Masters of Engineering Thesis Project Program Review

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Masters of Engineering Thesis Project Program
Review
Charles G. Sodini Howard E. Shrobe EECS
Department http//www-mtl.mit.edu/MEngTP/MEng_WEB.
html October 12, 2001
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Agenda

• 900 - 930 Coffee Danish
• 930 - 1000 Overview of Program - C. Sodini
• 1000 - 1055 Student Thesis Progress Posters
• 1055 - 1105 BREAK
• 1105 - 1200 Student Thesis Progress Posters
• 1200 - 100 Lunch
• 100 - 155 Student Thesis Progress Posters
• 200 - 255 Student Thesis Progress Posters
• 255 - 310 BREAK
• 310 - 330 Wrap-up Discussion
• 400 - 500 6.191 Class

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Masters of Engineering Degree

• Principal department professional degree
• 5 year combined Bachelors and Masters degree
• General Institute and Department requirements
• 9 subjects from Engineering Concentrations
• EE or CS
• 4 Graduate subjects
• 24 unit (2 course) Thesis

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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

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

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

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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

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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

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Enrollment

• Class 2000 - 7
• Class 2001 - 7
• 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

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Student Support

• Summer funding available to students who complete
  6.191 6.192
• 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