Honors Research in Computer Science
Students pursuing honors in research as part of their degree must complete the following requirements in addition to their standard degree requirements while maintaining a minimum major GPA of 3.3:
- CSC 200H: Undergraduate Problem Seminar
- CSC 391H: Independent Study
- CSC 395H: Senior Honors Thesis
The degree of honors awarded (“honors in research,” “high honors in research,” or “highest honors in research”) is determined by the computer faculty in consultation with the student's honors committee. The quality of the thesis, its presentation, and other computer science research and publications throughout the student's undergraduate career are all considered.
Honors Program Timeline
Junior Year - Spring Semester
- Take CSC 200H
- Identify your primary computer science faculty advisor for your honors thesis project
Senior Year - Fall Semester
- Complete the Independent Study Approval Form with your supervising advisor, typically the same as your thesis advisor, and send to smills14@cs.rochester.edu
- After approval, register for CSC 391H
- Formulate and refine a research topic for your honors thesis
- Identify an additional computer science faculty member to serve as a secondary committee member, in consultation with the primary advisor; approval by the primary advisor is needed for non-computer science faculty members.
Senior Year - Spring Semester
- Complete the Thesis Form with your honors thesis committee members and send to smills14@cs.rochester.edu
- After approval, register for CSC 395H
- Write and submit your final thesis to your committee no later than April 1
- Present the thesis in a public seminar and successfully defend it in a private oral examination by (at least) the thesis committee and an additional faculty member chosen by the student
- Prepare a poster and present your work at Hajim Senior Design Day