Algoma University College
Computer Science 4235
Thesis in Computer Science
Fall and Winter 1996/97
(Atleast one meeting a week to be arranged with your advisor)

Coordinator: Dr. Pawan J. Lingras

Description:
This six credit course provides you, as a student in a four year specialization program, with the opportunity to pursue a particular topic of interest to you under the supervision of a faculty member. You will be expected to gain and to demonstrate an understanding of the literature on the topic of interest. Furthermore, you will have to demonstrate a degree of originality in interpreting the topic. This could take the form of a computer program, an original contribution to the topic, a critical analysis, or a synthesis of the literature.

Formal requirements for the course:

1. Selection of a topic, in collaboration with a faculty member who is prepared to act as supervisor. You should complete this task during the period of academic consultation at the end of the third year. At this time, particular attention should be paid to identifying any required resources which would need funding or lead time to acquire.
2. Completion of a project proposal. The proposal includes a description of the topic, the format of the project, the planned stages of progress, and the name of the second reader of the report. This requirement should be completed no later than the second week of lectures in September of your fourth year. The project proposal will be presented for approval by the department and will be subject to revision until a mutually acceptable proposal is achieved.
3. Attendance at a series of workshops and seminars offered by the department You are required to attend workshops presented by faculty members on course-related topics such as thesis writing and oral presentations. You are also expected to attend academic seminars presented by other students, by faculty and by guests to the department.
4. Two oral presentations You will present a brief progress report near the end of the first term or at the begining of second term. This report will provide an opportunity to get feedback from your supervisor and other students and faculty. At the end of the academic year, you will present the results of your work in the course in a thirty minute seminar.
5. A written report You will present three copies of a document which outlines the topic according to the literature investigated and describes your own work. The report will be in academic style with good writing and organization and citation of all sources of information. The due date for the thesis document will be at the end of March, sufficiently ahead of the oral presentation to allow time for department members to read the report.

Tentative Marking Scheme

Scholarly Work			55%
	Knowledge of the subject
	Originality
	Use of library and references
Form			45%
	Mid-term Oral Presentation	10%
	Final Oral Presentation	15%
	Written Report	20%
____________________	________________________________________	_________	_________
Total			100%

Deadlines

The project proposal includes four deadlines. At each deadline, the work you have committed yourself to must be completed. At your supervisor's discretion, you may lose up to 5 marks per deadline (a possible total of 20 from a final grade out of 100) for work not submitted on time. In extreme cases, you may be advised to withdraw from the thesis course if sufficient progress has not been demonstrated by the second deadline. This may seem extreme but the major cause of problems for thesis students in previous years has been a failure to set and follow a work schedule.

Important Dates

September 20, 1996	Proposal completed
November 1, 1996	First deadline
December 2-6, 1996	Second deadline, oral presentation
March 1, 1997	Third deadline, first full draft of doc to supervisor
March 15, 1997	Fourth deadline, three copies of document submitted
April 10, 1997	Thesis conference, Algoma University College