1. A Guide to Completing the Thesis or Project Concentration
For the
Master of Science in Computer and Information Sciences
School of Computer and Information Sciences
University of South Alabama
April 06
Table of
Contents
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2. Objective
The objective of this document is to provide guidance to the School of Computer and Information Sciences graduate student in the completion of either the thesis or project concentration option for the Master of Science.
Guidance consists of a sequence of required events, as well as associated forms, that must be completed.
A quick access to forms is also provided to the student who is already familiar with the process.
Please advise the Director of CIS Graduate Studies of any errors, omissions, or suggestions for improvement.

3. Terminology The following terms will be used though out this document:
Advisor: Your thesis/project advisor
Committee: Your thesis/project committee
Director: Director of CIS Graduate Studies
Graduate Dean: Dean of the Graduate School
Graduate Faculty: USA graduate faculty

4. Table of Contents Initial Phase (518) Planning Phase (595)
Steps required to begin developing a plan, which is called a prospectus for the thesis concentration or a proposal for the project concentration.
Planning Phase (595)
Steps required to prepare and defend the plan.
Completion Phase (598/599)
Steps required to prepare, defend, and submit the thesis/project to the Graduate School.
Quick Links to Forms and Sites
For the student familiar with the process
References and Web Sites

5. Initial Phase (518) Events in this phase: Complete CIS 518
Get a Thesis/Project Advisor
Declare Thesis/Project Concentration
Apply for graduation

6. Complete CIS 518-Research Methods
Required course for all CIS graduate students.
Objectives: to be able to describe research methods employed in computing research papers and to discuss issues related to integrity in research such as
recognition of prior work,
protection of human subjects in research,
confidentiality in peer review,
honesty in data collection,
honesty in reporting of research, and
ethical guidelines for collaboration between student and mentor

7. CIS 518 (continued)
Emphasis is on experiencing the process of developing a document depending on the choice of concentration
Course-Only option students demonstrate an understanding of CIS research methods by preparing a document in the style of one submitted to a journal.
Thesis/Projects option students demonstrate an understanding of CIS research methods by preparing a prospectus/proposal for their thesis/project problem.
Thesis/Project students can use this course to save time by preparing their literature review, initial draft of their plan, and a timeline for completion during this course.

8. Get a Thesis/Project Advisor
Must be a CIS member of the Graduate Faculty
Do not assume that your choice will agree to be your advisor—make a formal request of the CIS Graduate Faculty member.
Ideally you would have already chosen one of the CIS Graduate Faculty to mentor your final document and presentation in CIS 518.
The Thesis/Project Advisor
Will advise you regarding the selection of other members of your committee (see committee selection)
Will work with the other committee members to guide you through all of the steps involved in completing the thesis or project
Must approve your requests for enrollment in any of the special courses associated with the thesis/project concentration—these are CIS/CSC/ISC 595, CIS 599, and CSC/ISC 598.

9. Declare a Concentration Choice
There are three concentration choices for the Master of Science in Computer and Information Sciences
Thesis Concentration
Project Concentration
Course-only Concentration
When you have made a decision for a concentration, complete a Concentration Declaration and submit it to the Director of CIS Graduate Studies
Get Concentration
Declaration Form

10. Thesis Concentration Choose the Thesis Concentration if you…
have good problem-solving skills*
have good written and oral communication skills*
can work independently with minimal guidance in an unstructured learning environment
have identified an area of personal interest that is not covered in-depth in a traditional course
are willing to extend graduation by one semester
plan to pursue a Ph.D.
*Common to all concentrations

11. Project Concentration
Choose the Project Concentration if you…
have good problem-solving skills*
have good written and oral communication skills*
can work independently with minimal guidance in an unstructured learning environment
have identified a project that is innovative and that is not typically addressed in a course
are willing to extend graduation by one semester are more interested in applications
may pursue a Ph.D. in an applied area
*Common to all concentrations

12. Course-Only Concentration
Choose the Course-only Option if you…
have good problem-solving skills*
have good written and oral communication skills*
work best in collaborative and cooperative activities in a structured learning environment
have interests in a large variety of topics that are available in traditional courses
are unable to extend graduation by one semester
do not have immediate plans to pursue a Ph.D.
*Common to all concentrations

13. Apply for Graduation
It may seem obvious: don’t forget to Apply to the Registrar for Graduation
Application must be made at least two terms before the expected date of graduation
The minimum time to complete the Thesis/Project concentration after CIS 518 is two semesters
If you are unable to complete the requirements during the requested semester, the application will be advanced to the next semester.

