initiative and originality.

• The thesis is clearly in the top 10 percent of theses within the College of Computing.

• The thesis is publishable at a peer-reviewed venue, in part or whole.

• The thesis had a significant impact on a company or industry.

Pass is the usual decision. It is awarded to students whose thesis work is good in all of the areas above, or whose work is superior in a few, but not most of the areas of evaluation.

No Credit is given when the work does not merit a passing grade.

Adapted from https://honors.uoregon.edu/files/documents/CHCThesisCriteria.pdf