Special Project Guidelines

Participation in the Special Project option is limited. This option is available only to students proposing a worthy project or by CNS faculty invitation. The student must secure a CNS faculty Committee Chair. The Chair and student determine the topic, research and deliverable. This option must be approved by the Graduate Liaison.

The following provides a basic structure for completing the Construction Administration Special Project. Guidelines for the written and presentation portions of the project are included. Successful completion of the project is the responsibility of the candidate. Spelling and grammatical correctness are the responsibility of the candidate. The Committee Chair and other members of the Committee act as advisors and the review body upon completion of the work.

Please note: This document is to be used as a reference. Details concerning the specific program may not be included and should be discussed and decided by the candidate, the Committee Chair and other members of the Graduate Committee.

1. Use the following minimum guidelines for the Special Project Proposal:

a.  2 - 4 pages; word-processed; single spaced; 12 point New Times Roman or Ariel font; 1” top, bottom, and side margins.

b. Content should include:

  • project title: A short highly descriptive title that synopsizes your objective.
  • project objective(s): What are you going to accomplish with this study? Who will benefit? What is your hypothesis?
  • initial literature review: Go to the library and read about your topic. Write a two to three paragraph summary of the state-of-the-art and conclude with a paragraph that describes where your study will go from here.
  • sources of information: literature,  industry review and other sources. Show that there is a base of factual information from which you can draw to base your study. Cite them in the proposal and include in the bibliography.
  • proposed methodology: How will you go about developing the essential facts that you will use to draw conclusions and answer your study hypothesis?
  • proposed data collection instruments (if necessary): If you need to use some type of survey, which types are most appropriate and why?  
  • the project time frame: A conceptual schedule for your project including milestones for review and reassessment of both this proposal and the actual project. It should end with the presentation in your last semester.
  • publication possibilities: Based on your literature review, identify venues in which to publish your results. These could be conferences, journals, magazines, or agencies that could use your work.
  • a bibliography with copies of a minimum of three non-internet sources  such as peer-reviewed journal articles and/or books that cover the topic. The Internet can be used as a source, however, one must remember that there is no peer-review on much of the content on the Internet. Thus, you cannot rely on it solely for your research. You must use all resources including interviews with industry when appropriate.

2. Submit your Proposal. Select a Committee Chair from the CNS faculty. Inform the Graduate Liaison of your status.

3. Define the focus of your special project with your Chair. Search for at least two (2) other Committee Members based upon the project topic and their availability. One (1) Committee member must come from a Division other than Construction Science.

4. Select your Committee members. Give them copies of your Proposal for review.

5. Schedule and hold a meeting with your Committee to discuss your Proposal. After this meeting incorporate suggestions and revisions into your Project and begin resource collection.

6. Enroll in CNS 5993, Special Studies Research, the semester prior to the semester in which you will present your Project. 

7. Enroll in CNS 5952, Special Project Research (Presentation), the semester in which you will complete and present your Special Project.

8. Once you begin the written portion of the Project use the following recommended resources for publication guidelines:

  • Quick Study - Guide to the Research, Writing & Referencing of Formal Papers (writing center)
  • Barron’s Educational Series, Inc. - 10 Steps in Writing the Research Paper (bookstore)
  • Associated Schools of Construction suggested format - http://www.ascjournal.ascweb.org/journal/style.htm

9. Follow this review sequence unless you and your Committee Chair agree upon other arrangements:

    Draft # Reviewer Items reviewed
         
    Proposal Committee see 3.b
    First Draft Committee form, outline (table of contents) and content
    Second Draft Chair spelling, grammar, form, outline and content
    Third Draft Chair spelling, grammar, form, outline and content
      Committee content; recommended final revisions
    Final Draft Committee final revisions if necessary

You should allow one (1) week for each draft review. The third draft should be submitted at least two (2) weeks prior to submission of the final draft. The final draft should be submitted to Committee members at least seven (7) days prior to the Project Presentation.

For acceptance, this draft should contain no more than three (3) typographical errors and three (3) grammatical errors.

10. T wo weeks prior to project presentation notify the Graduate Liaison to obtain the Graduate College Authority Report Form of the Comprehensive Examination/Thesis Defense. Give this form to your Committee Chair. He/she should bring this form to the presentation. After completion of the presentation the form is dated and signed by your Committee members.

11. For the Special Project presentation follow these guidelines:

Pre-presentation:

  • coordinate a date, time, room location and any multimedia equipment required for the presentation (allocate a 1 - 1 1/2 hour time period).
  • notify Committee members of the presentation date and time.

Presentation:

  • present the final draft of your project to the Committee; copies of the final draft should be spiral bound with crimson covers; the first page should be the Special Project cover page; provide one copy to each Committee member.
  • present an oral summary of your information resources, methodology and findings; place special emphasis on your conclusions and recommendations; in your presentation reference sections in the written document.
  • use computer presentation or visual aids.
  • discuss with the Committee: the contribution of your work to the construction industry, the quality of your work, your reflections about the Construction Administration graduate program.
  • verify a permanent address with the Committee Chair.
  • provide a list of elective or outside curriculum classes from your coursework, including class designation, professor and class critique.

12. Return the completed Graduate College Authority Report Form of the Comprehensive Examination/Thesis Defense to the Graduate College after your presentation.