14. Planning Phase (595) Events in this phase:
Enroll in the Thesis Prospectus/Project Proposal Course
Form your Committee
If your work includes Human Subjects…
Defend your Plan
After your successful defense

15. The Thesis Prospectus/Project Proposal Course
You must request permission to enroll.
Your Advisor must approve the request.
The Director must approve the request.
An override must be given before you can enroll
Which 595?
CSC and ISC thesis students enroll in CIS 595 to prepare a Thesis Prospectus
CSC Project students enroll in CSC 595 to prepare a Project Proposal
ISC Project students enroll in ISC 595 to prepare a Project Proposal

16. The Thesis Prospectus/Project Proposal Course (continued)
Prerequisites: Successful completion of CIS 518 is required for enrollment in CIS 595, CSC 595, or ISC 595
A minimum of 3 hours of
CIS 595 is required for the Thesis Option
CSC 595 is required for the CSC Project Option
ISC 595 is required for the ISC Project Option
Continuous enrollment in the appropriate 595 is required until the Prospectus/Proposal is satisfactorily defended
Current enrollment in the appropriate 595 is required when the Prospectus/Proposal is defended

17. The Thesis Prospectus/Project Proposal Course (continued)
To request permission to register in a 595 course
Complete the Special Course Permission Form:
Indicate the specific 595 and the number of hours requested.
Obtain approvals from your thesis/project advisor and your coordinator (CSC or ISC).
Attach your 595 objective document—this could be
an output document from CIS 518, or
a description of the research or project problem/goal, or
a document developed from a previous enrollment in 595.
Submit the completed form for final approval to the CIS office.
If approved, an override will be given for the approved 595 and section.
Register for the approved 595 and section.
Get Special Course
Permission Form
Get Special Course
Permission Form

18. Form Your Committee Your Thesis/Project advisor is the committee chair
Consult the Guidelines for Thesis and Dissertations section of the current USA Bulletin.
These guidelines, as they apply to Thesis/Projects in the School of CIS, are summarized below:
Your Thesis/Project advisor must be a member of the School of CIS Graduate Faculty.
With guidance and approval of your Thesis/Project advisor, contact University of South Alabama Graduate Faculty for agreement to be members of your Thesis/Project committee.

19. Form Your Committee (continued)
Your Committee must consist of at least three University of South Alabama Graduate School Faculty:
A majority of the committee members must be CIS Graduate Faculty.
A Thesis committee must have at least one non-CIS Graduate Faculty member.
A Project committee may have a non-CIS Graduate Faculty member.

20. Form Your Committee (continued)
As soon as the composition of your committee members has been decided, you and your Advisor should complete the Thesis/Project Committee Appointment Form and submit it for approval to the Director, who then forwards it to the Graduate Dean for final approval.
Consult the CIS 518 required text, Writing the Doctoral Dissertation: A Systematic Approach, 2nd Edition, by Gordon E. Davis and Clyde A. Parker, Barrons, 1997 for insight into the following topics:
Thesis/Project Advisor responsibilities
Student responsibilities
Thesis/Project committee responsibilities
Get Committee
Appointment Form

21. If Your Work Will Involve Human Subjects…
Study The IRB Handbook for the Student Researcher
Obtain the NIH Office of Humans Subject Certificate on the Protection of Human Research
Complete the Student Application to IRB for approval to use Human Subjects
Get IRB Handbook
Student Researcher
Get Student
Application to IRB

22. Your Prospectus/Proposal Defense
You must be currently enrolled in
CIS 595 for a Thesis Prospectus defense,
CSC 595 for a CSC Project Proposal defense,
ISC 595 for an ISC Project Proposal defense.
Must have approval to proceed from your Committee
You are responsible for scheduling your defense date, time, and location with your Committee, the Director, and the room reservation coordinator.

