M.S.C.S. Thesis Option
Degree Program Assessment Plan
(Approved by the CS faculty on November 22, 2013)
Degree Program:
Department or School:
College:
Assessment Coordinator:
Department Chair or School Director:
Semester of this Program Update:
M.S.C.S. Thesis Option (346001MS)
Computer Science
Buchtel College of Arts & Sciences
Tim O’Neil
Yingcai (Tom) Xiao
Fall 2013
Program Mission and Goals:
The mission of this program is to produce students at the Masters Level who are proficient in
academic skills leading to employment in Computer Science and related fields or admission to
Computer Science Ph.D. programs. The objective is to graduate students within four to five
semesters of full-time academic work.
Previous Program Modifications:
Fall 2011, adjusted admission requirements and application deadlines. Adopted new course
names and numbers (Program Change Proposal #AS_11_060.)
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will be able to conduct research in finding advanced solutions to computing
problems.
2. Students will be able to apply advanced knowledge and skills in solving complex
computing problems.
3. Students will be able to communicate effectively about complex computing solutions.
Assessment Plan:
Learning Outcome 1: Students will be able to conduct research in finding advanced solutions to
computing problems.
Rubric for Learning Outcome 1: Student will work with a thesis advisor to formulate an
original problem to be addressed by the M.S.C.S. thesis, then investigate, design and implement
a solution. The thesis committee will assess the student’s work using the following rubric:
1
0
Unacceptable
The student is
unable to
conduct
research.
1
Poor
The student
needs
significant
guidance to
conduct
research.
2
Acceptable
The student needs
some guidance to
conduct research.
3
Good/Solid
The student can
conduct research
independently
with minimal
guidance.
4
Exemplary
The student can
conduct research
independently.
Score
Learning Outcome 2: Students will be able to apply advanced knowledge and skills in solving
complex computing problems.
Rubric for Learning Outcome 2: Student will formulate an original problem to be addressed
by the M.S.C.S. thesis. The thesis committee will evaluate both this formulation and the
proposed solution. Student work will be scored using the following rubric:
0
Unacceptable
Problem
proposed is
either not
original or its
description is
unclear.
Solution is
disorganized
and incorrect.
1
Poor
Problem
proposed is
original but its
description
erroneous
and/or very
difficult to
follow.
Solution
difficult to
follow with
significant
errors.
2
Acceptable
Problem proposed
is original and its
description can be
followed with
some difficulty.
3
Good/Solid
Problem
proposed is
original and its
description can
be followed with
little difficulty.
4
Exemplary
Problem proposed
is original and
clearly described.
Solution can be
followed but has
some errors.
Solution can be
followed and is
mostly correct.
Solution is logical,
organized and fully
correct.
Score
Learning Outcome 3: Students will be able to communicate effectively about complex
computing solutions.
Rubric for Learning Outcome 3: Student will publicly defend his/her M.S.C.S. thesis orally.
The thesis committee will evaluate both the organization and grammar of the written document,
and the organization and understandability of the defense. Student thesis and oral presentation
will be scored using the following rubric:
0
Unacceptable
The student
cannot write
well even with
detailed
feedback.
The student is
unable to
1
Poor
The student can
eventually write
adequately with
much detailed
feedback.
The presentation
is basically
2
Acceptable
The student can
write adequately
with much
feedback.
3
Good/Solid
The student can
write well with
some feedback.
4
Exemplary
The student can
write well
independently.
The presentation
is basically
The presentation
is very
The presentation is
completely
2
Score
present his/her
work
coherently.
understandable
but with many
places lacking
coherence.
understandable
but is unclear in
several places.
understandable
but may be
unclear in a
couple of places.
understandable.
Data Collection Plan:
Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3: Data will be collected during the thesis defense at the end of
the student’s program of study.
3