CSC 402: Software Engineering.
General Information
- Semester: Spring 2025
-
Class Meeting Time: MW 3:00PM-4:15PM.
-
Instructor: Linh B. Ngo
- Office: UNA 138
- Office Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11:00AM - 11:45AM
- Monday, Wednesday: 1:30PM - 2:45PM
- Wednesday: 6:00PM - 7:00PM
- Email: lngo AT wcupa DOT edu
- Phone: 610-436-2595
Course Information
- The course runs from August 26, 2024 until December 09, 2024. It is an in-person course.
Required Materials:
- Titus Winters, Tom Manshreck, and Hyrum Wright. Software Engineering at Google. O'Reilly Media, Inc,
- Available online
Course Description
This course aims to introduce students to apply programming knowledge and technical skills learned in previous CS classes to practical aspects of software engineering. This includes problem formulation, requirements engineering, architecture, design, implementation, integration, documentation and delivery of a software system. The goal will be for each student to have had a hand in building complete and useful applications that could be released for real-world use. This course is a highly interactive course, in which students are expected to fully participate in class-based activities and discussions. Students will also be expected to spend a significant amount of time on technical writing, presentations, and practical software development as part of a team project.
Learning Objectives
Course Student Learning Outcomes (CSLO)
- Understand various software development process models and their trade-off.
- Be able to work effectively as part of a team.
- Be able to communicate with clients and identify project requirements.
- Be able to design and implement software projects that satisfy a predetermined set of requirements.
- Be able to apply common practices in software development, including version control, code review, and testing.
- Be able to develop technical documentation.
- Be able to provide clear written reflection on various personal and technical aspects of the software development process.
- Understand various licenses and legal consideration in software development.
BS in CS Program Objectives (CSPO):
- Be able to apply theory, techniques, and methodologies to create and/or maintain high quality computing systems that function effectively and reliably in the emerging and future information infrastructure. (CSLO 1, 3, 4, 5)
- Be able to work in teams, demonstrate ethical professionalism in their work, and grow professionally while engaging in life-long learning. (CSLO 3, 4, 5, 6)
- Perform well in a computer science graduate program or a career in computer science and have the communication skills and quantitative/analytical skills necessary for career advancement. (CSLO 2, 6, 8)
ABET Objectives (APO):
- ABET 1: Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
- ABET 2: Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
- ABET 3: Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
- ABET 4: Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
- ABET 5: Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
- ABET 6: Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.
Assessments and Grading:
Method of Evaluation
| Assessment | % of Final Grade | Course Objectives Assessed | Program Objectives Assessed | ABET Objectives Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Assignments | 30% | 1, 5, 7 | 1, 3 | 3, 6 |
| Team Project | 50% | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 | 1, 2, 3 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Class Participation | 5% | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Quizzes | 15% | 1, 5, 7 | 1 | 3, 4 |
Grade Scale:
| Grade | Quality Points | Numeric | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | 100-93 | Excellent |
| A- | 3.67 | 92-90 | - |
| B+ | 3.33 | 89-87 | Superior |
| B | 3 | 86-83 | - |
| B- | 2.67 | 82-80 | - |
| C+ | 2.33 | 79-77 | Average |
| C | 2 | 76-73 | - |
| C- | 1.67 | 72-70 | - |
| D+ | 1.33 | 69-67 | Below Average |
| D | 1 | 66-63 | - |
| D- | 0.67 | 62-60 | - |
| F | 0 | <= 60 | Failure |
Refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for description of NG (No Grade), W, & other grades.
Assessments:
- Individual Assignments: Technical tasks or writing assignments that require significant reflection on procedural and technical aspects of software development and teamwork.
- Team Project: Major development projects, most likely with external clients.
- Class Participation: Being in class and participating in discussion of reading assignments.
- Quizzes: Short online quizzes to test students on key concepts.
Lateness Policy:
Individual assignments that are late are assessed a 10% per day late penalty. Saturday and Sunday are each days. There is no late acceptance for team-based milestones.
