All candidates for the Master of Science degree are required to complete a substantial independent effort reflecting some measure of creativity and/or originality and to produce evidence of such effort.  A final oral examination is required of all master’s candidates. Approximately two weeks before this examination, a candidate must submit to an examining committee a thesis, a formal report or a design of professional quality applying the knowledge gained in course work to the solution of an engineering problem. Students who receive research appointments or traineeships are required to submit a thesis. Formal or design report is at the discretion of the advisor.