Computer Science 499 Syllabus

Senior Research Project

Section 1: Determined by instructor and student

   

Instructor

(determined by student)
 
   
 

Prerequisites
  • Senior Standing
  • Computer Science Major with major GPA of at least 2.50
  • Approval of Department Head
  • Written proposal accepted by the instructor and approved by the department head

 

Key Concept of the Course

This course offers a student the opportunity to complete largely self-directed, independent research in an area of current interest and importance in Computer Science. As one of 3 possible follow-up courses to CSCI 420 for CS majors, this course is strongly recommended for students considering graduate school. The instructor has a primarily supervisory role, but may also serve as a guide and resource, depending on the nature of the research.

A student who enrolls in this course is expected to:

  • be highly self-motivated and self-directing
  • be excited about his/her chosen topic
  • ask, think critically about, and answer important question(s) in Computer Science
  • demonstrate the ability to communicate his/her ideas to others effectively in writing
  • demonstrate the ability analyze, evaluate and improve his/her own work according to accepted intellectual standards

A student just beginning a research project has demonstrated some basic ability by meeting the course prerequisites, in particular choosing a topic and writing a proposal which has been subsequently approved. Growth in these areas during the course of the research is reflected in the quality of the contribution to the field and of the written results.

 

General Plan for the Course

In this course, the student is expected to conduct research as outlined in the approved written proposal. The student will not typically meet with the instructor for classroom instruction per se. However, the student is required to inform the instructor of progress and issues on a regular basis, as noted in the "Course Requirements" section below. Signficant deviations from an original proposal or plan must be discussed with, and approved by, the instructor, and may also require re-approval by the department head.

 

Course Requirements

Each student (or research team, if more than one student is working on the same project) must deliver the following by the end of the term:

  1. A copy of the original approved proposal
  2. Documents specifying changes to the original proposal, if any
  3. An engineering journal with a record of the student's activities over the course of the project, important ideas and decisions, and the gist and results of any important conversations about the research. If possible, important entries should be reviewed and signed by the student(s) and a qualified participant or supervisory instructor.
  4. A formal paper describing the results of the research effort.
  5. A demonstrated pattern of regular contact with the supervisory instructor, through written reports or email for example, as determined by the student and instructor.

 

Grading

Students enrolled in this course are expected to perform "A" or "B" quality work, as judged by the supervising instructor. Although other grades are possible, they should be rare. The supervising instructor will consider all of the deliverables, the student's research topic and effort in assigning a grade at the end of the course, viewing the research effort as a whole.

 

Cheating, plagiarism, and other dishonorable conduct will not be tolerated. Anyone found doing these things will automatically fail this course, and possibly be subject to additional disciplinary action, subject to the policies of The Citadel.