This course is the first of two parts and is undertaken prior to CVEN4031 Honours Thesis B. Successful completion of Parts A and B are required to obtain an honours degree. The honours thesis may describe directed research work on an approved subject and will be completed under the guidance and supervision of a member of the academic staff. The research may involve a directed laboratory or field investigation, analytical or numerical modelling, a detailed design, literature review or such other individual research project approved by the Head of School. Part A involves the satisfactory formulation of the project, completion of a significant part of the research and the development of the thesis outline. This course also contains the assessment of the industrial training components of the degree for Honours students. Students are required to complete a minimum of 60 working days of approved industrial training prior to the commencement of Stage 4, submit a report on this training before Week 4 of Session 1, Stage 4 and to present a seminar on their industrial training experiences at a specified time during Session 1.