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 Checklist for Presenting a Thesis Proposal
Computer Science Department
Carnegie Mellon University

Thesis proposals should be scheduled only during academic periods, before Black Friday -- not during holidays, weekends, etc., and should be scheduled in normal business hours. Exceptions must be approved by the Associate Department Head.

Thesis proposals should be announced to the community at least one week before the presentation. Earlier is even better.

To schedule your thesis proposal:

  1. Check with your thesis committee members to determine two or three possible dates.
    • Thesis Committee: The student's advisor chairs the thesis committee. All other committee members, including the external member, should be agreed upon before the thesis proposal presentation. Members of the student's committee must accept the responsibility of meeting with the student regularly to ensure that the research is progressing in the right direction. The thesis committee should be composed of at least three members who are on the SCS faculty and one member from outside. Normally at least two members are CSD faculty. The external member may be from another department at Carnegie Mellon, or (typically) from outside the University. All thesis committees are subject to departmental approval.

    2.  

  2. Check with Deb (deb@cs) to make sure the day/time isn't already taken by another thesis proposal or oral (no conflicts allowed). She will also help you to find a room.

 

  1. Please remember that at least three thesis committee members (including the Chair) must be physically present for the thesis proposal. If it is necessary to arrange for a speaker phone for a member to be present remotely, or other AV Equipment you must do two things well in advance (at least 5-7 days):
    1. Contact Deb Cavlovich and she will book the phone for you. The phone can then be picked up at and returned to the SCS Help Center on the reserved date.
    2. Contact Deb for a special call-out code number to be set up. You will need a charge number from your advisor to arrange for this.
  1. Once the date/room is scheduled, and AT LEAST one week ahead, send the following items to Deb:

    • Title
    • Date/time/place (for confirmation)
    • Abstract (on-line)
    • Names and affiliation of thesis committee members
    • Pointer to an on-line version of the thesis proposal document, either .pdf or a website.