Master's Thesis and Master's Project

Computer Science Department

Illinois Institute of Technology

Introduction

Students in the Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) program can choose to do a Master's Thesis, Master's Project, or coursework-only. Students in the Master of Computer Science (MCS) program can choose to do a Master's Project or coursework-only (but not a Master's Thesis). A key difference between a Master’s thesis and a project is that the work in a thesis has to be summarized in a thesis report and defended before a committee. While in a project there are no formal requirements for a report or defense, your advisor may require you to write a report.

Step 1: Find an Advisor

The student must find a faculty member who is willing to work with the student and supervise the thesis or project. The advisor and the student should formulate a plan for the work to be done. A Master's Project can consist of a high-quality paper or piece of software.

Faculty members will customarily agree to serve as a thesis or project advisor only when they have an interest in the topic and a high degree of confidence in the ability of the student to complete the thesis or project. Students cannot do a thesis or project unless they find a faculty advisor.

Step 2: Carry Out the Work

Once an advisor was identified you will sign up for CS591 (thesis) or CS597 (project) credits with the advisor and carry out the research. You will normally have weekly meetings with the advisor and will have to write reports. The research period for a Master’s thesis is normally a year (2 regular semester and one summer semester). The work period for a project can vary. There are some limits on the total number of cs591/cs597 credits a student may take as described below.

Step 3: Defend Your Work (Thesis option only)

Once the work to be done has been completed you will need to summarize it in a thesis report. You will have to get approvals for the report from your advisor and a thesis examiner.

In addition you will have to form a thesis committee. Your advisor will be the chair of the committee and will help you to form the committee. The committee must include one additional CS faculty member and may include additional faculty members as needed. There is a form that needs to be filled to form the committee.

Note the following:

A student must be registered in the semester in which the oral defense is taken.
Defenses are open to the public and should be announced using the department mailing list at least 48 hours in advance. The scheduling of a defense must meet the deadlines established by the Graduate School. The student is responsible for sending an abstract to the department coordinator.
After the oral defense, the committee chair should report the result using Form 303.
The student must obtain preliminary and final approval of the thesis from the Thesis Examiner using forms 501A and 501B.

Should a student fail the oral defense of a thesis a second time, the committee must decide whether the student will be required to pursue the coursework-only option for the degree. A student has the right to appeal the result of a thesis defense by submitting an appeal in writing to the Department Chair within two weeks of notification of the result.

Coursework Limits for a Project or Thesis

Up to 6 credit hours of master's project (CS 597: Reading and Special Problems) may be used toward an MSCS or MCS degree.
Up to 5 credit hours of a master's thesis (CS 591: Research and Thesis for the MS Degree) may be used toward an MSCS degree. (With advisor approval, up to 3 additional CS 591 credits can be added.)
MSCS students working on a thesis can take a maximum combined total of 8 credit hours of CS 591 and CS 597.
To use as a master's thesis, at least 5 credit hours of CS 591 are required
To use its credits toward an MSCS, the student must successfully defend the thesis.