Winona State University's computer science practicum provides computer science majors with experience in a non-academic setting. It is intended to serve as an introduction to an application environment as well as to solidify many of the concepts learned in the classroom. For these reasons, it is to be taken only by students who are nearing the end of their program of study and who have little or no previous work experience. For those students who are currently employed, the practicum must provide them with work experience which is substantially different from any previous or current work experience. If you are interested in a practicum, read the requirements before completing the Student Information Form.

Practicum Requirements

I. Eligibility requirements

Students who are considering a practicum should apply by completing the "CS 491 Student Information" form. They should return it, along with a copy of their student transcript, to the coordinator at least one term before they intend to register for the practicum. To be eligible, students must:

1. Be a declared CS or CIS major and be admitted in the respective program.
2. Have junior or senior status
3. Have completed the following courses: CS 341, CS 351, CS 410, [Stat 210 or Math 165], CS 385 or CS 405(old CS 376)], [CS 470 or CS 371(old CS 417)], and [CS 412 or CS 485].  All prerequisites to these courses must be completed with a C grade or better.  At least 5 computer science courses must be completed through WSU. A student who has failed one or more courses as a result of cheating, according to department records, is not eligible for CS 491.
4. Provide the names of two WSU computer science professors, from whom they have taken core or option courses, who have agreed to serve as references.
5. Have been granted no more than 3 semester hours of equivalency credit for previous work experience in computer science.

A CS 491 Student Information form can be obtained by contacting the coordinator or downloading and printing one using the selection at the bottom of this page.

II. Locating a practicum site

After receiving formal approval of their application, the student will be given a "Practicum Proposal" form and may begin the process of locating a practicum site. Locating a site is the responsibility of the student; however, the coordinator may suggest several possible companies so it is advisable to consult with the coordinator at this point. To secure a site, you are expected to apply to companies, providing them with a cover letter, resume and copy of your transcript, as with a normal job search. If an offer is made, you must obtain a description of the tasks to be done, an estimate of the time involved, and the name, address and phone number of the person expected to be the supervisor. You must also make the supervisor aware that you expect it to be for academic credit, that they must allow an onsite visit by the coordinator, and they must review your written practicum report at the end. If, for any reason, the company does not allow an onsite visit or does not allow you to release a report, the proposal will not be approved.

It is likely that the starting date and ending date of the work period will not coincide with a school term. Therefore, you should obtain these dates from the company to determine the most appropriate term in which to register for practicum credit. A common practice is to register for the term in which the work begins and take an incomplete grade to extend your student status until the practicum work is complete.

III. Submitting a proposal for a practicum

After an approved student has located a practicum site, he/she should complete the Practicum Proposal form and return it to the coordinator at least 6 weeks before they intend to register for the practicum. The purpose of this form is to determine if the site and tasks performed will be suitable for practicum credit. The information needed for this will include:

1. The term in which the student plans to register for the practicum.
2. An estimate of the time required to complete the proposed tasks, in hours.
3. Beginning and ending dates of the practicum.
4. The name, address, and phone number of the supervisor.
5. An outline of the tasks to be performed.

IV. The final approval process

To be approved, a minimum of 200 hours is required on site, the tasks performed must be related to the concepts introduced in the student's computer science course work, and the proposed practicum must be substantially different from any previous or current work experience. Final approval rests with the practicum coordinator. The student must have formal approval from the coordinator before he/she can register for the class and before any work is performed. The class, CS 491, is offered for 6 semester credits, only 3 of these credits can be applied to a computer science major , and the student receives a P or N grade. Also, there is an additional $20 laboratory fee and, depending on location, students can expect to have at least one on-site visit by the coordinator while they are doing their practicum. During this visit, the coordinator will meet with the student and the supervisor.

V. Completing the practicum

In addition to the tasks designated by the company, to complete the practicum, the student is required to provide the following:

1. A 3-4 page, typed, report by the student which summarizes the student's experience. This report must be submitted to the student's supervisor for approval.
2. A report from the student's supervisor, on company stationery , confirming the accuracy of the student's report and verifying that the student has not disclosed any confidential information. Both reports must be sent directly from the supervisor to the coordinator and are due on the last class day of the term in which the student has registered for the practicum. The student is responsible for supplying the necessary mailing materials.
3. An oral report describing the student's practicum experience. This report, up to 50 minutes in length, will be given on campus and be open to interested faculty and students.
4. A final exit interview with the practicum coordinator.

Get An Application Form

You can download a Student Information Form. It is a Microsoft Word document. You can either fill it in with Word and e-mail it back to Dr. Bunce or print a copy, fill it in manually and send it to him by regular mail.

For more information contact:

Dr. Gary Bunce
Department of Computer Science
Winona State University
Winona, MN 55987
(507) 457-5377
gbunce@winona.edu