Revised Oct 15, 2015

CS 499T: Honours Thesis

General description

CS 499T provides exceptional students with the opportunity to do research under the supervision of a professor and to write a thesis summarizing results.

Logistics

Audience

• CS 499T is intended for exceptional students who share a mutually beneficial area of interest with a Computer Science instructor.

Related courses

• Pre-requisites: A topic and detailed thesis proposal and the names and signatures of professors who are willing to serve as the supervisor and the second reader; Computer Science students only

Required preparation

Students contemplating the CS 499T course should meet the following requirements: strong academic achievement, typically resulting in a major average of at least 80%, strong writing skills, and sufficient background knowledge to develop a well-crafted proposal.

Students are strongly advised to take the CS 499R reading course in the specific subject area with the goal of writing a proposal at the end of the term. Students who do not follow this route are responsible for independently reaching an equivalent level of preparation, including a proposal that their supervisor finds acceptable. Another way to prepare for the course is to complete a URA.

For official details, see the UW calendar.

Procedure

The student has to find a CS instructor who is willing to manage the course. The student should be aware that supervising a thesis is not generally part of an instructor's duties. An instructor's "reward" for supervising a thesis is usually that the student can help further the other interests of the instructor. The amount of effort for a thesis should be approximately the same as for other 4th year courses.

CS 499T is taken for credit/no credit, with a credit given only if both readers sign off on a thesis that meets the following criteria:

• The student produces a written document indicating a depth of understanding in a topic that goes beyond what is obtained in normal undergraduate education. Paraphrasing existing sources is, by itself, insufficient.
• Original work is encouraged. Students should undertake new analysis, synthesis, measurement, or experimentation. Partial and negative results, including documenting of failed attempts, are acceptable material for inclusion and demonstration of understanding.
• The thesis must be well organized and readable. It is possible for a student to fail the thesis on the basis of writing alone. Students wishing to take CS 499T must submit a form, signed by the supervisor and second reader, to a CS advisor. Co-supervisors are also acceptable, as long as one of them is in Computer Science.