CSC400 Detailed Information

Spring 2026

Catalog Description

• CSC 400 - Computer Science Project Sem
• A capstone investigation of selective current computer science topics and independent experience in designing and executing a computer science project.
• 3.000 Credit hours

Team-Based Project Only

You will work on a team-based project

• Each team should consist of three members
• You have to form your project team and develop the project idea
• In Microsoft Teams, I have created a course named "TMS CSC400 Spring 2026" and added each interested student as a member to that course. You can use the General channel to discuss with each other and form your project team.

Project Type

• Software development project
• You will develop a software, for example, computer-based, phone-based, or web-based applications
• Deliverables:
1. a full-fledged software (including source codes)
2. a detailed project report
• Research project
• You will perform scientific research towards publications
• Deliverables:
• Research codes (source codes)
• Research data
• A manuscript under review—submitted to a journal/conference
• Client-sponsored project
• A client is someone internal or external to the university who has a need to have some custom software developed or research work performed
• Your client will be expected to play a significant role in defining the needs and regularly be available to provide feedback on your project
• Deliverables:
• Similar to the deliverables of software development project/research project
• Additionally, an evaluation letter from the client

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How to Register to CSC400?

• You need to form your team, write a project proposal, and send the proposal to Professor Cain.

How to write Project Proposal?

• Format:
• Three pages long
• Times New Roman, 12 point, double-spaced
• One inch margin in each side
• Content of the project proposal may vary depending on the type of the projects
• See the following slides for specifications

Software Development Project

Project proposal should include—

• Project title and team members
• Problem statement
• Objective and deliverable
• Motivation
• Significance—
• What specific user needs will your project meet?
• How will the project help users?
• Related work
• What alternative software/tools exist to meet the need you specified?
• Why is your project more suited to meet those needs?
• Features
• What are the main features of the software/tool/system you plan to develop? Describe in detail.
• Work plan
• Describe your plan (steps/procedures) to complete the project.
• What skills, tools, and technologies would be needed to develop the project?
• Of those, which you'd need to become (more) familiar with?
• Timeline
• References

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Research Project

Project proposal should include—

• Project title and team members
• Introduction
• Problem statement
• Research goal
• Motivation
• Significance—
• What will be your contributions?
• What will be the benefit of your work?
• What are the broader impacts of your research?
• Related work
• What prior studies and solutions do exist?
• How will your work be different from those studies or solutions?
• How will your research advance the state-of-the-art?
• Data
• Data source/data collection plan
• Data example
• Work plan
• Describe (in detail) your plan (features, procedures, steps) to complete the research.
• What skills, tools, and technologies would be needed to perform your research?
• Of those, which you'd need to become (more) familiar with?
• Publication plan—what journal/conference you are targeting?
• Timeline
• References

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Client-Sponsored Project

Project proposal should include—

• Project title and team members
• Client's name, affiliation(company, department) and contact info (email)
• Problem statement
• Objective and deliverable
• Motivation
• Significance—
• What specific user needs will your project meet?
• How will the project help users?
• Related work
• What alternative software/tools exist to meet the need you specified?
• Why is your project more suited to meet those needs?
• Features
• What are the main features of the software/tool/system you plan to develop? Describe in detail.
• Work plan
• Describe your plan (steps/procedures) to complete the project.
• What skills, tools, and technologies would be needed to develop the project?
• Of those, which you'd need to become (more) familiar with?
• Timeline
• References
• Appendix
• A letter from the client

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How the Classes Will be Conducted?

• Modality:
• Online SYNC, Seminar
• Final project presentations held in person
• Activities:
• Formal lecture by the instructor
• As needed
• Monthly class presentation (demonstrating the progress) by each team (15-20 minutes)
• Once every month
• Weekly meeting/discussion with each team (15-20 minutes)
• Once every week
• Final project/research presentation (15-20 minutes)
• One week before the final exam week—date will be declared later
• Submitting final deliverables
• Software, source codes
• One week before the final exam week—date will be declared later
• Project report, poster, research article
• One week before the final exam week—date will be declared later
• Will go through review process before final submission

Recap: Next Steps

• Email Professor Cain that you are interested in taking CSC 400 in Spring 2026.
• Form your team (of 3 members).
• Write your proposal.
• Email Professor Cain the proposal by November 15.
• After the proposal gets approved, you will be permitted to register.
• After you receive permission, get registered.

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