Project

The project path directs students to research and develop a new solution to a known problem. The research, development, testing, evaluation and resulting demonstration make up the deliverables for the project. Often a project implements an idea proposed in a dissertation or peer reviewed article. Often the research used provides expected outcomes to test the correctness of the project. Also major software or hardware development projects may qualify for the project option.

Thesis

The thesis path directs students to apply new or known ideas often found in peer reviewed articles, books or dissertations to unique circumstances. The thesis should apply the idea to a concrete dataset to validate or invalidate the idea’s application to the circumstances. A thesis may also propose new ideas that it subsequently validates or invalidates through experimental or logical/mathematical methods.