SDEV 485 - Software Development Capstone I

Winter 2026 (4280 & 4281)

Course Information

Instructor Information

Course Description and Outcomes

First of two capstone project courses. Students as technical team members partner with business team members and/or clients to develop a product or service concept that fulfills a business need.

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

Program and Campus Learning Outcomes

Instructional Methods and Modality

SDEV 485 is a project-based capstone class where students form self-directed teams to complete a software development project, integrating practices that they have learned in prerequisite coursework, prior projects, and their own background research during the course. The instructors will provide the framework, introducing topics/reading, and facilitating the learning.

This is a hybrid course. We meet four hours each week in person. There is also an online component to the course, approximately one hour per week. The online component of the course may consist of readings, videos, tutorials and other activities. All assignments and announcements are posted in the course Canvas shell.

Course Resources

Textbooks

The textbook for this course is The Agile Samurai, by Jonathan Rasmusson

Canvas

All assignments, supplementary materials, the course schedule, due dates, and updates to this syllabus will be posted to the course Canvas shell at https://egator.greenriver.edu/

If you have any questions about the course, reading, or the homework, post them to Canvas Discussions. This will enable you to get an answer to your questions more quickly, and also help classmates who might have the same question. If you see a question in the Discussions that you think you can answer, please do so!

Email

Check the course Canvas shell and your GRC email account daily for important announcements.

If you have questions of a personal nature, such as regarding a specific grade or scheduling an appointment, then email an instructor or visit during office hours.

Course Policies

Team Contribution

A significant portion of your grade for this course will be based on your team project deliverables and peer evaluations. Ideally, all team members will contribute fairly and receive all the project points. However, in the rare case that a team member does not contribute his or her fair share, their grade will be adjusted accordingly. To avoid any lost points, students should strive to be productive and contributing team members.

The team may determine what criteria, and what process, should be used to determine when a team member is on probation and when a student is no longer eligible to be a member of the team for failing to contribute to the software development effort. This should be written into the team's Working Agreement. The team should notify the instructor immediately if a team member is put on probation or has been released.

If you are released by your team or choose to work independently, you will not be able to earn a grade higher than 1.5 in the course, as you will no longer be satisfying the capstone course requirement to demonstrate effective software development practices in an Agile team environment.

Attendance

Regular attendance and participation are required to succeed in this course. Absences have a huge impact on your learning and team productivity. As a result, attendance will count as 25% of your course grade. If missing a class is unavoidable, be sure to notify your team members. You do not need to notify the instructors.

Late Policy

All assignments are posted well in advance. Be sure to get an early start so that you have plenty of time to get help if you need it.

Job Placement

Students who place into a full-time job in a software-related field (Software Developer, Technical Product Manager, SDET, QA Analyst, etc.) may substitute their work experience for the capstone project. Internships, part-time jobs, and contract positions of less than one year do not qualify.

If you obtain full-time employment, you will still register for the capstone course(s) on a Pass/Non-credit basis by the end of week 8, and pay for the credits.

Talk to your instructors for more information.

Extra Credit

You may earn up to 12 points in extra credit. Each extra credit activity is worth 3 points. Several extra credit opportunities are listed below. If you have other ideas for extra credit, please email or talk to the instructor. To receive extra credit, submit a brief 1-2 paragraph writeup of your experience in Canvas within one week of the event. The link is under Course Resources in Canvas.

No extra credit will be accepted more than a week after the event, or beyond the last day of class.

Tutors

There are tutors available for all Software Development classes. View the Tutoring Schedule.

Tutoring Protocols

Academic Integrity and Collaboration

Plagiarism is knowingly submitting someone else's ideas, words, or code as your own. It is intentional deception, and it undermines your learning. If I suspect plagiarism, I will meet with you to verify that the work is yours.

You may use AI tools for learning or research, but you are responsible for checking their accuracy. All submitted work must be your own. Submitting AI-generated work will be treated as academic dishonesty.

These restrictions ensure that you build real understanding of technical concepts and problem-solving skills. Software Development and Data Analytics require active engagement, critical thinking, and hands-on practice. Prohibiting AI-generated text helps you develop debugging skills, algorithmic thinking, creativity, and the ability to apply concepts independently.

Relying on your own effort and collaborating with peers prepares you for real-world work where coding proficiency matters. While AI tools have their place, this course focuses on building a strong foundation you can use in future academic and professional settings.

Seek help from the instructor, tutors, peers, and course materials whenever needed. Embrace the learning process and persist through challenges.

If any submitted work is not your own, the assignment will receive a zero. Repeat offenses will result in failing the course.

Grading

Grading in this course consists of your demonstrated competency and professionalism. If you have any questions or concerns about a course grade, talk to the instructor within two weeks of receiving the grade. A passing grade consists of a 1.0 or higher.

Grades will be converted according to the following scale:

Decimal %
4.0 95
3.9 94
3.8 93
3.7 92
3.6 91
3.5 90
3.4 89
3.3 88
3.2 87
3.1 86
Decimal %
3.0 85
2.9 84
2.8 83
2.7 82
2.6 81
2.5 80
2.4 79
2.3 78
2.2 77
2.1 76
Decimal %
2.0 75
1.9 74
1.8 73
1.7 72
1.6 71
1.5 70
1.4 69
1.3 68
1.2 67
1.1 66
1.0 65
0.0 <65

Counseling Services

Counseling Services provides short-term mental health counseling and self-care/wellness education to Green River students. Workshops and consultation services are offered for staff, faculty, and student organizations. Services are free and confidential.

Counseling Services are provided by licensed psychologists, social workers, and professional mental health therapists. We are here to help by providing support to explore emotional concerns, developing new awareness and skills, and mobilizing your existing strengths, qualities and abilities. While some people who seek counseling have chronic emotional difficulties, most are dealing with normal life events and are simply in need of an objective listener - someone who doesn't judge and who can help you see new alternatives.

Please visit https://www.greenriver.edu/campus/campus-resources/counseling-services/ for more information, or to schedule an appointment.

Financial Assistance

Are you balancing a combination of school, work, or life? Are you working as hard as you can, but still having a hard time keeping up with bills and the rising cost of living? Green River provides access to resources to help you get by, get ahead, and stay ahead, so that you can achieve your college and career goals.

The Benefits Hub offers one-stop financial assistance and enrollment in benefits, including:

Visit the Benefits Hub for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Additional Information

For information about Accessibility, Accommodations, and Mandatory Reporters, please visit https://www.greenriver.edu/syllabus-info

This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by contacting Disability Support Services at 253-833-9111, ext. 2631; TTY 253-288-3359; or by email at dss@greenriver.edu.

Green River College is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Learn more at www.greenriver.edu/accessibility.

Software Dev Student Portal at http://greenrivertech.net