CS 4944: Senior Seminar (Entrepreneurship Version)
Fall 2018

This semester we are offering a second section of the CS Senior Seminar focused on the theme of entrepreneurship. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor, Dr. Ribbens, and will be limited to 20 students who are confident of graduating in December 2018 or May 2019.

The senior seminar normally focuses on three main themes: program assesment and feedback, curriculum synthesis and self-assessment, and transition to life after graduation. This version of the seminar changes the relative emphasis among these three aspects to focus primarily on entrepreneurship. Students who have already been active in entrepreneurship, or who have serious ideas and intentions in that direction, will particularly benefit from this course.

The course will be organized around in-person visits from five CS alumni who have been active in entrepreneurial ventures. Students will have the opportunity to study the careers of these alumni and to interact with them and learn from their experiences.

There are five requirements or deliverables for the class, each of which must be completed satisfactorily to receive a passing grade. The class is scheduled for Fridays, 2:30-4:00 p.m., in McBryde 655. Note however that there are only six required class meetings.

1. Attend the organizational meeting on Friday, August 24, 2:30 p.m., McBryde 655

2. Attend class meetings on September 14, October 5 and 26, and November 2 and 16 to meet with our visitors.

3. Participate in a group of 3-4 focused on one of the five visitors. Your group's responsibilities are:
   1. Prepare a short report (no more than five pages) summarizing the technical/business career of the visitor. What has been his/her professional journey? What company or companies did they help create? What product(s) or sector(s) have they been active in? This report must be prepared and distributed to the class by the Tuesday before the Friday visits.
   2. Attend a lunch with the visitor on the Friday of their visit (12:30-2:00 pm). This will be a great opportunity to interact informally and talk about anything you want.
   3. Lead the discussion time at the Friday 2:30 class meeting that features your guest.

4. Write a 1-2 paragraph reflection after the visit of the alum on which you focused. What did you learn from their visit---about them and/or about your own plans and potential? How did it help/hurt your own thoughts about being an entrepreneur after graduation. Submit this reflection as "Task 5" in the class Canvas site.

5. Complete the "Task 7" essay assigned as part of the standard CS 4944 requirements: write a 4-5 paragraph essay on the topic described here. The quality of your writing will be assessed for this assignment. Upload your response to the class Canvas site by December 10.

6. Complete the "Task 8" exit presentation described here.