Sponsor a Senior Design Project
How It Works
TCU Computer Science runs a two-semester senior design sequence in which teams of 6–7 students solve real-world problems for external sponsors, delivering a complete software solution over the academic year (August–May). Teams work with modern software engineering practices — agile development, code reviews, CI/CD, and automated testing.
Past projects span data analytics, AI, machine learning, gaming, and web and mobile apps. .
Why Work with TCU Computer Science?
Sponsors often expect low-cost development help. The bigger returns are easy to overlook:
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A year-long working interview. Watch a team solve a real problem over nine months before any hiring conversation — early access to DFW talent, and a stronger signal than a résumé or internship.
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A home for a project you can't staff internally. Give a backlog "someday" idea a dedicated team for a full year, without pulling your engineers off their work.
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Faculty expertise included. Advisors with research depth in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, data science, and software engineering guide the work throughout.
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Serious computing power. Teams can tap TCU's AI² platform, including 16 NVIDIA H200 GPUs, making AI-heavy prototypes feasible without your own infrastructure.
Project Timeline
Fall — Requirements & Design
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August: Sponsors pitch project ideas to the class (~20–25 min); students form teams and choose projects.
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September–December: Teams define the problem, gather requirements, build initial prototypes, and design the architecture — ending with a solid implementation plan for spring.
Spring — Implementation & Delivery
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Teams build the full system (no lectures or exams).
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April: Knowledge-transfer window for sponsors handing off to another team.
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May: Final source code and documentation delivered.
What We Expect from Sponsors
A successful project depends on active sponsor involvement. Sponsors commit to:
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Clear scope. Well-defined goals, appropriately challenging for 6–7 students over two semesters.
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Regular communication. Meet with the team, answer questions, review prototypes, and give timely feedback. (We can provide meeting space.)
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Sustained engagement. Stay involved throughout — students depend on the project to graduate.
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Kickoff pitch. Present your idea in class in August.
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Final presentation. Attend the banquet in May.
Projects must suit an academic setting — not safety- or business-critical. Deliverables are prototypes or proof-of-concept systems, not production-ready solutions; sponsors handle any further development, validation, and integration.
Sponsorship Fee
Senior design is an educational program, not a commercial service. The modest fee goes entirely toward project resources — cloud hosting, API usage (e.g., LLMs), domains, certificates, and third-party tools. It also signals genuine commitment and lets the team move quickly when resources are needed.
It is not payment for contracted services: this is a for-credit course, and no portion is paid to students. The fee typically runs $1,500–$3,000, depending on cloud, API, and tooling needs — and it should never be why a worthwhile project doesn't happen. Nonprofits, student-serving organizations, and smaller teams are encouraged to reach out.
Get Started
We welcome proposals from companies, nonprofits, and organizations of all sizes. Submit the intake form — you'll describe your idea, confirm your availability, and acknowledge the sponsorship commitments. We'll review and follow up to schedule a conversation (Zoom or in person) to discuss fit.
[Download the Candidate Project Requirements (PDF) — link placeholder]
[Download the Sponsorship Agreement (PDF) — link placeholder]
Intellectual Property
The sponsor owns all intellectual property — source code, documentation, and deliverables — upon completion. Work is done by students in an educational setting; deliverables may include open-source or third-party components under their own licenses; and students may reference their work for academic, portfolio, or career purposes without disclosing confidential information.
Presentation Events
Teams present at several events during the year:
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Industrial Advisory Board — mid-project updates
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CSE Student Research Symposium (SRS)
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Final Senior Design Banquet — recorded; open to faculty, students, and industry partners
Liability
This is an academic course. Deliverables are provided "as is," without warranties of any kind. The students and the TCU Department of Computer Science are not liable for any damages or losses arising from use of the delivered system; any use beyond demonstration or prototyping is at the sponsor's own risk.
Questions?
Interested in recruiting our students beyond senior design — through internships, full-time roles, or our career fair? See to connect with TCU Computer Science students.
For anything not covered here, contact:
Dr. Bingyang Wei Department Chair, Computer Science