What is Senior Project?

Senior Project has changed a lot over the years. Success in Senior Project no longer starts the day before fall quarter. Typically, late in the winter quarter (sometimes it may be as late as the first week of the Spring quarter) an orientation meeting for Senior Project occurs. This may be online via Zoom or in person (or both). It is recorded for those that can't attend. This meeting highlights all the requirements and procedures related to Senior Project.

Students in non-research projects are expected to form teams of 5-6 students. First and foremost, think about the people whom you wish to work with. Think of the line from Spamalot, “The success of every endeavor depends upon the people that you choose." This is very true in Senior Project. A group's success or failure is often determined by the selection of team members. So, while you are in your undergraduate classes seek out and work with other students that you think might make good Senior Project partners. Try to work in their group for Software Engineering type classes. Find out, ahead of time. If they will make good partners. Research projects are typically solo endeavors, but have specific requirements explained in the meeting.

Project ideas may come from external stakeholders, which we provide many, or they may come from students themselves. If you are a group proposing an idea, you must have a legitimate stakeholder sponsoring the project (a domain expert or end user or your project). Stakeholders can take many forms and we are happy to work with you ahead of time to determine if a project / stakeholder is appropriate. You may also propose a project that is entrepreneurial in nature, but again there are additional requirements.