University of Arkansas - CSCE Department
Master of Science (M.S.) Thesis or Project Proposal
TITLE
Student: student name
Faculty Advisor: Dale R. Thompson
Abstract
1-2 paragraphs
1 Introduction
1.1 Problem
Write a few paragraphs focused on the problem (not the solution approach), its importance, and
the impact of not having a solution.
When picking a research topic for a dissertation or a thesis judge the topic by answering the
following three questions.
 Is the research significant?
 Is the research original?
 Is the research doable (capable of being done)?
1.2 Literature Review
Develop the background. This section should be 1-2 pages on what other researchers or
developers have accomplished in this project area including references. There should be
approximately 10 references from journals and conferences listed. There should be very few
books referenced.
1.3 Objective
State the objective of this project and the rationale in 1 to 2 sentences.
2 Method
Tell the reader what you plan to do and how you will accomplish it. It should be 1 to 2 pages. It
should include a list of tasks and a schedule as shown below.
2.1 Tasks
1.
2.
Understand/gain background …
Simulate given scenario
Title (via View/HeaderFooter) – Student Name
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Design new experiment
Implementation it
Test it
Demonstrate it
Document it
2.2 Schedule
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Understanding: 8/15/04 – 8/31/04
Design: 9/1/04 – 9/15/04
Implement: 9/16/04 – 9/30/04
Test: 10/1/04 – 10/15/04
Demonstrate: 10/16/04 – 10/31/04
Document: 11/1/04 – 11/15/04
3 Deliverables
A M.S. thesis or project may be the end of a student’s graduate program, but it is an intermediate
step in research for the faculty advisor. A student should understand that the finished project
many times is handed off to another student to extend. Therefore, any code generated should be
available in one directory and documented so that a new student can begin. The preferred
directory structure is to have one directory and under that directory should be a “readme.txt” file
and the subdirectories /bin, /obj, /src, /docs, /data, etc. The “readme.txt” should introduce the
code and give the directory structure. In addition, a Makefile for compiling is required. The /docs
directory should contain an “install.txt” file explaining out to install the code and a
“user_guide.txt” on how to use the code. It should also include the final report in IEEE
Proceedings format and the final PowerPoint presentation. The PowerPoint presentation should
contain a flow diagram of the program.



Code and data in one directory
Final report in IEEE Proceedings format
PowerPoint presentation
4 Key Personnel
Student – student name – Lastname is a junior/senior/graduate student in the Computer Science
and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Arkansas. She/He has completed
relevant courses. Optionally, any relevant experience.
Mentor - Dr. Dale R. Thompson – Dale R. Thompson is an Assistant Professor at the
University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical
Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1990 and 1992, respectively. He received his
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University in 2000. He worked as an
Electronics Engineer in the communications group at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and
Development Center in Vicksburg, MS from 1992 to 2000. He has been with the Department of
University of Arkansas M.S. Project Proposal – page 2
Title (via View/HeaderFooter) – Student Name
Computer Science and Computer Engineering at the University of Arkansas since 2000. Dr.
Thompson’s research interests are network design, survivable networks, and grid computing.
5 References
1. D. R. Thompson and G. L. Bilbro, “Sample-sort simulated annealing,” IEEE
Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics – Part B: Cybernetics, vol. 35, no. 3, pp.
625-632, June 2005.
2. D. R. Thompson and G. L. Bilbro, “Comparison of a genetic algorithm with a simulated
annealing algorithm for the design of an ATM network,” IEEE Communications Letters,
vol. 4, no. 8, pp. 267-269, 2000.
3. D. R. Thompson and A. W. Apon, “Public Network Technologies and Security,” in The
Handbook of Information Security (H. Bidgoli, Ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons,
in press.
4. D. R. Thompson and A. W. Apon, “Public Networks,” in The Internet Encyclopedia, vol.
3, H. Bidgoli, Ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2004, pp. 166-176.
5. J. White and D. R. Thompson, “Load balancing on a grid using data characteristics,” in
Proc. Int’l Conf. Grid Computing and Applications (GCA), Las Vegas, June 20-23, 2005.
6. A. Khan and D. R. Thompson, “Solving the WDM network operation problem using
dynamic synchronous parallel simulated annealing,” in Proc. IEEE Southeastcon, Ft.
Lauderdale, FL, April 8-10, 2005.
7. D. R. Thompson, B. Maxwell, and J. P. Parkerson, “Building the big message
authentication code,” in Proc. 8th World Multiconference on Systemics, Cybernetics and
Informatics (SCI 2004), vol. 2, Orlando, FL, July 18-21, 2004, pp. 544-549.
8. D. R. Thompson and S. Shin, “Mean value analysis of a database grid application,” in
Proc. 3rd Int’l Conf. Networking, Guadeloupe, French Caribbean, March 1-4, 2004, pp.
775-780.
9. D. R. Thompson and M. T. Anwar, “Parallel recombinative simulated annealing for
wavelength division multiplexing,” in Proc. Int’l Conf. Communications in Computing
(CIC), Las Vegas, NV, June 23-26, 2003, pp. 212-217.
10. J. White and D. R. Thompson, “Using census data for grid partitioning,” poster at
Oklahoma Supercomputing Symposium, Norman, OK, Oct. 6-7, 2004.
11. D. R. Thompson, A. Apon, Y. Yara, J. Mache, and R. Deaton, “Training a grid
workforce,” poster at Oklahoma Supercomputer Symposium, Norman, OK, Sep. 25,
2003.
12. B. Maxwell, D. R. Thompson, G. Amerson, and L. Johnson, “Analysis of CRC methods
and potential data integrity exploits,” in Proc. Int’l Conf. Emerging Technologies,
Minneapolis, MN, Aug. 25-26, 2003.
University of Arkansas M.S. Project Proposal – page 3