Capstone Guide for MS Cybersecurity
All Cybersecurity masters students are required to complete either a project or a thesis. Typically these are completed in the final year of studies. This page describes the differences between the two options, as well as the process for registering for and completing each of them.
Forms
Project vs Thesis Comparison
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Project |
Thesis |
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Goal |
The goal of a project is to develop or evaluate a computing application or system. As a student in the Cybersecurity program, your project should be security-focused. Potential projects include but are not limited to: developing a program that is useful for security, adding security features to a program, evaluating the security of a program or a hardware device, or developing cybersecurity policies for a computing system. |
The goal of a thesis is to develop and investigate a original idea in the Cybersecurity field. As a student in the Cybersecurity field, your thesis topic should be security-focused. The results of this should be publishable in an academic journal or conference. Potential thesis topics include but are not limited to: new approaches to security problems, new defenses or improvements to defenses, new attacks or improvements to attacks, or studies of security-related behaviors. |
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Originality |
In the project, you are demonstrating your skills through the product you produce. There is not a requirement for originality in the project, although many projects have a degree of originality. |
In a thesis, your work is expected to be original. You may build off of other published academic research (and it is common to do so), but your work should push forward the understanding of the field, not just restate existing understanding. |
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Timeline |
A project is typically completed in a single semester (in which you will be registered for CIS 693). All work for your project is expected to be completed within the semester. A continuation is possible (though CIS 696) if not completed in time. |
A thesis takes at least two semesters to complete. The first semester, you will register for CIS 690. During the first semester you will be focusing on the background of your thesis topic, and write the introduction and background chapters of your thesis. The second semester, you will register for CIS 695. During the second semester, you will perform the experimentation and investigation necessary to support your idea and write the majority of your thesis. If you do not finish in time, a continuation is possible though CIS 696. |
Project
Prior to CIS 693
- Students considering registering for the CIS 693 project class should decide on an idea for a project. The student should then meet with a faculty member who they would like to serve as their project advisor. Students should be prepared for the faculty member to suggest modification to the project plan, but should not expect the faculty member to provide them with the project idea.
- Once the student and advisor have agreed on the project topic and scope, the student should fill out the first page of the project form.
- The advisor will then sign the project approval section of the form and forward it for additional signatures.
- The student may then request an override through banner to register for CIS 693. An override for CIS 693 will only be granted to students with a completed project form.
During CIS 693
CIS 693 should be treated by the student as any other course. You are expected to devote the same amount of time to your project as you would to any other course with the same number of credit hours. You should meet with your project advisor regularly, to make sure that your project is meeting expectations. By the end of the semester, you must produce:
- A paper describing your project, which will be published in the GVSU ScholarWorks repository.
- A presentation, to be given during finals week.
CIS 696
The masters project is intended to be completed in a single semester, and you should make every effort to do so. However, if you are unable complete your CIS 693 project in time, you may continue your project by taking CIS 696. This must be arranged with your project advisor prior to the end of the CIS 693 semester. During CIS 696, you are expected to continue the work from CIS 693, producing the required paper and presentation.
Thesis
Prior to CIS 690
- Students considering registering for the CIS 690 thesis preparation class should decide on a topic for their thesis. The student should then meet with a faculty member who they would like to serve as their thesis advisor. Students should be prepared for the faculty member to suggest modification to the thesis plan, but should not expect the faculty member to provide them with a thesis topic.
- Once the student and advisor have agreed on the thesis topic and scope, the student should fill out the first page of the thesis form.
- The student and the advisor should work together to choose committee members.
- The advisor and committee members will then sign the approval section of the form and forward it for additional signatures.
- The student may then request an override through banner to register for CIS 690. An override for CIS 690 will only be granted to students with a completed thesis form.
- Students should also submit a Thesis Committee Membership Endorsement Form to the graduate school.
During CIS 690
CIS 690 should be treated by the student with the same attention as any other course. You are expected to devote the same amount of time to your thesis preparation as you would to any other course with the same number of credit hours. You should meet with your thesis advisor regularly, to make sure that your progress is satisfactory. By the end of the semester, you must produce:
- Drafts of the introduction and background chapters of your thesis.
- A thesis proposal presentation, to be given during finals week.
Upon completion of your thesis proposal, if it is approved by your committee, they will sign the thesis proposal completion section of the thesis form. You may then register for CIS 695 (you will need to request an override through the registration system).
During CIS 695
CIS 695 should be treated by the student as any other course. You are expected to devote the same amount of time to your thesis preparation as you would to any other course with the same number of credit hours. You should meet with your thesis advisor regularly, to make sure that your progress is satisfactory.
Students must give an oral defense of their thesis during the semester. The deadline for this presentation is set by the graduate school, and is several weeks before the end of the semester. Students must also complete their thesis document during this semester. While the thesis document itself is not due until the end of the semester, students must be sure to provide the committee sufficient time to read the thesis and suggest changes, and themselves enough time to incorporate such changes, before the date the thesis is due to be submitted to the graduate school.
Upon satisfactory completion, the committee will sign the last section of the thesis form, as well as the graduate school's Thesis Final Approval Form. This form must be signed by the committee and the Dean of the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing prior to the graduate school's deadline for submission. It is the student's responsibility to finish with sufficient time available to collect all signatures. The graduate dean will sign final approval after reviewing the thesis. This may be several weeks after the end of the semester, if documents are submitted close to the deadline.
CIS 696
If you are unable to finish your thesis by the end of the semester in which you take CIS 695, you must enroll CIS 696 every semester until you complete your thesis. During CIS 696, you are expected to continue the work from CIS 693, producing the required thesis document and thesis defense presentation.