Announcement Regarding Plans A, B, and C for the "Culminating Experience"

Plans A, B and C are now all available for HF/E students.

You may ask: Where online can I find information about Plans A, B and C? These are described on-line at: http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/catalog/rec-2297.html

HF/E students are expected to elect the degree without thesis plan (Plan B) for the HF/E culminating experience. Plan A (Thesis Plan) and Plan C (Creative Project) are only allowed for this degree with permission from the Program Director.

• Those electing Plan B will register for 1 credit and 3 credits of ISE 298. One additional 3 credit registration is allowed if needed.
• Those approved for Plan A or Plan C will register for 2 credits of ISE 299 (or the 299 course offered by the Academic department of their major advisor) each semester until their thesis has been accepted by the graduate school.

There will be no difference in the types of projects, poster presentation, report contents, or quality of student's work expected between these Plans. The only differences will be the report deadlines, review process, and whether the final report resides in the University library or in the ISE Department library.

If a student elects, and is granted permission to pursue Plans A or C, the following program rules will apply.

Plans A or C Guidelines

1. Enrollment: In order to successfully complete the Masters Program in Human Factors and Ergonomics, a student must be continuously enrolled in that program for all consecutive semesters until the thesis is completed. [1]

2. Thesis Advisement: In order to successfully complete the Masters Program in Human Factors and Ergonomics, a student should initiate their thesis process after completing their core classes, and having convened a committee, must register for 2 thesis credits in each consecutive semester until completion of their degree. 

3. Thesis Progress: In order to successfully complete the Masters Program in Human Factors and Ergonomics, a student must be advised and show progress on their thesis as judged by their committee chair.  The student will receive a grade of “SP” satisfactory progress in the first semester of their advisement.  For each semester of thesis progress the student will receive an “SP”.  After 1 academic year (two semesters) the original “SP” will revert to a “No Credit” and the student will receive continue to register until the thesis is completed.  Upon successful completion, the student’s committee chair will change the grades to “CR” credit for thesis units.[2]  If the student doesn’t   remain continuously enrolled and show progress on their thesis, they will be removed from the program and can reapply for admission to complete the thesis.  Their application will be judged among the pool of applicants for that semester.

4. Thesis Completion: In order to successfully complete the Masters Program in Human Factors and Ergonomics, a student will complete the thesis defense and submit the thesis to the Office of Graduate studies and the University library.  The committee chair will notify the program director of successful completion and the program director will issue a letter attesting to the successful completion of the culminating experience (thesis).

[1] Emergency leave requests for a semester will be considered on an individual basis.

[2] Extraordinary circumstances requiring more than 3 semesters for thesis completion will be considered on an individual basis.