Independent Studies | University of Waterloo

Comments About Thesis Project Work by IS Students

The following quotations were made by various IS thesis supervisors about the work completed by twenty-three IS graduates from 2003 until 2006.

"… unfailing enthusiasm toward the topic and an affinity for scientific rigour. … The work [Business in the Big Room: Facts & Theories about e-commerce] is exceptionally comprehensive, rigorously cited and reflects a highly mature research capability. … well organized and flowed seamlessly … particularly remarkable accomplishment for a work of over 300 pages. … any business manager who was interested in the internet would profit from reading this work. … Having supervised a number of students in honours programs from various disciplines, we judge his academic skill and knowledge to be equal to the best we have seen, and we rate his work at an "A" level. … capable of graduate work and we strongly urge him to consider such a choice."

Adjunct Assistant Professor
Lecturer
Department of Economics, University of Waterloo
May 2003

"… His thesis [Technology at the Boundary of Plausibility: Historical and Contemporary Responses to Technological Change and the Case of Molecular Nanotechnology] is a very strong product: thoroughly researched, ably argued and exceptionally well-written. … the extent of his thesis research and the quality of analysis and presentation are remarkable. … work among the top five percent of undergraduate theses that I have read. … I have no doubt that he will thrive in graduate studies and expect he will make valuable contributions well beyond that."

Professor
Department of Environment and Resource Studies, University of Waterloo
May 2004

"… This was an ambitious project for an undergraduate thesis [Human Reproduction: Issues and Theory]. …writing style is superb … [She] is an independent thinker and worker … I would endorse her as a candidate for honours standing … A+ ... ."

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology
Director, Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies
St. Jerome’s University, University of Waterloo
April 2005

"… The quality of work this thesis [Citizen Engagement Through Community Mobilization: A Police Officer's perspective on Creating a Model for Social Change Through Cohesive Community Partnerships] represents compares altogether favourably with that reflected in honour theses in sociology – I have supervised about ten of these in the last five years. … In my judgement, his thesis and the work it reports reflect well on the Independent studies program and on our University."

Professor
Department of Sociology, University of Waterloo
March 2004

"… Evident in [his] work [Mortal Memory: Cataloguing Cadavers] is a creative integration of resources from his earlier background experience as well as of current literature and contributions from several fields of study relevant to his research. In particular, his development of a database designed to assist forensic investors and anthropologists in organization and analysis of mortuary site information draws insightfully upon his fieldwork background for the Ontario Provincial Police and private institutions. …"

Professor of Religious Studies
Renison College, University of Waterloo
September 2003

"… In my judgement, these stories [How Close I Am to Losing You and a companion literary analysis] are now in very publishable form. … a naturally talented writer … I’d certainly give his work a grade in the range of 85% to 90%. I think he’s an example of the best that Independent Studies produces. I gather, too, that he’s now been admitted to U of T; he’ll be a fine representative there of your programme. …"

Associate Professor, English
St. Jerome’s University, University of Waterloo
April 2006

"… thesis topic [How Close I Am to Losing You and a companion literary analysis] is a fine combination of literary production and literary criticism. … It is imaginative, creative, analytical, philosophical and critical. I judge his creative and academic skill to be of honours quality. … not only prepared for graduate work in his field, he has already been accepted by two of the most prestigious MA programs in Canada to do exactly that. I would assign a grade of 90% to this project. …"

PhD
Department of English Language and Literature, Memorial University of Newfoundland
April 2006

"… I am impressed with the design, scope and implementation of his proposal [The Evolution of World Order – A University Course Proposal] … I encourage … refining his proposal for submission for publication and intend to help him find a publisher. … He has a very long list of contributions and attendance at many conferences [and] has been very helpful in some of the Peace Education initiatives that I am involved in locally at the University of Toronto at Mississauga. …"

Senior Lecturer
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto at Mississauga
September 2004

"… In summary, I consider … [Developmental Knowledge Representation: A Proposal for the Representational Substrate] to be an outstanding undergraduate thesis, and one that would stand as a good Master’s thesis in Computer Science at the University of Waterloo. …"

Associate Professor
Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo
June 2005

"… has a maturity of thought [Many-Body, Van Vleck, Unitary Coupled Cluster Type Transformations Applied to Vibronic Coupling Models] that belies his years. He pursues problems in a highly logical manner, and is able to employ a prodigious array of scientific and engineering concepts that he has acquired during the course of his study at the University. … possibly the most gifted student that I have encountered during my thirty-six years at UW. He is definitely an A+ student, and without doubt has the ability to complete an advanced degree."

