Theses & Capstones

University of Colorado students must complete a significant written project in order to earn a Master of Science in Telecommunications. This written project can be in the form of either a group paper (known as a "Capstone Project") or a Master's Thesis. Capstone students must complete TLEN 5700 prior to enrolling in TLEN 5710.  Thesis students do not have to take TLEN 5700 unless their Thesis Chair requires the course.

Research Project Database

Students, alumni, faculty and friends of ITP, may access our online database of master's thesis, capstone project reports, and independent study reports. Click here to access the database. 

Ideas for Student Research

Information is available to help University of Colorado ITP students identify ripe areas for telecommunications research contributions. Please access this page at http://telecom.colorado.edu/resources/current-students/research-ideas. 

Capstone Versus Thesis

Students often ask about the defining differences between a Capstone Project and a Master's Thesis and whether a Capstone Project or a Master's Thesis is preferable given their circumstances. Provided below is a comparative table with helpful information to assist students' decision-making. 

For additional detail on the Capstone I class, please see the appropriate course page for TLEN 5700 (Research Methods). For additional detail on a Master's Thesis, please see the Graduate School's Thesis/Dissertation Information page. 

Comparative Aspect	Capstone Project	Master's Thesis
Group vs. Individual	Group:  Capstone teams typically work in groups of four.  Teams are formed during the fall TLEN 5700 course.	Individual:  a thesis must be authored alone. A thesis authored by two or more individuals is not permitted.
Time Frame	Fixed at two semesters:  begin in fall, complete in spring.  Teams work in earnest on their project from October through early April.	Open (usually takes at least one calendar year):  student determines pace of thesis completion and defense.  Students should consult the Graduate School's Thesis/Dissertation Information page for graduation timetables.
Length of Written Product	15-25 pages (absent special permission).  Paper should be a well-written and polished product (viz., proper citations, free of grammatical errors, etc.).	75-150 pages (typically appx. 100 pages).  Paper should be a well-written and polished product (viz., proper citations, free of grammatical errors, etc.).
Nature of Project	Work-product demonstrates expertise in a narrow area.  A Capstone paper and its attendant presentation should say much about a narrow topic (rather than a little about several aspects of a broad topic).	Theses vary in scope.  However, in view of the length, a master's thesis generally addresses a broader range of issues than a Capstone.
Summary of Presentation/ Defense	Each team member must attend and participate in Capstone Presentation Day, typically held in late March or early April.  At this time, teams do a 30-40 minute presentation.  Presentations are evaluated by professors and open to public.	Thesis defended before three committee members.  Student to coordinate schedule for defense.  Defense evaluated by committee and open to public.
Novel Intellectual Contribution?	Yes.  Paper provides a novel insight that moves the frontiers of knowledge. Paper answers a contestable question (i.e., an issue where the answer is not obvious or already agreed upon).	Yes.  Thesis provides a novel insight that moves the frontiers of knowledge. Thesis answers a contestable question (i.e., an issue where the answer is not obvious or already agreed upon).
Professional Considerations	·  Team format simulates cooperation often required in industry ·  Opportunity to make professional-style presentation	·  Helpful for students who intend to enter a PhD program and/or conduct  individual research ·  Generally more rigorous; can be a good resume builder
Required Courses/ Credit Hours	One credit hour (TLEN 5700) and two credit hours (TLEN 5710).  Courses must be taken in sequence.	Between four and six thesis credits available over several semesters.
Personal Considerations	·  Must be able to work with others across geographic distances ·  Usually completed on shorter timeframe than thesis ·  Only receive two credits for a substantial amount of work	·  Must be able to work independently ·  Requires strong research skills ·  Requires strong written command of English ·  Must have high tolerance for writing and rewriting
Advisor	Team solicits and engages a faculty advisor.	Individual solicits and engages a faculty advisor; student assembles thesis committee members.
Grading	TLEN 5700 course letter grade determined by  instructor.  TLEN 5710 course letter grade jointly determined by faculty advisor and  instructor.	The faculty gives a letter grade on and approves both the written document and your ability to defend the thesis in an oral presentation to the committee.