Typical M.S. Program Timetable

The following timetable concisely describes all of the activities and deadlines for completing the M.S. degree in four semesters.

 

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Your major professor and committee

Select your major professor (usually the same as initial faculty advisor).

 

​Finalize your committee membership.

Work with your major professor and committee to finalize and approve your plan of study.

 

Work with your major professor and committee on your thesis or directed project proposal.

Work with your major professor and committee on your thesis or direct project.

Begin working with your initial faculty advisor or major professor to develop your official plan of study.

Work with your major professor to finalize your plan of study.

File your electronic plan of study. An electronic work flow executes to secure the required plan of study approvals.

As necessary, file any changes to the electronic plan of study.

NOTE: If electronic plan of study is not full executed by the start of the first day of classes, a financial penalty fee is assessed.

As necessary, file any changes to the electronic plan of study. No penalty fees for late changes.

Your coursework

Begin your coursework. It is recommended that coursework be limited to 'safe' selectives that you are reasonably certain will be approved by any faculty committee.

You should be continuing your Complete statistics selective (if not already completed).

Continue your coursework, ideally as part of an approved plan of study.

If you do not have an approved plan of study buy now, you are at risk of taking courses that may not be approved for your degree.

Continue completing the exact courses on your plan of study. It must be exact; otherwise, you need to revise your plan of study.

Complete TECH 646 in which your thesis or directed project proposal is written in these courses.

Complete any remaining coursework, exactly as specified on your plan of study.​

Your thesis or
directed project

If offered, complete the CIT Research Seminar course. The purpose of this course is to stimulate your thinking about your research.

It is highly recommended that you attend at least one student's final thesis or directed project defense.

With mentorship from faculty advisor, identify your thesis or directed project research idea.

Again, it is highly recommended that you attend  at least one student's final thesis or directed project defense - some major professors will ask you to attend the oral defenses of their other students.

Register for one credit hour of CNIT 69800 (thesis) or CNIT 59800 (directed project). You will need your major professor's signature as the instructor.

Write your thesis or directed project proposal
(Chapters 1-3) as part of CNIT 69800 or 59800.  NOTE: Most students also register for TECH 64600 because writing the proposal is part of that course's deliverables.

Orally defend your proposal to your committee.

It is recommended that you attend at least one student's final thesis or directed project defense.

Immediately initiate any required IRB approvals for use of human subjects in research -- including surveys. These can take time to get the required approvals.

Complete your research or project.

Write thesis or directed project final report.

Schedule your oral thesis or directed project defense. There is a published deadline every semester, and the scheduling must occur with at least two weeks lead-time -- no exceptions!

Complete your thesis format review meeting a couple days prior to your oral defense.

Complete your oral defense.

Make final changes to your written document and deposit it.

Your graduation

    Submit a paper for external publication. For most students, the paper is related to the student's research area or course work. The paper may be co-authored with faculty.

CIT publication requirement completed (if not already completed).

Complete Graduate School exit survey.

Complete CIT exit survey.

Order cap and gown as necessary for graduation commencement ceremony.

Attend graduation commencement ceremony, if desired.

Celebrate your accomplishment.

The minimum timetable would be three semesters.