CSCI 495
Senior Seminar in Computer Science

Course Description:

CSCI 495  Senior Seminar in Computer Science    Three Credit Hours
     Open only to senior computer science majors.
     A variety of topics in computer science will be studied in areas ranging from theoretical computer science to social, professional, and ethical issues. Students will be required to make oral and written presentations.

Major Topics:

• Synopsis of the material covered in CSCI-201, 202, 223, 305, 320, 355
• Formal languages and automata
• Algorithm Complexity
• Software engineering principles
• Search and evaluation of computer literature
• Technical writing
  • Letters
  • Technical reports
  • Literature reviews
• Social, professional, and ethical issues of computer science
  • Ethical theories
  • Arguments
  • Codes of Conduct
  • Privacy
  • Security
  • Computer Crime
  • Intellectual property
  • Regulating commerce and speech

Course Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to

• Explain and use concepts underlying several areas that comprise the science of computing, and describe their interrelationships
• Score competitively on the major field exam in computer science offered by ETS
• Write documents commonly prepared by computer professionals including cover letters, experiment summaries, and literature reviews
• Prepare and give presentations supported by PowerPoint slides
• Discuss ethical, professional, and social issues related to computer technology
• Apply theories of ethical decision-making to current technology related issues.

Textbooks:

• Computer Ethics (4th Edition) by Deborah G. Johnson, Pearson, 2008.
• Writing and Speaking for Technical Professionals by Roden & Murphy, Discovery Press, 2009.

Projected Schedule:

Every Fall

Recent Syllabi:

Fall 2012, Rudolph