Guidelines for Directed Study and Thesis
When you are in unconditional status and finish or almost finish your 500-level graduate course work, you should plan for your thesis work.
The first step of your thesis work is to find an advisor. You should talk to at least three professors before you decide whom you'd work with. You may check the Faculty Research Interests to find faculty members whose research interests may fit your needs.
After finding your advisor, you should register for CS 691 (Directed Study). You work with your advisor to develop a thesis proposal.
After you complete at least 3 units of CS 691 and your proposal has been approved by your advisor, you should form a thesis committee. All of your committee members should read the thesis proposal and sign the cover page.
After your thesis proposal is signed by three committee members, you will receive a letter grade for CS 691. Your advisor and the graduate coordinator will do the grade assignment work.
After you receive a letter grade in CS 691, you may register for CS 696. You work with your thesis committee on your thesis.
Make sure on the quarter of graduation you need to be registered in either CS 696 or CS 699.