Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Capstone Project

EET 4960-01

Course: EET 4960-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: ET
CRN: 10694

Course Description

This course is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to apply their electronics and computer training in a more industry-like atmosphere (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): EET 1700 and EET 2700 and EET 2780 and EET 3760 and instructor permission - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C-

Required Texts

None.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply concepts, theories, and techniques acquired throughout the program to address a complex, real-world problem.
  • Analyze data, evaluate alternatives, and develop evidence-based solutions through using project management tools to plan and execute an engineering project.
  • Demonstrate effective planning, organization, and time management to meet project milestones and deadlines.
  • Utilize appropriate tools, technologies, and methodologies relevant to the project’s discipline.
  • Present findings clearly and persuasively through written reports, oral presentations, and visual materials.
  • Develop, test and analyze a prototype and write a report documenting the results.
  • Use creativity and critical thinking to solve real-world engineering problems considering ethical, societal, environmental and economic issues.
  • Communicate ideas and project outcomes to diverse audiences using oral, written, and graphical methods.
  • Function as effective team member in a variety of roles such as leadership, administrative and/or technical support.

Course Requirements


General Information
Coursework emphasizes creative and critical thinking, planning, design, execution and statistical evaluation of experiments, multidisciplinary team work, and project management. Students will use engineering and project-management principles and concepts learned to-date to propose a project, develop requirements and constraints, complete initial design, and present initial results to a panel of professional reviewers.

Grading
Students will be assessed through a variety of assignments related to various topics and their design projects. Participation will be recorded as part of the grade based on instructor observations and peer evaluations. Assignments will be divided into 2 categories: Assignments, and Deliverables. The categories will be weighted as indicated below. Each assignment will be weighted within the category by its point-value.

Grading Scale                                                                  

Percent Grade
100 – 90 A
89 - 80 B
79 - 70 C
69 – 60 D
Below 60 F


Grading Component Grade Weightage

Project Proposal (Project definition, Objective, Motivation, Tasks Technical Description, Overall work plan) =  25
Identification of Components and execution plan with timelines (answers to questions: why, what, when, where and how) = 15
Professional Presentations at Weekly Meetings with required documentation = 20
Assignments as notified on canvas = 10
Deliverable (Simulation, Computing and Prototype demo; Final Report) = 30

Formal documentation is required for all of the above-mentioned categories. 


Course Outline

Please keep seeing the due dates posted on canvas for various activities throughout the semester. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

The capstone project must be completed by the assigned due date. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR FULL CREDIT. In general, assignments are not accepted if they are submitted after the deadline. Prior information with justification is required for any excuse sought for late submission. 

-  Exams are not planned in this course.  There will be multiple presentations and written assignments.
-  The percentages in the grading scale above may be varied depending on our overall project success this semester.
-  A final project report is expected to be submitted in complete details in the format satisfying the requirements before the final presentation.
-  Any components purchased using the SUU project funding support to be handed over upon completion of the project.  

Attendance Policy


1.  Attendance: Class attendance is required as per the course schedule posted on canvas. Additionally, you are required to regularly meet with the instructor (to be scheduled by your team and the instructor). There may be additional attendance requirements outside of class (such as a project review in the evening, or other large events such as the Festival of Excellence). Since class does not meet regularly, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND CLASS WHEN SCHEDULED with the exception of extreme situations.  If you miss class, you are responsible for all the material covered and any assignments (due and/or assigned). Unless pre-arranged and approved by the instructor, due-dates for assignments will not be modified.

 
a.       If you miss a scheduled lab time, you are responsible for coordinating with the instructor a time to utilize the lab facilities within the time-frame of the assignment.
b.       If you stay home due to an illness, contact me ASAP so we can arrange for you to complete work remotely. Getting behind is one of the primary reasons students are not successful in this course.
c.       While most of the materials will be available online via canvas posts and assignments, additional information may be provided during class time. If you miss class, you are responsible to get the information provided in class.
 

2.  Presentations must be given as scheduled. Any absence not excused in advance will result in a zero for that presentation. Unless pre-arranged, the order in which groups present will be determined by the instructor. Any material required for a presentation MUST be submitted prior to class and the presenters are responsible for ensuring the materials are uploaded and displayed. Students should be prepared to present in class or via a Zoom meeting.
 

3.  Reports and other formal documents summarizing the project must follow any format requirements presented in the assignment or on the course Canvas page. Reports should be professional in nature, at a similar level as to what is found in industry (i.e. conference publications).
 

4.  Assignments are due at the beginning of class and will not be accepted once class begins. LATE ASSIGNMENTS MAY BE PENALIZED BASED UPON THE TIME BETWEEN SUBMITTAL AND THE DUE DATE OR MAY NOT BE GIVEN ANY CREDIT.
 

5.  From time-to-time students may be asked to evaluate their peers. Students are expected to behave in a respectful and professional manner and provide constructive comments. Disruptive, distracting behavior or comments that are not at a professional, mature nature will not be tolerated. This behavior may result in a grading penalty (if the evaluation is an assignment) and/or the student may be asked to leave the room.
 

6.  The design projects are group projects. The majority of assignments will be given one score for the entire group (although exceptions can be made by the instructor if significant unequal work is observed). Each group is responsible for delegation of work. Each student must supply some technical effort to the project. While it is understood that the level-of-effort may vary among group members, groups are expected to make an effort to distribute technical and managerial work on the project as evenly as possible.
 

Safety and Professional Behavior

Safety and Professional Behavior
Recommended Texts
FE Reference Handbook, National Council of Examination for Engineering and Surveying, 9.5 Ed., 2018
Communication and Course Platforms
  • Canvas will be used for posting all assignments, recording scores for homework, projects and exams, and to make announcements to the class (outside of class time).
  • All correspondence to the entire class outside of class time will be via Cavnas (assignments, announcements, etc.). Communication to individuals will be to your e-mail address associated with SUU. You are responsible for periodically checking your email and Canvas for announcements and assignments.
Safety and Professional Behavior
Safety and Professional Behavior: Projects may involve the use of lab or other university equipment. Students should maintain professional behavior at all times, but particularly when operating equipment. Students are required to read and follow instructions for use of equipment and only to use the equipment in a safe manner to minimize the danger to oneself and others. Disregarding safety and/or other procedures will result in your dismissal from the lab area and a grade of zero for the associated project (at a minimum). Significant disregard for equipment and/or safety my result in a failing grade for the course. If you are unsure as to how to operate equipment in a safe manner, ask for help. This is of particular importance in the capstone since students should be ready to transition to a professional environment.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.