Research Option

If you are working on an undergraduate research project, you should consider Research Option. Completing Research Option will make your grad school or job application really stand out! It shows that you have completed a serious, in-depth research project. That demonstrates the kinds of skills both graduate schools and employers are most looking for. It's also a great way to get to know faculty and grad students, and learn about an area of research in real depth.

What is Research Option?

To complete research option, you must:

• Complete 9 units of supervised research.
  • Research can either be for credit (CS 2699 or 4699), or for pay (CS 2698 or CS 4698, audit-only classes).
  • For research for pay to count towards the completion of research option, you must be registered for the appropriate audit-only research for pay class.
  • Research must be completed over at least two, preferably three terms.
• Take the class LCC 4700, Writing an Undergraduate Thesis
  • A completed thesis proposal is required for admission to the class. You must finish your proposal the semester before the term you wish to take LCC 4700.
• Write an undergraduate thesis about your research.
  • An undergraduate thesis is expected to be similar to a long journal article in the field.
  • Theses must be read and approved by two faculty members (the project's advisor,and one other).

Completion of Research Option is noted on your official transcript. In the College of Computing, Research Option is offered for both the Computer Science and Computational Media degrees.

How do I Find an Advisor and Research Project?

Is there an area of computer science or computational media that really interests you? If so, then read more about that area and find out which faculty are doing work in the area. Have you had a class with a professor you really liked? Look on the we band read about his/her work. When you are thinking about who to work with,consider both the research area and the person. Is this faculty member nice? Will he/she find enough time to work with you? Ask your friends--do you know people who have worked with this person before? Get to know the grad students who work with this faculty member. If you will be primarily working with a grad student, what is he/she like?

After you have identified one or two possible advisors, read everything you can about their work. Do your homework--don't approach someone cold. Then email the professor letter describing your interest, and asking if you could meet with them to discuss it. If they hold regular office hours, you can drop by during that time .Attach a copy of your resume (or link to your resume available online) to your email.

Don't approach lots of people--pick one or two and be really prepared.If you are able to work for course credit, remember to say so. Many faculty have limited money to pay students, but will supervise projects for credit. A job that is initially for credit may turn into a research job for pay later.

You don't need to have a specific idea of exactly what you want to do.An interest in a general area of research and some tentative areas to explore is a good start. Your advisor has lots of big research projects under way, and may wish to find a piece of one of those projects for you to work on.If you do have a specific idea for a research project, feel free to discuss that with your potential advisor. However, make sure to be flexible and listen carefully to the faculty member's response to your suggestions.

In your first term, you may start off doing work that is simply the hard work underlying part of a bigger project. That's OK--that's how you learn. However, as time goes on, make sure your own part of the project has its own research goals, and there is something you can personally take credit for.

What is a thesis proposal?

A thesis proposal must be completed the semester before you wish to take LCC 4700. The proposal must be signed by your academic advisor and additional faculty thesis reader. A thesis proposal must include:

• A literature review, showing that you understand the research area an dhow the research to be conducted fits into that area.
• A description of the problem and its importance.
• A work plan and schedule for its completion. The minimum amount of work to be completed to earn Research Option must be clearly described.

Thesis proposals are normally completed at the end of your first term of research,but must be completed at the latest before the start of your final term of research.
How are Theses Graded?
The faculty advisor and additional faculty thesis reader must evaluate work on these criteria:

• Originality
• Understanding of the field
• Writing
• Contribution to the field
• Completeness

A letter grade is assigned on each of these criteria. The over-all thesis grade is the average of these component grades, for both graders.

Can I do Inter-Disciplinary Research?

Absolutely. If your advisor is from your home department, your reader may be from another department. If you wish to complete Research Option with a primary advisor not from your own degree program, then you need to write a short proposal explaining what sort of research you plan to do. This proposal must be approved by the UROC faculty committee. Before you write it up,email uroc@cc.gatech.edu and we'll set up an appointment to discuss your plans with you. All reasonable plans are approved.

Who do I Contact with Additional Questions?

Email uroc@cc.gatech.edu and we'll be happy to help!