Senior Thesis or Project Timeline
For those graduating in May
September
Complete and hand in thesis proposal; set timetable and benchmarks with committee; make sure you are enrolled in either CIS 195A (honors thesis) or CIS 95 (non-honors thesis).
NOTE: Student and faculty committee establish due dates for the senior thesis or project. Allow enough time for faculty advisors to read and comment on the draft, for the student to revise the draft in response to their comments, and for the student to hand in the finished project one week before the oral defense meeting.
October
If you are doing an Honors Thesis the Registrar's Office will send a Thesis Recommendation for Honors form to the primary advisor with instructions and deadlines. Have your primary advisor send a copy of this form to the CIS office.
November
Register for spring semester classes; make sure you are registered for either CIS 195B (honors thesis) or CIS 95B (non-honors thesis).
By April 1st
Submit a draft of the thesis to all faculty advisors for comments and recommended changes or additions.
Advisors return the draft with comments and recommended changes or additions by the date agreed upon.
Revise the draft in response to readers' comments and hand in the final version of the project one week before the thesis defense.
Between last week of April/first week of May
Schedule a one-hour thesis defense with all committee members. This one-hour meeting is an opportunity for student and advisors to discuss and assess achievements and reflect on areas for improvement. The faculty advisors determine the grade based on the thesis at this time and complete the Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Studies Grade Sheet, which must be turned into the CIS Office by one of the faculty advisors as soon as possible after the defense. Advisors will email the grade for CIS 95/195 to J. Dobrow, Director for CIS for submission to SIS.
If you are doing an Honors Thesis the Registrar's Office will send a Thesis Recommendation for Honors form to the primary advisor with instructions and deadlines. Have your primary advisor send a copy of this form to the CIS office.
After the defense both the student and advisors must complete Assessment Forms as part of the on-going, university-wide assessment of learning outcomes in departments and programs. Assessment forms will be sent out via email toward the end of the spring semester.
Thesis Copies
Students must submit a copy of their thesis to the Tufts Digital Research Center in Tisch Library before May Commencement. Theses may be submitted electronically or in traditional bound form and should adhere to Tufts Digital Library archival submission guidelines. You must also submit an electronic copy of the manuscript to the CIS office.
For those graduating in December
January of junior year
Complete and hand in thesis proposal; set timetable and benchmarks with committee; register for either CIS 195A (honors thesis) or CIS 95A (non-honors thesis).
NOTE: Student and faculty committee establish due dates for the senior thesis or project. Allow enough time for faculty advisors to read and comment on the draft, for the student to revise the draft in response to their comments, and for the student to hand in the finished project one week before the oral defense meeting.
February of junior year
Make sure that your main advisor fills out a thesis honors form and sends it to the Registrar’s office.
April of junior year
Register for either CIS 195B (honors thesis) or 95B (non-honors) for fall semester.
By November 15 of senior year
Submit a draft of the thesis to all faculty advisors for comments and recommended changes or additions.
Advisors return the draft with comments and recommended changes or additions by the date agreed upon.
Revise the draft in response to readers' comments and hand in the final version of the project one week before the thesis defense.
Between first week of December-December 15
Schedule a one-hour thesis defense with all committee members. This one-hour meeting is an opportunity for student and advisors to discuss and assess achievements and reflect on areas for improvement. The faculty advisors determine the grade based on the thesis at this time and complete the Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Studies Grade Sheet, which must be turned into the CIS Office by one of the faculty advisors as soon as possible after the defense. Advisors will email the grade for CIS 95/195 to J. Dobrow, Director for CIS for submission to SIS.
If you are doing an Honors Thesis the Registrar's Office will send a Thesis Recommendation for Honors form to the primary advisor with instructions and deadlines. Have your primary advisor send a copy of this form to the CIS office.
After the defense both the student and advisors must complete Assessment Forms as part of the on-going, university-wide assessment of learning outcomes in departments and programs. Assessment forms will be sent out via email toward the end of the spring semester.
Thesis Copies
Students must submit a copy of their thesis to the Tufts Digital Research Center in Tisch Library before May Commencement. Theses may be submitted electronically or in traditional bound form and should adhere to Tufts Digital Library archival submission guidelines. You must also submit an electronic copy of the manuscript to the CIS office.