Course Description:

CS 390 provides students with an introduction to the research and project design process as applied within the computing field. Students will learn about the tools of the trade and work through design principles starting with the articulation of a question, reviewing methods of exploration, gathering evidence, communicating results, and assessing/evaluating research or project outcomes.

Students will work individually and in small groups, and participate in a research or design experience. You will have the opportunity to design and evaluate projects involving the use of Kinects, iOS, and Android devices. See the Lecture Timetable for the list of topics that will be covered in the class.

This course is for students who are interested in getting involved in undergraduate research (see UROP) or who plan to do a senior design project in the future (see CS 490 - Design Exhibition.)

Prerequisites:

CS 262 (Low level Programming) is required;
CS 310 (Data Structures) and CS 321 (Software Requirements & Design Modeling) is highly recommended

---

Instructor:

Prof. Pearl Y. Wang
Computer Science Department
Office:  Nguyen Engineering - ENGR 4304
Tel:       703-993-1527
E-mail:    pwang at cs.gmu.edu
Office Hours: Tues & Wed, 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Class Hours:

Tues & Thurs 9:00 - 10:15 am;   ENGR 1108

---

Texts:

This course has no required textbooks, but several papers will be distributed for reading. See the Lecture Timetable and Assignments webpages.

Course Requirements & Grading:

CS 390 is an activity-based course. This means that students must attend all classes and contribute to on-going discussions. There are no exams, but the course grade will be based on class participation and completion of a semester project or research paper:

(1) Participation: readings critiques, progress reports, and presentations: 40%

(2) Semester project: 60%

30% - project design/research plan documents, including regular progress reports and revisions

30% - final report containing documented software and/or project artifacts. For a research paper, final document should show evidence of an original contribution

The tentative list of required activities can be found on the Lecture Timetable webpage.

---

Course Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the semester, students will be able to

• Articulate and refine a question while following ethical principles
• Engage in the key elements of the scholarly process by:
    - selecting an appropriate discovery process for scholarly inquiry,
    - gathering evidence appropriate to the question, and
    - applying appropriate scholarly conventions during scholarly inquiry and when reporting
  

• Assess the validity of key assumptions and evidence, and situate the scholarly inquiry within a broader context.

This course was developed with the support of OSCAR @ GMU and is identified as an Inquiry level course.

---

Honor Code:

All required coursework for this class must adhere to Mason's and the CS Department's Academic Integrity and Honor Code Policies described here:

http://cs.gmu.edu/wiki/pmwiki.php/HonorCode/HomePage.

---

Disabilities:

If you have a documented learning disability or other condition that may affect academic performance you should: (1) make sure this documentation is on file with the Office of Disability Services (SUB I, Rm. 4205; 993-2474; http://ods.gmu.edu/) to determine the accommodations you need; and (2) talk with me to discuss your accommodation needs.

---

Important Dates:

Last day to add:  September 2, 2014
Last day to drop: September 2, 2014 (no tuition penalty)
Final day to drop: September 26, 2014
Final day for selective withdrawal: October 24, 2014

Columbus Day recess: October 13, 2014
Thanksgiving recess: November 26 - 30, 2014
Last day of classes: December 6, 2014

Final Examination Date: Thurs, Dec 11, 2014: 7:30 - 10:15 am

---

Created: 25 Aug 2014
P.Y. Wang