Professor
Departments of Chemistry and Physics, University of Waterloo
May 2006

"… has clear potential to be an outstanding graduate student and hopefully an outstanding colleague in the future."

Professor
Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo
May 2006

" … brings an original voice as well as scholarly research to the analytic narrative that constitutes her thesis [Factors Contributing to the Success of Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian women]. … I would rate her thesis at the honours B+ level and at the A level for a 3-year BIS degree."

Associate Professor Emeritus, Adjunct
Department of Environment and Resource Studies, University of Waterloo
March 2005

"… Quantifying these costs are particular problematic in industry [The Economics of Ergonomics in the Meat Industry] … provided significant insight and knowledge. This information in conjunction with … have the potential to provide ergonomists with an effective strategy for producing successful ergonomic interventions. Equally valuable are the three case studies that have been included … . Overall this is an outstanding thesis and the magnitude and quality of the work easily exceeds the expectations of an honours level thesis. …"

Assistant Professor
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo
September 2004

"… While the study [Language Development: A Comparison of Children with Specific Language Impairment and English as a Second Language Children] is of an exploratory nature, it is nevertheless ground breaking research. … extremely impressed by … ability to work independently and profit from supervision. … But what has impressed me the most is the thirst for knowledge, and the dedication to excellence … . Having supervised a number of students in our Honours Psychology Programme, I would judge her academic and research skills and general intellectual competence to be on par with the very best I have seen for students at this level and would rate her work at an A level. Clearly, she has the ability to pursue study leading to a graduate degree."

Professor Emeritus
Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo
May 2004

" … I found [the] research and scholarship [Arab-Jewish Cooperative Coexistence in Israel/Palestine] to be very thoughtful, thorough and respectful. … was not naïve about possible solutions … thesis was well reasoned and well-written. His thesis was among the best of those I have supervised in the past and I would rate his work to be at the A level academically. … The Independent Studies program is therefore to be commended for enabling students … to focus on their particular keen interests. …"

Peace and Conflict Studies
Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo
November 2005

"… showed great maturity and openness to learning, and seemed genuinely grateful for constructive criticism. … I found … work [Arab-Jewish Cooperative Coexistence in Israel/Palestine] to be original and to have theoretical and practical significance. …"

Assistant Professor, Adult Education
Director, Transformative Learning Centre
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
November 2005

"… and hope she receives the highest ranking possible. I think that some of the sections of the thesis [Small Dreams, Big Smiles: Examining the Social and Economic Impacts of HIV/AIDS on Women in Sudan and Kenya] are publishable; it was a pleasure to participate in this project…which surely endorses the value of the Independent studies option at the University of Waterloo.

Professor of English
St. Jerome’s University, University of Waterloo
September 2006

"… has accomplished a great deal in this thesis [Small Dreams, Big Smiles: Examining the Social and Economic Impacts of HIV/AIDS on Women in Sudan and Kenya], particularly given the limited time and resources that any undergraduate has for field research. I believe she is richly deserving of her degree and that she will be an asset in many types of employment, particularly research, international development or the medical or helping professions. …"

Professor
Department of Anthropology, University of Waterloo
September 2006

"… highly motivated [Independent Learning Circle – A self-directed Democratic School] and a quick leaner. ... full confidence in her ability to pursue a graduate degree."

Professor
Department of Philosophy, University of Waterloo
May 2003

"… this has been a most productive enterprise and I have enjoyed every interaction with [student and other thesis supervisor]. … ground breaking research [Language Development: A Comparison of Children with Specific Language Impairment and English as a Second Language Children] … dedication to excellence … thrived in the environment provided by the Independent Studies program."

Professor Emeritus
Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo
May 2004

"… I found her dedication to the question, and to recommending possible solutions, to be a pragmatic approach to an issue that affects both the education and not-for-profit sectors. The resulting thesis document [Philanthropy Education: Mandated community Involvement within Ontario Secondary Schools] is extremely well done, and had the potential to impact the implementation of the legislation…."

Executive Director
Parkwood Hospital Foundation, St. Joseph’s Health Care London Family
March 2004

"… [The Process of Procreation] ranks among the best written theses that I have read from the perspective of command of language and integration of science and philosophy. I rate her work at an A level. I believe she is capable of successfully continuing her studies at the graduate level."

Professor
Department of Biology, University of Waterloo
September 2003

2003 - 2006 This page was last reviewed on June 20, 2007

Comments About Thesis Project Work by IS Students