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Alkimi University Academics

CS 490 · Computer Science

Senior Software Design Project I

First semester of comprehensive capstone design. Student teams define requirements, design software architecture, evaluate feasibility, and develop prototype specifications.

How to enroll Where it fits Catalog Entry

Catalog overview

Course Essentials

Credits
3
semester credit hours
Level
400
Upper division
Typically offered
Fall
Fall semester only
Subject
Computer Science
11 courses in the catalog

Prerequisites

CS 310, CS 350, and senior standing.

400-level courses: advanced capstone, senior research, and specialized seminars. This course counts toward the 36 upper-division credits every bachelor's degree requires (Undergraduate Catalog §2.3). Details: Undergraduate Catalog §9.4.

Generative AI in this course

Every syllabus must state one of three levels: Level 1 (AI not permitted for graded work), Level 2 (AI permitted with disclosure for specified tasks), Level 3 (AI permitted broadly with disclosure). Check your section's syllabus in Canvas. Unless it says otherwise, the university default applies: generative AI tools may be used for brainstorming, studying, and feedback on your own drafts, but not to produce work you submit for a grade.

Details: Student Handbook §5.7 and Student Handbook §5.8. See what each AI level allows.

Offered by

Department of Computer Science

Questions: Academic Advising Center

Office
Lovell Hall 101
Phone
(555) 555-0158
Email
advising@university.alkimi.ai

Degree planning

Where CS 490 fits

What to take first, what this course opens up, and the requirements it can satisfy, from the Undergraduate Catalog.

This course

CS 490

Senior Software Design Project I

3 credits · 400-level · Fall

Counts toward

Every course also counts toward the 120 credits needed for a bachelor's degree. Confirm your plan with your advisor or the Academic Advising Center.

AP credit

No AP exam awards credit for CS 490. See the full AP equivalency table (Undergraduate Catalog §3.11).

2026–27 Instructors

Who teaches CS 490

Dr. Lena Novak

Assistant Teaching Professor of Computer Science

Instructor for CS 490, Fall 2026

Office
Ashby Hall 225
Email
lnovak@university.alkimi.ai

Meeting times and rooms for each term are listed in AlkimiHub when registration opens.

Department chairs make teaching assignments each year (Faculty Handbook §5.1), and every instructor posts the syllabus in Canvas by the first day of classes (Faculty Handbook §5.2).

Registration

How to enroll in CS 490

  1. Check the prerequisites

    CS 310, CS 350, and senior standing.

  2. Add it in AlkimiHub

    CS 490 is typically offered in the fall semester. Register through AlkimiHub self-service registration, which opens by credit standing. Until the add deadline, you don't need instructor permission as long as seats remain and you've met the prerequisites. Details: Student Handbook §3.3.

  3. If the section is full, join the waitlist

    When a seat opens, AlkimiHub offers it to the first student on the waitlist and emails you. You have 24 hours to claim it before it goes to the next student. Details: Student Handbook §3.10.

Fall 2026 add deadline

Last day to add a course or change sections (11:59 p.m.).

Fall 2027 registration opens

By credit standing, in AlkimiHub.

All dates: academic calendar. Registration help: Office of the Registrar.

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