The Comprehensive Exam is a three part exam based on material from CECS 524, CECS 528, CECS 543. The all three exams given on one day, usually in the second month of the semester. In order to be eligible to take the Comprehensive Exam you must:

• have Advanced to Candidacy
• maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• be enrolled in a course that semester
• register for the Comprehensive Exam

If you chose the Comprehensive Exam Option:

• You will have two attempts to pass your COMPs.
• Your COMPs are composed of three Exams and you must pass all three Exams within your two attempts.
• The COMPs are usually given on successive Fridays during the 4-6th weeks of FALL/SPRING semesters.
• You must sign up for the COMPs by the posted deadline. At the time of registration, you must specify the three Exams subjects you will be taking. You may not change your exam subjects once they have been selected.
• You must be Advanced to Candidacy and in Good Standing, i.e. both term and program GPA are 3.0 or above.

The Thesis Option requires a total of 6 units: At least 3 of the units must be taken from CECS 698, the remaining units may be taken from either CECS 697 or CECS 698. To be eligible for the Thesis option a student must:

• have advanced to candidacy,
• have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or above in the MSCS coursework,
• have been nominated by a faculty member to undertake a project under that faculty member’s supervision, and
• have had a thesis proposal approved by the CECS Graduate Curriculum Committee.

If you chose the Thesis Option:

• You must have a GPA of at least 3.0.
• You will need to find a CECS Faculty member who is willing to serve as your thesis advisor.
• You must take at least 6 units from CECS 697/CECS 698 (min. of 3 units of CECS 698). A Thesis typically takes longer than the Comp Exams to complete.
• You will need to Advance to Candidacy before you enroll in CECS 697/698.
• You will need to have your written thesis proposal approved by the Graduate Curriculum Committee (download forms using the links on the right).
• You will need to give an Oral Defense with your three member Thesis Committee.
• You will need to format your thesis according to the University Library Formatting Guide.
• You will need to complete your thesis following the University Library Deadlines.
• You will need to electronically submit your manuscript directly to the CSULB Library Thesis Office.