Masters of Engineering Thesis Project Program Review Charles G. Sodini Howard E. Shrobe EECS Department October 12, 2001

Agenda 9:00 - 9:30 Coffee & Danish 9: :00Overview of Program - C. Sodini 10: :55 Student Thesis Progress Posters 10: :05BREAK 11: :00Student Thesis Progress Posters 12:00 - 1:00Lunch 1:00 - 1:55Student Thesis Progress Posters 2:00 - 2:55Student Thesis Progress Posters 2:55 - 3:10BREAK 3:10 - 3:30Wrap-up Discussion 4:00 - 5: Class

Masters of Engineering Degree Principal department professional degree 5 year combined Bachelor’s and Master’s degree General Institute and Department requirements 9 subjects from Engineering Concentrations –EE or CS –4 Graduate subjects 24 unit (2 course) Thesis

Motivation Examine applications of research technology Many research contracts require demonstrations –Not generally suitable for PhD students –Perfect for MEng students Educational Opportunity - Capstone project MEng thesis needs a “process”

Program Implementation 1st semester Senior2nd semester SeniorSummerGraduate Year Course State-of-art research Previous demo systems Initial proposal Teams (2 o r 3) Supervisor Project Planning Refine proposal Execute feasibility studies Schedule, Budget Project Execution System design Fabrication and Testing Demonstration Demonstration presentation to Board Thesis Industrial visits Proposal presentation to Board (Industry, Faculty. Sr. Grad students)

Thesis Project Mentoring Resources Technical Mentoring –Sam Lefian - Research Engineer –Research Groups Project Management - Art Chen –Lectures on Project Management –Available starting Fall 2001

Educational Components Breadth of Knowledge –Prototype fabrication coupled with state-of-the-art research Communication of Ideas –Semiannual oral presentations –Proposal, Project Reviews, Demonstration Creativity –Innovative prototype ideas using state-of-the-art technology Project Planning –Functional prototype realization Teamwork –Single team or with a Research group

Positive Aspects reported by Students Appreciate the help with the “process” of the MEng Thesis Exposure to a variety of research topics in EECS Research talks provide a “rolodex” for later in life

Enrollment Class Class Class 2002 –Fall - 12 (Started with 32) –Spring - 9 continued and added 7 Why the loss of enrollment? –Requirement of Teams –Timing Students say choice is too early Faculty want projects to start more quickly

Student Support Summer funding available to students who complete & –Allows students to “come up to speed” with particular research group without cost to Research Group Expectation is that students will be funded during grad year by combination of: –RA from Research Groups –TA from Department –Program funds All students in past years have been funded during their grad year