Guidelines for Thesis Option for Masters Program in Computer Science
Student

• The thesis consists of two consecutive semester work on a topic of mutual interest between the student and advisor in broadly computer and information systems. 
• The students intending to do thesis option will have to register for the courses COSC 696 and COSC 697.  The graduate coordinator’s name will appear in the schedule as the instructor for the course and the grades recommended by the committee will be entered by the graduate coordinator.
• The student chooses a thesis advisor.  The student and advisor together form a thesis committee consisting of at least two full time faculty members besides the advisor.
• Student should propose a topic for the thesis and get the proposal approved by the advisor in first two weeks of the semester of COSC 696.
• The proposal should include
  • an abstract
  • a brief description of the problem
  • list of equipment or other resources needed
  • expected results
  • time line for the project
• The student must present the proposal to the committee and get the approval.
• The student should incorporate the committee recommendations.
• The student meets with the advisor every week to review the progress.
• At the end of the first semester the student makes a report of the progress and presents to the committee (a week before the final exam schedule)
• The advisor and the committee will recommend a pass/fail grade
• During the second semester (COSC 697) the student continues the work and meets with advisor on regular basis.
• Thesis is written in a style customary for scholarly work in the discipline of Computer Science.
• The first draft of the thesis is due a week after the mid-semester exam.
• The thesis defense is scheduled in consultation with the advisor and the graduate coordinator a week before the final exam schedule.
• The student makes changes to the thesis and submits to the advisor four copies bounded.
• A copy of the approved thesis must be submitted to the graduate coordinator.
• A pass/fail grade is recommended by the committee should be notified to the graduate coordinator to enter the grade in the system.

Advisor

• is a guide and resource for the student
• introduces the student to areas of research which might lead to interesting problems
• informs the graduate coordinator about the formation of the committee.
• ensures that the research problem formulated by the student has sufficient academic challenge and feasible in two semester time frame
• provides guidance in writing of thesis according to the customary style of scholarly work
• assists the student to prepare for the defense
• acts as an advocate for the student during the defense

Defense

• will be announced on bulletin boards
• all faculty and students interested may attend the defense
• thesis committee will evaluates and approves a grade
• upon successful completion of the defense, the members of the thesis committee will sign the signature page of the thesis