Syllabus for CSCI 490 - Fall 2009

 Directed Programming Experience

Instructor: Dr. Melody Stapleton

Acknowledgement: Dr. Renner and Prof. Fayek developed the initial curriculum for this course and some of the materials you see will be credited to them.

Description: This capstone course provides a culminating activity in computer science. Students will work independently to specify, design, develop, test, and document a complete software application under faculty supervision. Students present status reports at weekly meetings, and present their finished project at the end of the semester. This course consists of a special topic programming experience offered as 490, for 3 units. Upon registering for the group discussions, you must also choose a supervising faculty member to direct your project. You will coordinate directly with your supervising faculty member for directed experience in programming systems and applications, conferences, project requirements and expectations, and evaluation. Projects may be done as individuals or you can team up with one other student to form a team of two.

Prerequisites: CSCI 311 with a grade of C- or higher, Senior standing. It is strongly advised that you be in your FINAL SEMESTER when
you enroll, having taken 330 and 550 (may be co-taking).

Time/Location: Tuesday 5:30­6:20 || 8:20pm (see schedule) OCNL 121 - Please note that FACULTY FURLOUGHS WILL AFFECT OUR COURSE SCHEDULE.

Email : mjstapleton@csuchico.edu

Web pages: http://ecst.csuchico.edu/~melody and follow the link to CSCI 490

Office Phone: (530) 898-5617
Dept Phone: (530) 898-6442
Fax: (530) 898-5995

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1:00-3:00pm OCNL 208

Course Objectives:The objectives of this course are to:

1. provide the student the opportunity to experience a directed programming project that requires an application of concepts
learned in their (core) computer science classes;

2. familiarize the student with a client-programmer relationship; in this arrangement, a client needs a particular software product from the student programmer by an agreed delivery date; and

3. develop a fundamental understanding of how to integrate and transcend concepts learned from their (core) computer science
classes in order to solve a particular problem.

Course Outcomes:Upon successful completion of this course, the student shall be able to:

1. independently and successfully apply concepts learned in their (core) computer science classes;

2. professionally conduct themselves in a client-programmer relationship where a client needs a particular software product

from the (student) programmer by an agreed delivery date; and

3. exhibit a fundamental understanding of how to integrate and transcend concepts learned from their (core) computer science
classes in order to solve a particular problem.

Relationship of Course to Program Objectives:This course supports the achievement of the following program
objectives:

v Problem Analysis and Solution Design: Significant

v Oral and Written Communication: Significant

v Social and Ethical Issues: Moderate

v Applicability to Future Endeavors: Significant

Relationship of Course to Program Objectives

This course supports the achievement of the following program
outcomes:

·Outcome A: An ability to apply knowledge of math, science, and
engineering.

·Outcome B: An ability to design and implement programs as well as
to analyze and interpret code and data.

·Outcome C: An ability to design a system, component, or process to
meet desired needs.

·Outcome E: An ability to identify, formulate, and solve computing
problems.

·Outcome F: An understanding of professional and ethical
responsibilities.

·Outcome G: An ability to communicate effectively.

·Outcome H: The broad education necessary to understand the

impact of computing solutions in a global and societal context.

·Outcome K: An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern

computing tools necessary for computing practice.

Course Requirements & Schedule of Events: Attendance to scheduled meetings is mandatory, as is participation in
scheduled events. Your supervising professor will receive documentation verifying your participation, to be used in evaluating
your 490 performance and grade assignment. Required documents must be UPLOADED to VISTA COURSE PAGE.

*REQUIREMENTS* (i.e., not optional!)

The following are not applicable yet…..

DATE / DEADLINE / MTG

Course Introduction

Approved & Signed Project Proposal / Contract
(hardcopy of contract, upload proposal) Sep.4th ­ preferred date Sep.11th - Absolute deadline

Adviser SIGNED Development Form (hardcopy of

form, upload development documents) Oct.16 firm.

Exit Survey & Major Field Test Exam (MFT) Dec. 4th (5:30-8:30) ­ firm.

Project Presentation & Printed Summary1         Dec.11 5:30-8:30

Portfolio of Work (may include proposal, requirements documents, design, testing & analysis, drafts, re-writes, final version, appendix of software developed, etc.  TBD by your Advising Professor. Typically, no later than Friday May 23rd (submit directly to me and your professor)

Completion FORMS submitted to Coordinator

Attendance at Required Mtg times

MUST check announcements WEEKLY for
emergency meetings.

Sample Topic Ideas

Software Development projects
Artificial Intelligence / Robotics projects
Networking projects
System admin projects
Web-based projects
Vision / Visualization / Graphics projects