Every student in the MS in Computer Science completes a 6-credit capstone at the end of the program. You first develop and publicly present a proposal in CSC 590. Your committee then decides whether the work continues as a thesis (CSC 591) or as a special project (CSC 595). In either track, you complete the work, write it up in IEEE format, present it publicly, and deliver your final document and project artifacts to the department.
Start Here: The Capstone Guide
The Capstone Guide walks through every step from your first proposal to your diploma. It includes a flowchart for each course, a plain-text description of each flowchart, and the forms and signatures required at each stage. Read it before you approach an advisor.
How the capstone works
- CSC 590 - Proposal Development (3 credits). Work with your faculty advisor to write a capstone proposal. Your advisor and a second reader from the department review and approve it, and you present it publicly to the department. After the presentation, your committee decides whether the work proceeds as a thesis or a special project.
- CSC 591 - Thesis Completion (3 credits). Carry out the research described in your proposal, write your thesis, and defend it publicly. After final approval, you submit your thesis to ProQuest.
- CSC 595 - Special Project Development (3 credits). Build the system described in your proposal, write a technical report on its design, implementation, and evaluation, and present it publicly. You deliver your report, code, and any other artifacts to the department.
Your faculty advisor and your second reader must both approve your work at each stage. Identify a second reader early, because approval from only one reviewer does not satisfy the requirement.
Eligibility
You may begin the capstone after completing 12 credits of graduate coursework with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Start by identifying an area of interest and approaching a faculty member to serve as your advisor. The graduate coordinator can help you find an advisor whose interests match yours.
Registering for CSC 590, 591, or 595
Registration for each capstone course requires the Registration Approval Form. The same form is used for all three courses.
- Complete the form in Adobe Acrobat Reader and sign it digitally. Scanned copies are not accepted.
- Collect the signatures listed on the form: your faculty advisor, the graduate coordinator, and the department chairperson.
- Submit the completed form no later than 3 business days before the start of the term. You will then be registered for the course automatically.
Completing your thesis or special project
When your committee has passed your thesis defense or final project presentation, and you have addressed all of their comments, submit the Acceptance Form. Page 3 of the form gives complete instructions. In brief:
- Complete the form in Adobe Acrobat Reader, including your abstract (250 words maximum), your oral presentation date, and your GitHub repository or other arrangement for delivering your project artifacts.
- Sign the form digitally and email it, with the final PDF of your thesis or report attached, to your advisor, your second reader, the graduate coordinator, and the department chairperson.
- Signatures are collected in the order listed on the form. The graduate coordinator receives the completed form.
Thesis students: the thesis you attach must be the exact version you will submit to ProQuest. Follow the School of Graduate and Professional Studies instructions and semester deadlines on its Student Research page. Your CSC 591 grade is assigned only after your thesis has been submitted to ProQuest.
Document and presentation format
The department requires IEEE style for all capstone documents, including citations, figures, tables, and references. See the IEEE Computer Society Style Guide. Use the department templates below. They follow IEEE style, and each document template is organized to match its presentation template, so your document and your slides share the same outline.
Forms, templates, and guides
Start here
- Capstone Guide — flowcharts and step-by-step descriptions for CSC 590, 591, and 595
Forms
- Registration Approval Form — required to register for CSC 590, 591, or 595
- Acceptance Form — submitted at the end of CSC 591 or CSC 595
Presentation templates (PowerPoint)
- CSC 590 Presentation Template — public proposal presentation
- CSC 591 Presentation Template — thesis defense
- CSC 595 Presentation Template — special project final presentation
Document templates (Word)
- Thesis Document Template — CSC 591 thesis, IEEE style
- Special Project Report Template — CSC 595 technical report, IEEE style
External resources
- School of Graduate and Professional Studies: Student Research — ProQuest formatting, submission, and deadlines
- IEEE Computer Society Style Guide
Questions
Direct questions about the capstone process and forms to the graduate coordinator, Dr. Imad Antonios, at antoniosi1@southernct.edu.