Learning Outcomes

Preparation for a successful industry career is accomplished through:

• a curriculum based on the principles and values of the open source culture, which emphasizes the rights and integrity of both authors and users of software;

• exposure to a wide variety of programming languages and computing platforms (including robots, mobile devices, and game consoles);

• the completion of apprenticeship and capstone based courses;

• a practice-before-theory approach that better instills an understanding of how computation theory directly applies to real-world systems demanding correctness, efficiency, reliability, and maintainability; and

• an understanding of the importance of computing as a vehicle for creativity and as a foundation for a wide variety of careers reaching far beyond traditional software industry.

Preparation for graduate study is accomplished through:

• a broad exposure to the core computer science curriculum;

• opportunities to do undergraduate research;

• a development of mathematical maturity obtained not only from supporting courses in mathematics but in several computing courses as well;

• oral presentations in capstone courses; and

• completion of self-directed projects, demanding a significant level of upstream requirements analysis, constructing, testing, and documentation.

A foundation for future learning and service is acquired through:

• the development of teamwork and communication skills gained from frequent participation in collaborative projects in which ideas are freely shared and multiple talents are respected;

• opportunities for undergraduate research and the dissemination of this research through poster and paper presentations at both university-sponsored events and academic and professional conferences;

• the strong university core curriculum which augments a technical education with courses in the arts, humanities, and communication; and

• discussions of the ethical implications that arise from the collaborative nature of the computing disciplines, and their impact on society, in fostering an attitude of service in any future endeavors; and

• encouragement to become involved in local and national professional technical societies.

Communication of functional and technical details of a software system is assessed through an evaluation of contributions to READMEs, wikis, and other project documentation, as well as papers and oral presentations.

Effective work as a team member is assessed through an evaluation of contributions to group projects and peer evaluation of participation.

Application of proper languages and tooling is assessed through evaluation of upper-division and capstone projects, in which the student makes design choices from conception to project delivery.

Skills in design, development, test, and evaluation of software is assessed thorough an evaluation of student portfolios according to a rubric that checks, among other things, that the development process:

• results in correct, efficient, readable, and maintainable code;

• results in usable and accessible code; and

• is conducted in an ethical manner, in which the rights of software authors and users are respected, attribution is given when deriving work, and no persons or groups are locked out of participation unless required by applicable civil laws.