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Fri, Nov 3, 11:30 - 11:55, Normandy B Paper (refereed)

Recommended Citation: Miles, G and K M Kelm. Capstone Project Experiences: Integrating Computer Science and the Liberal Arts. In The Proceedings of the Information Systems Education Conference 2006, v 23 (Dallas): §2344. ISSN: 1542-7382. (A later version appears in Information Systems Education Journal 5(30). ISSN: 1545-679X.)

Recipient of Distinguished Paper Award

Capstone Project Experiences: Integrating Computer Science and the Liberal Arts

Refereed

9 pages

Gail Miles    [a1] [a2]
Computer Science & Mathematics Department
Lenoir Rhyne College    [u1] [u2]
Hickory, North Carolina, USA    [c1] [c2]

Kathleen M. Kelm    [a1] [a2]
Computer Science Department
Edgewood College    [u1] [u2]
Madison, Wisconsin, USA    [c1] [c2]

This paper provides an overview and comparison of a one-year capstone experience using a two-semester software engineering project-based model, offered by two small, liberal-arts colleges, Lenoir-Rhyne College and Edgewood College. The capstone experience has been offered at both colleges for the past 15 years. The paper details the structure of the capstone project experience, concentrating on the integration of the liberal arts with the technical education of CS within the framework of project and team work. A discussion on the benefits and challenges of integrating liberal arts follows, with a specific focus on student preparedness for employment as IS/IT professionals. Recommendations for others teaching a professional program within a liberal arts environment conclude the paper.

Keywords: IS education, capstone project, liberal arts, IS2002 curriculum, ACM curriculum, software engineering, SDLC

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