Requirements
The project pattern requires six half-courses, one of which may be CISC 897, and the completion of a major (theoretical or programming) project. In this case, the Fall and Winter terms (September to April) are largely devoted to fulfilling course requirements, while the following Summer term is spent on the project. Courses are chosen by the student on condition that at least one course from each of our course categories is chosen.
The requirements for the project pattern program can be fulfilled within three terms of full-time study. Please note that the Project MSc is not funded.
Project
A project is chosen after consulting with potential supervisors. The amount of flexibility allowed in pursuing a particular topic will vary according to the supervisor's needs and interests.
The project should normally require between two and four months of full time work (or one term), and be comparable in work load to two CISC graduate level half courses.
Evaluation
A written report of the project is submitted by the student and is then independently evaluated by each member of a committee of three. The committee consists of:
- the supervisor,
- a School examiner and
- the Director (or delegate, usually the Graduate Chair).
The ultimate authority for appointing members of the committee lies with the Director. The chair of the committee, who is allowed to vote, is the Director (or delegate, usually the Graduate Chair). All outcomes of the project examination require at least two votes. If the initial decisions are not all in agreement then the project should be discussed before an outcome is decided.
Outcomes
There are three possible outcomes of the project examination: PASSED, REFERRED, and FAILED. These are patterned on the decisions of an MSc thesis exam.
- A project is PASSED if it is acceptable in its present form or requires minor revisions. In the case of minor revisions, the supervisor is responsible for informing the student of the required changes and for verifying that the changes have been made.
- A project is REFERRED if it is not acceptable in its present form, but could be acceptable pending major revisions. The chair, in consultation with the committee, communicates a list of revisions to the student in writing. A copy of this letter will be sent the Graduate Coordinator. The revised project is then re-examined by the entire committee and can either be PASSED or FAILED.
- The third outcome of a project examination is FAILED. In the case that a project is failed, the student must withdraw from the program. In all cases the outcome of the project should be decided and communicated to the student, as well as the graduate coordinator, at most two weeks (ten working days) after every member of the committee has received it.