All Master's students must keep an eye on the end game.  Be aware that there are some things to be done just before you graduate.  You can also check the Timeline for a general overview.

The Seminar

Every MS student on the thesis or project track must present their results in a department seminar. The seminar must be held prior to the comprehensive exam (see below).  Students on the courses-only track are not required to present a final seminar.

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The Comprehensive Examination

The Division of Graduate Education requires all MS students at MSU to take an exam called, the Comprehensive Examination, just prior to graduation. For project (Plan B) students, the Comprehensive Examination is the only exam required. Thesis (Plan A) students must also take another exam called the Defense of Thesis. These examinations must be scheduled in accordance with the rules and deadlines of the Division of Graduate Education.

The Computer Science Department has settled on the following examination structure to satisfy Division of Graduate Education requirements.

• Both project and thesis students will take a single, two-stage final exam.
• The two-stage exam consists of a public seminar in which a student presents the results of his or her project or thesis, followed by a closed-door oral exam on the same or a later day.
• For project students, this two stage exam will constitute the required Comprehensive Examination.
• For thesis students this two-stage exam will constitute both the Comprehensive Examination and the Defense of Thesis.

The oral component of the Comprehensive Examination will focus on two aspects:

• the student's project or thesis
• coursework on the Program of Study in which the student earned a B- or less

Carefully note, however, that students must be prepared to answer computer science specific questions that naturally arise during the examination of their project or thesis, providing them the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to synthesize knowledge of computer science and apply it to their project or thesis work. Thus, it is strongly recommended that students review their coursework and knowledge of the computer science fundamentals underlying their project or thesis work. For example, questions about the time complexity/computability issues involved in their work are likely to arise, as are questions about the content-specific nature of their work.

The examiners for the oral part of the exam will include all members of the student's graduate committee and any other faculty who desire to take part.

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Updated: 2009-08-27