Student Originated Software Catalog Copy 1995-1996
 
Coordinator:  Judith Bayard Cushing
 
Enrollment:  45
 
Prerequisites:
(1) Data to Information or equivalent, or an interesting project proposal 
	and some computing or programming experience.
(2) Interview with one of the program faculty after completing questionnaire.
(3) Faculty signature required. 
 
Special Expenses:  Diskettes for student project work and two field trips
(about $30 each). 
 
Part-time Options:  8-credit option for part-time students only.
 
Internship Possibilities:  Possibly some students may arrange internships
to work with their software clients. 
 
Additional Course Allowed:  No.
 
Even the best efforts of computer users, scientists and software engineers
have not alleviated critical problems with software development:  most
software is late, over-budget, socially irresponsible, unable to perform
according to user needs, or some combination of these.  The "software
engineering" problem is not just a matter of technology, but a problem of
organization, psychology, group dynamics and culture.  In addition,
considerable knowledge and understanding of the application area is
required to design and implement a successful system.  Student Originated
Software is intended to prepare students to face these problems. 
 
This year-long program is designed to give students with advanced
programming skills (or programming skills and considerable application
area expertise) the ability to identify and carry out a viable software
project.  Students will work in groups to identify a software project,
prepare market research and feasibility studies for that project, identify
a "real world" client (or class of clients) and write software
specifications accordingly.  Under the guidance of faculty members and
working with users, students will conduct systems analysis and design,
implementation, and product testing and validation.  They will also write
user manuals and system maintenance plans, and (where appropriate) conduct
or plan system installation and user training.  Students will evaluate
their software project according to technical, legal and social criteria. 
 
Application areas of some successful past projects include:  the natural
sciences, music, visual arts and education. Numerous systems for small
business, and local and state agencies have been developed in the past. 
The program seminar will address the role of technical expertise in modern
society;  the organizational, social and cultural milieu of the workplace;
ergonomics and human-machine interaction and the psychology of computer
programming. 
 
Credit will be distributed among computer science and software
engineering:  systems analysis and design, software tools and advanced
programming, special topics (e.g., object-oriented systems and databases,
computer graphics or user interface design).  Total:  48 credits
 
Program is preparatory for careers and future study in computer science
and software engineering or the project application area.