Master's Degree Requirements - Bishop's University

Thesis-Based Master’s

Completing the degree normally requires five one-term 500-level courses, registration and participation in the Graduate Seminar (CS 597), together with a Master’s thesis (CS 599). Courses are chosen by students in consultation with their supervisor. All courses prescribed for a student’s approved program of study are designated as primary. Courses additional to the student’s approved program are designated as secondary. Failure to attain a minimum of 65% in any of the primary courses may result in the student being required to withdraw from the program.

Under certain circumstances, it is permissible for a student admitted to the program to follow an approved graduate-level credit course at another university. All interested students should consult their supervisor and the chair of their department prior to registration in order to obtain further information on procedures and conditions of eligibility.

A thesis proposal should be completed as soon as possible and by the end of the second term in the program at the latest. Students are expected to present their proposal in the Graduate Seminar course and also expected to give more detailed seminars describing their work later.

Thesis topics are chosen after discussion with potential supervisors. The amount of flexibility allowed in pursuing a particular topic will vary according to the supervisor’s needs and interests. Theses are defended before an examining committee consisting of two members of the department, and an external examiner.

Any candidate (full-time or part-time), after initial registration in a thesis must maintain this registration in all successive terms (including the term in which the student is examined) until his/her thesis is completed. Completion means submission of a final grade to the Division after modifications, any retyping involved, etc. Students should note that faculty approval to register in the thesis is given on the understanding that the student will be in regular contact with his/her supervisor, and that thesis research will be actively pursued in each term of registration.

Course-Based Master’s

Completing the degree requires twelve one-term 500-level courses, together with a Master’s project (CS 590). Courses are available during the regular semesters (Fall and Winter), and are chosen by students depending on their interest, their background, and on course availability. The Master’s project is normally available only during the Spring/Summer semester. Failure to maintain a minimum of a 65% cumulative average may result in the student being required to withdraw from the program.

The Master’s project is a capstone course that asks students to pursue a topic or a set of topics in-depth and is therefore a more substantial effort than the usual course work. The topics will be chosen by the department. In addressing the topics students must demonstrate that they have command of the subjects involved, and that they understand and are capable of employing research methods. They must also show evidence of perspective on the topics, and must show that appropriate methodology has been understood and applied. The deliverable for the project is a report (with appended code if applicable) that, in addition to the above, should show that the students are capable of writing a professional technical document. This capstone project is mandatory for all students enrolled in the course-based Master’s and cannot be replaced by other internal or external courses or projects. Students cannot take this course in the first or second terms of their program.

Preparatory Students

Candidates who do not satisfy the admission requirements may be admitted to a qualifying program. If successful in this qualifying period and upon formal application to the Division, the student may eventually proceed to the Master’s program. However, admission to the qualifying program does not imply automatic admission to the Master’s program; at the end of the qualifying period the student will be required to apply for entry into the Master’s program, at which time the department will determine the student’s eligibility. If successful, the student will be informed of this decision by the Dean of the Division.

Credits taken to fulfill the requirements of the qualifying program may not be used for credit for the Master’s degree. Courses taken extra to the program requirements of the qualifying year and which have been successfully completed may be considered for credit towards the Master’s degree.

We may at our discretion replace the requirement of qualifying period with a set of preparatory co-requisites. These co-requisites will consist of undergraduate courses to be taken concurrently with the regular graduate courses. In these circumstances the candidate is admitted directly to the graduate program, but should expect a longer residency in the program. Details of the co-requisite requirements will be communicated to the candidate in the pre-approval email.