The Software Systems Honors and Major

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The Software Systems Honors and Major

• F.A.Q.
• March 23, 2005

2
What Are Software Systems?

• ?
• Left for discussion at the end of the presentation

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The Effect of a S. S. Honors/Major onyour
Course of Study (BCS)

• Less freedom in choosing electives
• Some electives are concentrated in the software
  design and implementation areas
• Specifically, 5 elective courses must be devoted
  to the Software Systems Majors/Honors

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So Why Do It?

• You learn a lot more about what makes computers
  do what they do my personal opinion only
• You have an interest in software
• Do find something interesting to study it makes
  your studies much more enjoyable
• You want to work for a software company doing
  development work

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Whats the difference between Majors and Honors?

• Same course selection, except
• Senior report/thesis
• Honors must take CS4997
• Majors may take either CS4983 or CS4997
• Final grade point average
• Honors requires 3.0 or above
• First class honors 3.5 or above
• Second class honors 3.0 or above
• Majors requires 2.5 or above

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Should You Choose Majors or Honors?

• Choose honors if you possibly may achieve a 3.0
  average
• You can request a change later
• If you are enrolled in honors but finish with a
  average between 2.5 and 3.0, you will be
  automatically moved to majors
• If you complete with a grade point under 2.5, you
  will automatically be awarded a general degree
  (just as if you had not applied for
  majors/honors)
• You must change from honors to major if you
  decide to take CS4983 instead of CS4997

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CS4983 or CS4997?

• CS4983 is a library research and report writing
  course
• CS4997 is usually a do something course
• CS4997 projects are often more interesting
• You often work more closely with a professor
• CS4997 is 4 ch CS4983 is 2 ch
• CS4997 is a full year (two term) course CS4983
  is a one term course
• CS4997 typically takes more weekly time than
  CS4983

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Why do it now?

• The longer you wait to work out a plan, the
  harder it may be to fit in all the requirements

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How Do I Enroll?

• Fill out a Application for Major/Honors in
  Software Systems form
• From the rack outside the FCS office (Gillin E
  floor)
• From the Faculty of Computer Science web site
• Get it approved by a software systems major
  advisor currently
• Andrew McAllister
• John DeDourek

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Old Form
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A Change
OLD
NEW

• The following new rules for Software Systems for
• all students graduating in May 2006
• Software Systems 
• CS3013
• 1 from CS4405, CS4905
• 1 from CS4405, CS4905, CS4015, CS4025, SWE4103,
• SWE4203
• 1 from CS3025, CS4735
• 1 from Group A.

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Suggeston

• Also fill out an academic history worksheet
• Leave marks blank for courses not yet taken
• Show a copy to your major advisor
• This avoids some mistakes made by major/honors
  students in the past

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Academic History Worksheet
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1
3
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Major/Honors Courses
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Other Electives
Dont include the majors/honors courses
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Core CS4xxx/5xxx Elective
Dont include any of the majors/honors courses as
the Core CS4xxx/5xxx elective
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Questions?

• ?