PhD Thesis Proposal

ML PhD students are expected to present their thesis proposal during their third or fourth year.
Typically, the proposal is completed by the beginning of the fourth year. Fulfilling the
requirement involves writing and orally presenting a proposal, and obtaining advice and
approval from the thesis committee. Students should meet with the thesis committee members
at least once to discuss the proposed work before the proposal.

Generally, a thesis proposal will be approximately 15 pages plus references, and will include (a)
a clear statement of the research problem and proposed research, (b) a discussion of related
research and how the proposed work fits into the field, (c) a description of the technical
approach, (d) preliminary research results that demonstrate the proposed research is plausible
and worthwhile, (e) a discussion of research issues to be pursued, and (f) a tentative schedule
for completing the work.

Of course, in a proposal it is impossible to predict precisely which research issues will be solved
in the future. Nevertheless, the proposal should include a list of specific research directions and
questions that are likely to be addressed, and for each of these an assessment indicating what
could be a baseline approach, and a discussion of ideas for pursuing the issue, along with an
assessment of what will be easy versus difficult. The student needs to show that the proposed
research will be original and interesting, and that it is likely to succeed. During the later thesis
defense, the student will not be required to show that he or she has done everything that was
proposed. In this sense, the proposal is an opportunity to present the student's best current
ideas about the thesis research and obtain some useful early feedback from experts in the
research area. The proposal need not have answers to every question it raises, but it should
bring up a good list of questions that will drive the research.

Students should allocate at least 2.5 hours for the proposal presentation and examination. The
presentation by the candidate is normally about 45 minutes. In addition to the student, at least
two committee members, one of whom is the Chair, must be physically present at CMU for the
proposal (during the COVID-19 crisis, this requirement will be waived); other committee
members may attend by teleconference.

The thesis proposal is a public presentation and must be announced two weeks prior to the talk.
It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that the proposal information is sent to the PhD
Programs Administrator at least two weeks before the presentation. The draft thesis proposal
document should be sent to the thesis committee members at least one month prior to the
proposal presentation; committee members may require the document earlier, in some cases.

All But Dissertation (ABD) Policy

After the presentation of an acceptable thesis proposal, and satisfying all other requirements
except for the dissertation and its oral defense, students are regarded as "all but dissertation."

The policy is explained at http://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/doctoral-student-

status.html.

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PhD Thesis
Normally, the thesis dissertation is completed during the student's fifth year. The thesis must
describe a significant piece of original research work. It is evidence of proficiency, high
attainment, and ability to do research in a specialized area of Machine Learning.

The final thesis defense is a public presentation and must be announced two weeks prior to the
talk. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that the proposal information is sent to the PhD
Programs Administrator at least two weeks before the presentation.

Work with the PhD Programs Administrator to determine timing so as to avoid department and
class conflicts. Contact your thesis committee to get their availability. The date should be
scheduled two months in advance. You should send a draft of the thesis to your committee
about one month before you plan to defend. Your committee should get back to you with their
approval to defend before the announcement goes out, two weeks before your defense date.

Students should allocate at least 3 hours for the thesis defense and examination. In addition to
the student, at least two committee members, one of whom is the Chair, must be physically
present at CMU for the defense. All committee members must either be in attendance or attend
by teleconference.

The presentation by the candidate is normally about 45 minutes. The thesis committee chair
(advisor) determines who may ask questions and in what order and brings the discussion to a
close at the appropriate time. The question-and-answer period is followed by a closed-door
session attended by only the members of the thesis committee and any interested faculty
members. If the student passes the oral presentation, the options of the committee are:

• To approve without corrections

• To approve subject to minor changes, to be approved later by the thesis chair only
• To require a resubmission after major changes and re-approval of the entire committee
• Not to approve the thesis

All members of the committee are required to sign a yellow Final Oral Examination card to
indicate that the student has passed the thesis oral examination.

In addition, the thesis committee chair, the Department Head, and the Dean sign a final
certification sheet after final approval of the thesis by the thesis committee and student has
submitted the final version to the PhD Programs Administrator.

If the student fails to pass either the oral or the written defense, the faculty will discuss their
status by the next end-of-semester meeting.

Doctoral Student Review

Every semester, in May and December, the entire faculty of the department meet to collectively
discuss, evaluate, and formulate advice for every doctoral candidate. The result of the meeting

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