The Master’s Research Studio Project Thesis is a 3CU project (expected to be achieved in 3 consecutive semesters). Students will register for one unit of IPD 799 in the semester in which they are working on the project. 

The project is an opportunity to manifest a synthesis of art and technology and to push the envelope of design possibility in the context of user need and market forces. The project will involve the development of a product from concept, user need, marketing analysis, design implementation to prototype and feasibility testing.

The thesis project is supervised by a faculty member in SEAS, Wharton, or Design, or an external sponsor with approval by the program Director. Attendance and participation in seminars, discussions and student presentations will be part of the thesis project grade.

Before the middle of the first semester of research students must submit a written proposal to their Advisor outlining their studio research project.  The proposal should typically contain a statement of the objective of the work, a pertinent state-of-the-art review, the scope of the studies, and an outline of the proposed final product. The Advisor will evaluate the proposal and make recommendations on how it can be improved.  The Advisor, in consultation with the Director, will then appoint a MSE Studio Research Project Advisory committee.  This committee will include one member from Engineering, one from Design, and one from Business (including their advisor).  It is the student’s responsibility to seek a consultation from the members of the committee during the three semesters of research.  These consultation sessions are intended to be helpful in discussing the student’s thesis project proposal and to ensure that the interdisciplinary requirement all areas of this program are fulfilled. The student is also encouraged to frequently consult with the Committee members and inform them of the progress.

At the end of the student second semester of research and analysis, is the design, detail development of the final thesis project.  

At the end of the students third semester of research a public presentation of the work is then made; after this presentation, the Committee will give final approval or disapproval. When final approval of the thesis is obtained, an electronic copy of the thesis must be submitted to the Director.

All studio thesis projects must be freely publishable and the contents cannot be restricted from dissemination to the community at large by the candidate's place of employment or the sponsoring agency, government, or any person. Any computer source code which constitutes a portion of the thesis (with the exception of readily-available commercial software) must be available to the community at large. It is the responsibility of the student to insure that the above requirements are duly considered in the planning and execution of the research program and in the presentation of the final document.