CSCI-440: Capstone in Computer Science
Spring 2022
Instructor
Contents
Resources
Schedule:
Course Description:
The senior capstone course provides computer science majors the opportunity to integrate the knowledge that they have gained from across the curriculum. Students are encouraged to work in teams, and can pursue either an applied or theory project. Students choosing applied projects participate in the identification of a problem, develop a project proposal outlining an approach to the problem's solution, implement the proposed solution, and test or evaluate the result. Students choosing a theory project conduct original research (e.g., develop a new algorighm) and evaluate its strengths and limitations. Regardless of the choice of project, students document their work in the form of written reports and oral presentations.
Prerequisites: Senior class standing, CSCI 240, and CSCI 361, or permission of instructor.
Learning Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will have:
- Explored an advanced topic in computer science in depth.
- Formally presented work in both oral presentations and written reports.
- Constructively critiqued and discussed the work of others.
- Traced the historical development of the discipline of computer science through readings and discussions.
Community
This course has a diverse population. Some students arrive on day one ready to attempt large, complex programs; other students (the majority of the class, in fact) aren't yet ready. That's fine, and expected; your "readiness" changes over time and reflects your prior experience, rather than your intelligence, your commitment, or your worth as person. The course will work best if we respect and welcome each other no matter what level of "readiness" we are at, and we all support one another in learning.
The goals of this course can only be accomplished in a setting of mutual respect, where ideas, questions, and misconceptions can be discussed with civility. As your instructor, I am committed to creating a classroom environment that welcomes all students, regardless of their identities (e.g. race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs). I firmly believe that everyone in the class is fully capable of engaging and grasping the material, and that the world of computing is stronger when it includes the broadest possible set of perspectives. We all have unconscious biases, and I will try to continually examine my judgments, words and actions to keep my biases in check and treat everyone fairly. I hope that you will do the same. If you feel comfortable, please let me know if there is anything I can do to make sure everyone is encouraged to succeed in this class. I will not tolerate behaviors that could negatively affect another student’s classroom experience. I reserve the right to withdraw a student from this class who is repeatedly exhibiting such behavior.
Lectures will begin and end on time, so do your best to get to class before the start of the lecture. Use of cell phones is extremely disruptive — please remember to turn your phones off while in the classroom.
Grading:
The bulk of your grade for this course comes from the project: You'll be graded on several brief "checkins" during the course of the semester, and the final project writeup and oral presentation. You'll also be graded on your response to the papers we read as a group.
The following grade cutoffs are upper bounds — they might come down, but will not be set higher: A = 95, A- = 90, B+ = 88, B = 83, B- = 80, C+ = 77, C = 73, C- = 70, D+ = 67, D = 64, D- = 60, F = <60. Your overall grade is composed as follows:
- 20%: Project Check-ins & Demos
- 10%: Final Presentation
- 55%: Final Report & Deliverables
- 15%: Readings (Quizzes & Participation)
Course Policies:
Academic Integrity
Please ensure that any work you take credit for in this class is your own. Code or other hints found online must be attributed, and should not compromise your ownership of the work. Please review the university's Academic Integrity policy and ask me if you have any questions regarding its application to this course.
Student Accessibility and Accommodation
If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact the Office of Student Accessibility and Accommodation, 105 Howarth Hall, 253-879-3395. SAA will determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate and convey this to your instructors. All information and documentation is confidential.
Religious Accommodations
The university provides reasonable religious accommodations for academic courses and programs, and the university policy is found at https://www.pugetsound.edu/office-university-counsel/policies/campuswide-policies/student-religious-accommodations-academic-courses-or-programs. If you need a reasonable accommodation due to a religious holiday or organized religious activity, you must give me written notice within the first two weeks of class so that we can coordinate the accommodation. If you have questions about the policy, you may contact the University Chaplain. If you have a grievance about the application of the policy or the handling of your request for an accommodation, you may contact the Dean of the Faculty.
Emergency Response
Please review university emergency preparedness, response procedures and a training video posted at www.pugetsound.edu/emergency/. There is a link on the university home page. Familiarize yourself with hall exit doors and the designated gathering area for your class and laboratory buildings.
If building evacuation becomes necessary (e.g. earthquake), meet your instructor at the designated gathering area so she/he can account for your presence. Then wait for further instructions. Do not return to the building or classroom until advised by a university emergency response representative.
If confronted by an act of violence, be prepared to make quick decisions to protect your safety. Flee the area by running away from the source of danger if you can safely do so. If this is not possible, shelter in place by securing classroom or lab doors and windows, closing blinds, and turning off room lights. Lie on the floor out of sight and away from windows and doors. Place cell phones or pagers on vibrate so that you can receive messages quietly. Wait for further instructions.
Student Bereavement Policy
The University of Puget Sound recognizes that a time of bereavement can be difficult for a student. Therefore, the university provides a Student Bereavement Policy for students facing the loss of a family member. Students are normally eligible for, and faculty members are expected to grant, three consecutive weekdays of excused absences, without penalty, for the death of a family member, including parent, grandparent, sibling, or persons living in the same household. Should the student feel that additional days are necessary, the student must request additional bereavement leave from the Dean of Students or the Dean’s designee. In the event of the death of another family member or friend not explicitly included within this policy, a bereaved student may petition for grief absence through the Dean of Students office for approval.