CSCI 497 - Senior Seminar

Fall 2014

Types of Thesis Projects

Research

• Goal: Introduce a new algorithm/language/framework.
• Claim: It improves upon the state-of-the-art in some way.
• Code is a means, not an end
  • The purpose of programming is to investigate the claim.

Software Development

• Goal: Develop a software artifact to meet a particular need or want.
  • Code is the end and not just the means.
• Claim: The developed artifact meets the need or want.
  • Assessing this claim is a key part of the thesis.

Exposition

• Goal: Describe a wide variety of solutions to a specific problem in computing.
• Claim: These solutions have certain assets/features/benefits as well as certain drawbacks/weaknesses. Solutions involve tradeoffs between X, Y, and Z.