Computer Science (COMP) 410

Overview

COMP 410 Software Engineering studies the approaches taken in developing large programming projects, including requirements analysis, specification, design (e.g., top-down modularization), coding (e.g. structured programming), debugging and testing, maintenance, and thorough documentation as illustrated by examples and papers from current literature. The course will prepare students for working in teams to build quality software.

COMP 410 focuses on the principles and knowledge of software engineering and provides the necessary hands-on practice for those who wish to enhance their knowledge base. This course is designed for people who work or are about to in any aspect of software development. Also it is intended for people who have a managerial responsibility for software development and anyone who is interested in how complex software systems are designed and built.

Learning Objectives

The main objectives of this course are:

• discuss and define the terms and principles of object-oriented and classical software engineering.
• describe and compare a number of commonly used software life-cycle models.
• compare the strengths and weaknesses of the various requirements elicitation and requirements analysis techniques.
• describe how testing is used in the life cycle of software.
• describe how teams should be organized so that team members can work together productively.
• identify and present various issues relating to the implementation of a product.
• explain specification techniques by focusing on the classical (structured) analysis.
• discuss the metrics and models used in cost estimation, especially the constructive cost model (COCOMO) and COCOMO II.
• Examine and use object-oriented analysis (OOA) and UML specification techniques.

Learning Outcomes

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• manage object-oriented and classical software construction projects including planning, scheduling and risk assessment/management.
• author software requirements documents.
• demonstrate an understanding of the proper contents of software requirements documents.
• author formal specification for software systems.
• demonstrate proficiency in rapid software development techniques.
• identify specific components of a software design that can be targeted for reuse.
• demonstrate proficiency in software development cost estimation.
• author software testing plans.

Outline

1. The Scope of Software Engineering
2. Software Life-Cycle Models
3. The Software Process
4. Development Teams
5. Software Engineering Tools
6. Testing
7. From Modules to Objects
8. Reusability and Portability
9. Planning and Estimating Phase
10. Requirements
11. Classical Analysis
12. Object-Oriented Analysis Phase
13. Design
14. Implementation
15. Postdelivery Maintenance
16. More on Unified Modeling Language (UML)

Evaluation

To receive credit for COMP 410, students must meet the following criteria:

• a course composite grade of at least 60%
• a grade of at least 60% on the final examination
• an average grade of at least 60% on the assignments.

The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Other Materials

The remainder of the learning materials for Computer Science 410 is distributed in electronic format.

At this time, those materials include:

1. Computer Science 410 Study Guide.
2. Detailed descriptions of the requirements for the individual assignments.
3. A course evaluation form.
4. Links to a variety of resources on the World Wide Web.

Additional supporting materials of interests to students of Computer Science 410 will be made available through a link guide on the course Web site.

Special Course Features

COMP 410 is offered by computer mediated communications mode, and can be completed at the student's workplace or home.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the COMP 410 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least "C-" (60 per cent) on the examination and "C-" (60 per cent) on the project.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form