23. Your Prospectus/Proposal Defense (continued)
Your defense request must be submitted at least one week prior to the defense and it must be made Monday - Friday at any time during the instructional period of a semester.
When scheduling the Prospectus/Project defense, consider defending during CIS 518 class time:
This gives current CIS 518 students an opportunity to witness first-hand how a prospectus defense is conducted.
Time and location are already known.
Contact the current CIS C18 professor for a convenient date.
Check with your committee to see if the date and time are acceptable.

24. Your Prospectus/Proposal Defense (continued)
Submit to the Director an electronic copy of the completed CIS Defense Request Form indicating the appropriate defense type, Thesis Prospectus or Project Proposal.
The Director will forward notification of your defense to all other individuals:
the Graduate Dean,
the School of CIS faculty,
CIS Graduate students,
Committee members, and
the School of CIS webmaster for insertion in the School of CIS Current Events Calendar.
Defend your Prospectus/Project as scheduled.
Get CIS Defense
Request Form

25. After the Successful Defense of your Plan…
Modify the Prospectus/Proposal document according to directives from your Thesis/Project committee.
The Graduate School staff reviews the document according to standards for publishing as provided in the Guide for Preparing Thesis. Projects are held to the same standard of publishing as are Theses.
Dr. Hain’s Template for CIS Theses and Projects is an invaluable tool for compliance with document formatting and style requirements.
Get Guide for
Preparing Thesis
Get Dr. Hain’s
Template

26. After the Successful Defense of your Plan… (continued)
Submit your final Prospectus/Proposal document and the completed Thesis Prospectus/Project Proposal Defense Report with committee member signatures to the Director within 10 class days of the defense.
All committee members must approve your Prospectus/Proposal.
These documents are filed in your folder in the School of CIS and become a contract for completing the Thesis/Project.
Any changes to your Prospectus/Proposal must be approved by all committee members and the Director.
Get Proposal/Prospectus
Defense Report Form

27. Assignment of Prospectus/Proposal Grades
Your Advisor will then recommend grades for your outstanding CIS 595/CSC 595/ISC 595 grade(s) to the Director, who is responsible for recording the grade(s).

28. Completion Phase (598/599) Events in this phase:
Enroll in Thesis/Project Course
Thesis/Project Defense
Oral Comprehensive Examination
LAST Revision for your Committee
Originality and Citation Review
FIRST Submission to Graduate School
FINAL Submission
Grade Assignment

29. The Thesis/Project Course
You must request permission to enroll.
Your thesis/project advisor must approve the request.
The Director must approve the request.
An override must be given before you can enroll
In which course should you enroll?
Thesis students, who have defended their Thesis Prospectus, will enroll in CIS 599 to prepare a Thesis according to their defended Thesis Prospectus.
CSC Project students, who have defended their Project Proposal, will enroll in CSC 598 to prepare a Project according to their defended Project Proposal.
ISC Project students, who have defended their Project Proposal, will enroll in ISC 598 to prepare a Project according to their defended Project Proposal.

30. The Thesis/Project Course (continued)
Notes
A minimum of 3 hours of
CIS 599 is required for the Thesis option,
CSC 598 is required for the CSC Project option,
ISC 598 is required for the ISC Project option.
Continuous enrollment in CIS 599, CSC 598, or ISC 598 is required until the Thesis/Project is satisfactorily defended.
Current enrollment in CIS 599/CSC 598/ISC 598 is required for a Thesis/Project defense and for submission of the final document.

