The MBC information booklet - RMIT University

CHAPTER 11 Minor Thesis/Project
11.1 Eligibility
11.1.1 COSC2149 -
Research
Methods
Chapter 11: Minor Thesis/Project
Students need to have obtained a CGPA of at least 3.0 in their specialist and elective
cluster subjects.
Before any thesis or project can be submitted, students must undertake COSC2149 -
Research Methods (see page 45). Sometimes a student is undecided as to whether they
wish to take a minor thesis. Students may undertake Research Methods and then change
their mind and undertake an vocational cluster instead in their final semester (full-time) or
year (part-time).
The minor thesis/project component is available as COSC2179 Minor Thesis/Project.
The duration of the subject is either one year part-time or half a year full-time. If a student
wishes to start their thesis on a part-time basis in second semester, then they have to enrol
in COSC2180 Minor Thesis/Project Part A and then COSC2181 Minor Thesis/Project Part
B instead of COSC2179 Minor Thesis/Project.
Before students start Research Methods they should go to https://inside.cs.rmit.edu.au/
students/pgrad_projects/ and discuss a thesis topic with a potential supervisor. If the
supervisors agree then students will start on the thesis as part of COSC2149 Research
Methods.
Aim
This course is an introduction to research methods in computer science. It explains the
skills needed to successfully complete a thesis/research project in computer science,
exposes students to ways of thinking about research, and teaches general skills for writing
and experimentation.
Objectives
At the conclusion of this course a student should be able to:
• Understand the process of research and development in computer science;
• Utilise tools and methods of research in computer science;
• Prepare and present, in a professional manner, written and oral reports of research:
• Write research proposals.
Syllabus
• The Process of Research
• Writing a Research Proposal
• Library Skills
• Empirical Research
• Writing and Web Skills
• Presentations Research
• Research Management
• Tools for Experiments
• Reading and Assessing Literature
45