"If this is what it's really like, maybe I better major in English": integrating realism into a sophomore software engineering course

In the Fall 1998, our sophomore computer science students took a new course called "Software Practice. " At this early stage in their academic career, the course gave them practical, realistic exposure to the process of creating large software systems in teams. Their previous CS1/CS2 experience focused on the development of C++ language proficiency skills on the Unix platform, with short, programming-in-the-small assignments reinforcing the "skill of the week." Much to the students' periodic frustration and anguish, the Software Practice class differed in most every way-having one, programming-in-the-large, full semester project on the Windows NT/Visual C++ platform that often forced them to independently research new programming techniques. Course evaluations indicate that the students found the course, with its stark view into the realism of software development, enlightening, highly valuable and fun.