About the course

Welcome to CIS 4910 Computer Science and Engineering Project (aka "Senior Project"). This course is the required capstone design experience for Computer Engineering students in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of South Florida. Computer Science students can take this course as an elective.

The USF Bachelor of Science degree program in Computer Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET (www.abet.org). This course follows key ABET definitions, curriculum, and program criteria for capstone design. This course covers key ABET Student Outcomes and contributes to the assessment process for continuous improvement of the Computer Engineering program.

ABET defines a capstone design experience as "a culminating major engineering design experience that 1) incorporates appropriate engineering standards and multiple constraints, and 2) is based on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier course work."

This course teaches Engineering Design applied to Complex Engineering Problems where students work in Teams to tackle real world industry problems. Students will learn and follow a product development process. Key definitions from the ABET EAC Criteria document for 2021-2022 are:

• Engineering Design - Engineering design is a process of devising a system, component, or process to meet desired needs and specifications within constraints. It is an iterative, creative, decision-making process in which the basic sciences, mathematics, and engineering sciences are applied to convert resources into solutions. Engineering design involves identifying opportunities, developing requirements, performing analysis and synthesis, generating multiple solutions, evaluating solutions against requirements, considering risks, and making trade-offs, for the purpose of obtaining a high-quality solution under the given circumstances. For illustrative purposes only, examples of possible constraints include accessibility, aesthetics, codes, constructability, cost, ergonomics, extensibility, functionality, interoperability, legal considerations, maintainability, manufacturability, marketability, policy, regulations, schedule, standards, sustainability, or usability.

• Complex Engineering Problem - Complex engineering problems include one or more of the following characteristics: involving wide-ranging or conflicting technical issues, having no obvious solution, addressing problems not encompassed by current standards and codes, involving diverse groups of stakeholders, including many component parts or sub-problems, involving multiple disciplines, or having significant consequences in a range of contexts.

• Team - A team consists of more than one person working toward a common goal and should include individuals of diverse backgrounds, skills, or perspectives.

Coverage of Student Outcomes

• Program Educational Objectives - PEOs are broad statements that describe the career and professional accomplishments that the program is preparing graduates to achieve. These objectives describe the expected accomplishments of our graduates during the several years following graduation.

• Student Outcomes - SOs describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. These relate to the skills, knowledge, and behaviors that students acquire as they progress through our programs.

Assessment and Continuous Improvement

• Assessment - Assessment is one or more processes that identify, collect, and prepare data to evaluate the attainment of student outcomes. Effective assessment uses relevant direct, indirect, quantitative and qualitative measures as appropriate to the outcome being measured. Appropriate sampling methods may be used as part of an assessment process.

• Evaluation - Evaluation is one or more processes for interpreting the data and evidence accumulated through assessment processes. Evaluation determines the extent to which student outcomes are being attained. Evaluation results in decisions and actions regarding program improvement.

• (EAC 1) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.

• (EAC 2) an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.

• (EAC 3) an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.

• (EAC 5) an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.

• (EAC 6) an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgement to draw conclusions.

• (EAC 7) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.