Overview
This culminating course requires students to apply knowledge from software development, algorithms, databases, systems, networking, human-computer interaction, and project management to a substantial computer science problem. Students identify or receive a project brief, investigate stakeholder needs, define scope and requirements, assess feasibility, and develop a structured proposal with milestones, risks, resources, and success criteria.
Students work individually or in teams under faculty supervision using an agile or similarly structured process. The course emphasizes requirements engineering, system architecture, technology selection, iterative development, version control, testing, documentation, accessibility, security, privacy, ethical decision-making, and professional communication. Deliverables include a working prototype or deployed system, source repository, design and testing evidence, technical and user documentation, presentation, demonstration, and reflective evaluation.
Learning Outcomes
- Translate a real-world need into a defined, feasible, and implementable computing solution.
- Plan and manage a complex computer science project using documented milestones, resources, risks, roles, and workflows.
- Justify architectural, technological, and design decisions using relevant technical and stakeholder evidence.
- Apply disciplined software development, version-control, testing, quality-assurance, and documentation practices.
- Evaluate a computing solution for usability, accessibility, performance, security, maintainability, privacy, and social impact.
- Collaborate effectively through defined responsibilities, professional communication, and transparent project management practices.
- Communicate project aims, methods, outcomes, limitations, and recommendations to technical and nontechnical audiences.
- Reflect critically on project decisions, professional responsibilities, limitations, and opportunities for future improvement.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 1 hour | Weekly | First term |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Practicum | 3 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Seminar | 1 hour | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Project proposal and feasibility plan | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Literature and technology review | 10.00% |
| Deliverable | Design artifacts and progress review | 15.00% |
| Deliverable | Working prototype or deployed system | 25.00% |
| Deliverable | Testing evidence and technical documentation | 15.00% |
| Capstone | Final presentation and demonstration | 10.00% |
| Assignment | Reflective evaluation and professional practice report | 10.00% |
Prerequisites
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
