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44-691 Course Syllabus



Area

School of Computer Science and Information Systems

Course Title

44-691 Graduate Directed Project I

Course Credit

3 hours

Placement in Curriculum

This course is typically offered in the second-to-last term of the MS-ACS graduate program.

Prerequisites

15 hours toward the MS. In Applied Computer Science and approval by graduate advisor.

Section Details

Fall 2020 - Section 1
MWF 8-8:50am CH 1400

Fall 2020 - Section 2
MWF 8-8:50am CH 1700

Course Description

Software development practicum designed to integrate computer-related skills into an intensive project environment. Students enroll in this course for two consecutive semesters, for a total of six credit hours. This is the first of the two courses.

Course Rationale

This course provides a chance for students to practice the skills developed in earlier courses and further develop their skills using profession-based learning. Students gain experience with designing, developing, testing, and managing real world projects using modern tools and techniques.

Student Learning Outcomes

Competency Program Outcome Assessment
Communicating An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences about technical information. Projects, workshops, team/client meetings and communications
Communicating An ability to apply principles and concepts with technologies to design and develop computer based solutions. Projects, workshops, team/client meetings and communications
Critical Thinking An ability to analyze a problem, and to identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution. Projects, workshops, team/client meetings and communications
Critical Thinking An ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the discipline. Projects, workshops, team/client meetings and communications
Managing Information An ability to apply models, tools, and techniques to implement computer-based applications aligned with industry standards. Projects, workshops, team/client meetings and communications
Valuing An ability to make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical, and social principles. Projects, workshops, team/client meetings and communications
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion An ability to: a. utilize inclusive language and behaviors, b. implement applications accommodating a wide range of individuals including diversity in ethnic/cultural background, or physical ability, and c. function as an effective member of a diverse team. Projects, workshops, team/client meetings and communications
Teamwork An ability to function effectively on teams to establish goals, plan tasks, meet deadlines, manage risk, and produce deliverables. Projects, workshops, team/client meetings and communications
Leadership An ability to evaluate and demonstrate leadership skills, make sound data-driven decisions, take responsibility for actions, manage workload, address challenges ethically and responsibly, and communicate effectively on technical matters to a wide variety of audiences. Projects, workshops, team/client meetings and communications

Additional student learning outcomes include:

Materials

The following are recommended:

Students must have access to the following at every course meeting:

  • A bound notebook with pencil/pen for taking notes and submitting written content (e.g., pop quizzes)
  • Their campus-assigned laptop, in working order, with all required software
  • Free Git distributed version control system
  • Free TortoiseGit for integrating Git with Windows File Explorer
  • Free PuTTY for creating SSH public/private key pairs
  • Free BitBucket and GitHub educational accounts
  • Free GitHub Education Pack (as needed)
  • Free Chocolatey package manager for Windows
  • Free Notepad++ text editor
  • Free Visual Studio Code integrated development environment
  • Free Atlassian Jira account for planning and tracking
  • Free XCode integrated development environment (as needed)
  • Free Android Studio integrated development environment (as needed)
  • Various free, open-source tools, libraries, and hosting accounts as directed by instructor.
  • Access to free cloud accounts including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud as required.

Instructional Methods and Techniques

Instructional methods include lectures, class discussions, individual work, small group work, learner presentations, client discussions,client communications, client presentations, and collaborative development.