31. Enroll in Thesis/Project (continued)
To obtain permission to register for CIS 599/CSC 598/ISC 598
Complete the Special Course Permission Form
Indicate the specific course and the number of hours requested.
Obtain approvals from your thesis/project advisor and your coordinator (CSC or ISC).
Attach your timeline for completing the Thesis/Project.
Submit the completed form for final approval to the Director—this will result in an override for the approved course and section.
Register for the approved course and section.
Get Special Course
Permission Form

32. Your Thesis/Project Defense
You must be currently enrolled in
CIS 599 for a Thesis defense,
CSC 598 for a CSC Project defense,
ISC 598 for an ISC Project defense.
You are responsible for scheduling defense date, time, and location with your Committee members, the Director, and the room reservation coordinator.
Your defense request must be submitted at least one week prior to the defense and it must be made Monday–Friday during the instructional period of a semester.

33. Your Thesis/Project Defense (continued)
To complete the degree requirements in the semester in which you are enrolled, all required steps must be completed successfully, according to the deadlines for First Submission and Final Submission as reported on the University of South Alabama’s Graduate School Calendar for the semester during which your defense is to be made. These required steps are
Final Defense,
Oral Comprehensive Exam,
Final Revision,
Originality and Citation Review,
First Submission, and
Final Submission

34. Your Thesis/Project Defense (continued)
When scheduling the Prospectus/Project defense, consider defending during CIS 518 class time:
This gives current CIS 518 students an opportunity to witness first-hand how a prospectus defense is conducted.
Time and location are already known.
Contact the current CIS C18 professor for a convenient date.
Check with your committee to see if the date and time are acceptable.

35. Your Thesis/Project Defense (continued)
Submit to the Director an electronic copy of the completed Defense Request Form indicating the appropriate defense type, Thesis or Project.
The Director will forward notification of your defense to all other individuals:
the Graduate Dean,
the School of CIS faculty,
CIS Graduate students,
Thesis/Project committee members, and
the School of CIS webmaster for insertion in the School of CIS Current Events Calendar.
Get CIS Defense
Request Form

36. Your Thesis/Project Defense (continued)
Request that the Director prepare and submit a Comprehensive Examination Committee Appointment Request and Evaluation Report to the Graduate Dean for committee appointment approval

37. Your Thesis/Project Defense (continued)
Prepare the Thesis/Project Defense Report with your information for committee member signatures following your successful defense.
Defend your Prospectus/Project as scheduled.
Get CIS Defense
Report Form

38. Your Thesis/Project Defense (continued)
After your successful defense, have your committee members record their judgment of your defense on the Thesis/Project Defense Report that you have prepared.
A majority of the thesis committee must render a judgment of success. Note: this is not the signature page for your Thesis/Project.
Get CIS Defense
Report Form

39. Oral Comprehensive Examination
An Oral Comprehensive Examination is conducted by your CIS Thesis Committee Members immediately following a successful Thesis/Project defense.
Results are reported by your Thesis/Project advisor to the chair of the Comprehensive Examination Committee and the Director.
The members of the Comprehensive Examination Committee initial the final result on the Comprehensive Examination Committee Appointment Request and Evaluation Report.
The Director submits the completed Comprehensive Examination Committee Appointment Request and Evaluation Report to the Graduate Dean.

40. LAST Revision for Your Committee
The thesis committee may require modifications to the Thesis/Project document.
These revisions must be made before the document is submitted for review for originality and citations. The document must be consistent with the Graduate School’s Guide for Preparing Thesis
The content of the Thesis/Project document should not change after the final revisions are made.
Note: Committee members may reserve the right to sign the CIS Thesis/Project Defense Report after they have reviewed your Final Revision for the required modifications.
Get Guide for
Preparing Thesis
Get CIS Defense
Report Form

41. Originality and Citation Review
Turnitin.com is used by the School of CIS for originality and citation review
You will be required to submit an electronic copy of the Thesis/Project document to turnitin.com
You must the Director, for Turnitin.com submission instructions
Your Advisor and the Director examine the turnitin.com reports for any problems with originality and citations.
You will be required to resolve any and all problems with originality and citations and to resubmit the resolutions to turnitin.com if necessary.
When all problems have been resolved, the thesis committee, the appropriate CIS Coordinator, and the Director complete the First Submission Approval Form, which the student submits with the First Submission.

