SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

Semester-Based Software Engineering Course Syllabus

Course Title: Advanced Software Engineering

Duration: 1 Semester (typically 15 weeks)

Course Type: Full-time or Part-time

Credit Hours: 3-4 HRS

Prerequisites:

• Basic programming knowledge (in languages like Java, Python, C++, etc.)


• Understanding of algorithms and data structures


• Familiarity with basic software development practices (e.g., version control)

Course Overview:

This comprehensive course introduces students to advanced concepts in Software Engineering. Over the course of one semester, students will be exposed to both theoretical knowledge and hands-on practices, preparing them for real-world software development. The course covers various stages of software development, including requirement gathering, software design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance. By the end of the course, students will have completed a group project and gained familiarity with Agile development processes, industry tools, and best practices.

Module Breakdown (Weekly Structure)

Week 1: Introduction to Software Engineering & Development Process

• Introduction to software engineering principles


• Understanding the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)


• Overview of Waterfall, Agile, and Iterative models


• Tools for version control (Git/GitHub)

Week 2: Requirements Gathering and System Analysis

• Requirements engineering: Types and processes


• Eliciting requirements using use cases, interviews, and surveys


• Functional and non-functional requirements


• Introduction to Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagrams

Week 3: Software Design - Part 1

• Design principles: Separation of concerns, abstraction, and modularity


• High-level design (architecture)


• Design patterns (Singleton, Factory, Observer, etc.)


• UML diagrams for system design

Week 4: Software Design - Part 2

• Low-level design: Data structures and algorithms


• Object-Oriented Design (OOD)


• SOLID principles


• Mockups and wireframes

Week 5: Agile Methodologies & Project Management

• Introduction to Agile methodology


• Scrum framework: Sprints, standups, and backlogs


• Kanban, JIRA, and collaboration tools


• Role of the Product Owner and Scrum Master

Week 6: Development Tools & Practices

• Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) and setup


• Test-driven development (TDD) principles


• Code reviews and pair programming


• Writing clean and maintainable code

Week 7: Database Design & Development

• Database modeling: ER diagrams and normalization


• SQL and NoSQL databases


• Database interactions: Queries, joins, and transactions


• Data security and integrity

Week 8: Software Testing - Part 1

• Types of software testing: Unit, integration, system, acceptance


• Introduction to Test Automation


• Unit testing frameworks (JUnit, PyTest, etc.)


• Writing effective test cases

Week 9: Software Testing - Part 2

• Continuous integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)


• Automating builds and tests with Jenkins, Travis CI, etc.


• Performance testing and security testing


• Introduction to debugging tools and techniques

Week 10: Software Deployment & Maintenance

• Deployment strategies and best practices


• Using cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)


• Containerization and Docker


• System monitoring and logging

Week 11: Software Security Principles

• Security concerns in software engineering (OWASP, threat models)


• Authentication, authorization, and encryption


• Secure coding practices


• Vulnerability testing

Week 12: Software Architecture and Scalability

• Scalable system design (horizontal vs vertical scaling)


• Microservices architecture


• Designing fault-tolerant systems


• Cloud infrastructure and services

Week 13-14: Capstone Project – Planning & Implementation

• Forming teams for the capstone project


• Requirements gathering and initial planning for the project


• Sprint planning and assigning tasks (following Agile principles)


• Hands-on work with continuous feedback from instructors

Week 15: Capstone Project – Presentation & Review

• Final project presentation


• Code walkthrough and demonstration


• Peer reviews and feedback


• Course wrap-up and reflection

Course Delivery

1. Online Delivery (Hybrid)

• Live Sessions: Weekly live lectures via video conferencing platforms (Zoom, MS Teams, etc.)


• Recorded Content: Pre-recorded videos for each module available for students to review at their convenience.


• Group Projects: Teams collaborate through online collaboration tools (Slack, Trello, GitHub, etc.).


• Assignments: Weekly coding exercises and quizzes for skill assessment.


• Feedback: Instructors provide feedback during office hours and via discussion boards.

2. In-person/Hybrid Delivery

• Lectures: Weekly classroom sessions with hands-on coding labs.


• Workshops: Interactive group sessions to solve practical problems.


• Real-World Tools: Exposure to professional development tools used in industry (GitHub, Jira, Docker).


• Capstone Project: Teams work on building a real-world application, either independently or with client input.

3. Assessment Methods

• Weekly Quizzes/Assignments: Focused on theory and practical coding exercises.


• Mid-term Exam: Covers the first half of the course content, including SDLC, testing, and design.


• Capstone Project: Final team-based project that integrates all course concepts, presented at the end of the semester.


• Class Participation & Engagement: Regular interaction during live sessions and discussions.

Tools & Technologies

• Programming Languages: Python, Java, C++, JavaScript (depending on course focus)


• Version Control: Git, GitHub


• Project Management: JIRA, Trello


• IDEs: VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse


• Cloud Platforms: AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure for deployment

Conclusion

This type of semester-based course provides students with a robust foundation in software engineering and prepares them for professional software development. By the end of the course, students will have developed a capstone project that demonstrates their abilities in system design, implementation, testing, and deployment. They will also gain hands-on experience with the industry-standard tools and technologies that modern software engineers use daily.