42. Originality and Citation Review (continued)
Turnitin.com originality and citation review
When all problems have been resolved, the thesis committee, the appropriate CIS Coordinator, and the Director of CIS Graduate Studies complete the First Submission Approval Form, which the student submits with the First Submission.
Get First Submission
Approval Form

43. FIRST Submission of your Thesis/Project Document
Submit your Final Revision along with the completed Thesis/Project Defense Report and the First Submission Approval Form to the Graduate School
The Graduate School staff reviews the document according to standards for publishing as provided in the Guide for Preparing Thesis. Projects are held to the same publishing standard as Theses.
Get CIS Defense
Report Form
Get First Submission
Approval Form

44. FIRST Submission of your Thesis/Project Document (continued)
The Graduate Dean reviews thesis documents according to established scholarly standards for USA theses.
Consult the Guidelines for Thesis and Dissertations section of the current USA Bulletin.
The Dean’s review may result in suggestions for modifying the organization, content, and presentation of the document.
The Graduate Dean does not usually review projects.

45. FINAL Submission of Your Thesis/Project Document
A Graduate School Corrections Check Report of the problems with the standards for publishing the document (for thesis and projects) and the Graduate Dean’s suggestions for conforming to standards of thesis scholarship are sent to you, your Advisor, and the Director.
Using the Guide for Preparing Thesis, the Graduate School Corrections Check Report, and the Graduate Dean’s suggestions, you will revise the document for Final Submission
Dr. Hain’s Template for CIS Theses and Projects is an invaluable tool for compliance with document formatting and style requirements.
Get Guide for
Preparing Thesis
Get Dr. Hain’s
Template

46. FINAL Submission of Your Thesis/Project Document (continued)
The Guide for Preparing Thesis indicates the minimum number of bound copies required by the Graduate School (excluding personal copies). The School of CIS requires additional copies.
Graduate School: Four copies required as follows:
Two copies are deposited with the library
One copy is deposited with the Graduate Dean’s office
One copy is given the Thesis Advisor
School of CIS: Additional copies required as follows:
One copy to the Dean of the School of CIS
One copy to all other members of the thesis committee
Personal Copies: as many as desired by the candidate
Paperwork for microfilming and receipt from the Bursar for binding must be submitted to the Graduate School at this time.

47. Assign Thesis Grades
Once the thesis has been accepted by the Graduate School, the Dean of the Graduate School grants permission to the Director to assign grades for the Thesis/Project work.
The Director requests that the Thesis/Project Advisor recommend final grade(s) for Thesis/Project courses.

48. Quick Links to Forms and Sites
Download Forms and Documents
INITIAL PHASE (518)
Concentration Declaration Form
PLANNING PHASE (595)
Special Course Permission Form
Committee Appointment Form
Guide for Preparing Thesis
Dr. Hain’s Template
CIS Defense Request Form
Proposal/Prospectus Defense Report Form
IF HUMAN SUBJECTS ARE INVOLVED
IRB Handbook-Student Researcher
Student Application to IRB
COMPLETION PHASE (598/599)
CIS Defense Report Form
First Submission Approval Form
Web Links
Apply to the Registrar for Graduation
University of South Alabama Graduate Faculty
Guidelines for Thesis & Dissertations
NIH Office of Humans Subject Certificate
Graduate School Calendar
Location of Graduate School
Special
PREPARED BY ACADEMIC COUNSELOR
Comps Committee Form
REQUEST FOR TURNITIN.COM INSTRUCTIONS MUST BE MADE EACH SEMESTER
the Director of CIS Graduate Studies, for the current instructions

49. References And Web Sites
[Davis, 1997] Writing the Doctoral Dissertation: A Systematic Approach, 2nd Edition, by Gordon E. Davis and Clyde A. Parker, Barrons, 1997.
University of South Alabama Bulletin (current year)
University of South Alabama Graduate School Bulletin Information
The Graduate School Website
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