University Policies
Academic & Personal Integrity
It is the responsibility of each student to adhere to the university’s standards for academic integrity. Violations of academic integrity include any act that violates the rights of another student in academic work, that involves misrepresentation of your own work, or that disrupts the instruction of the course. Other violations include (but are not limited to): cheating on assignments or examinations; plagiarizing, which means copying any part of another’s work and/or using ideas of another and presenting them as one’s own without giving proper credit to the source; selling, purchasing, or exchanging of term papers; falsifying of information; and using your own work from one class to fulfill the assignment for another class without significant modification. Proof of academic misconduct can result in the automatic failure and removal from this course. For questions regarding Academic Integrity, the No-Grade Policy, Sexual Harassment, or the Student Code of Conduct, students are encouraged to refer to the Department Undergraduate Handbook, the Undergraduate Course Catalog, the Ram’s Eye View, or the University Website.
Accomodations for Students with Disabilities
West Chester University is committed to providing equitable access to the full WCU experience for Golden Rams of all abilities. Students should contact the Office of Educational Accessibility (OEA) to establish accommodations if they have had accommodations in the past or if they believe they may be eligible for accommodations due to a disability, whether or not it may be readily apparent. There is no deadline for disclosing to OEA or for requesting to use approved accommodations in a given course. However, accommodations can only be applied to future assignments or exams; that is, they can’t be applied retroactively. Please share your letter from OEA as soon as possible so that we can discuss accommodations. If you have concerns related to disability discrimination, please contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion or 610-436-2433
The University’s Americans with Disabilities policy is available on the website. If you encounter an area of this course that is not accessible to you, please contact me.
University-Excused Absences Policy
Students are advised to carefully read and comply with the University-Excused Absences Policy, including absences for university-sanctioned events, contained in the WCU Undergraduate Catalog. In particular, please note that the responsibility for meeting academic requirements rests with the student, that this policy does not excuse students from completing required academic work, and that professors can require a fair alternative to attendance on those days that students must be absent from class in order to participate in a University-Sanctioned Event.
Reporting Incidents of Sexual Violence
West Chester University and its faculty are committed to assuring a safe and productive educational environment for all students. In order to comply with the requirements of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the University’s commitment to offering supportive measures in accordance with the new regulations issued under Title IX, the University requires faculty members to report incidents of sexual violence shared by students to the University's Title IX Coordinator. The only exceptions to the faculty member's reporting obligation are when incidents of sexual violence are communicated by a student during a classroom discussion, in a writing assignment for a class, or as part of a University-approved research project. Faculty members are obligated to report sexual violence or any other abuse of a student who was, or is, a child (a person under 18 years of age) when the abuse allegedly occurred to the person designated in the University Protection of Minors Policy. Information regarding the reporting of sexual violence and the resources that are available to victims of sexual violence is set forth at the WCUPA Sexual Misconduct website.
Inclusive Learning Environment and Anti-Racist Statement
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to West Chester University’s mission as reflected in our Mission Statement, Values Statement, Vision Statement and Strategic Plan: Pathways to Student Success. We disavow racism and all actions that silence, threaten, or degrade historically marginalized groups in the U.S. We acknowledge that all members of this learning community may experience harm stemming from forms of oppression including but not limited to classism, ableism, heterosexism, sexism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia, and recognize that these forms of oppression are compounded by racism.
Our core commitment as an institution of higher education shapes our expectation for behavior within this learning community, which represents diverse individual beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences. Courteous and respectful behavior, interactions, and responses are expected from all members of the University. We must work together to make this a safe and productive learning environment for everyone. Part of this work is recognizing how race and other aspects of who we are shape our beliefs and our experiences as individuals. It is not enough to condemn acts of racism. For real, sustainable change, we must stand together as a diverse coalition against racism and oppression of any form, anywhere, at any time.
Resources for education and action are available through WCU’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), DEI committees within departments or colleges, the student ombudsperson, and centers on campus committed to doing this work (e.g., Dowdy Multicultural Center, Center for Women and Gender Equity, and the Center for Trans and Queer Advocacy).
Guidance on how to report incidents of discrimination and harassment is available at the University’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Emergency Preparedness
All students are encouraged to sign up for the University’s free WCU ALERT service, which delivers official WCU emergency text messages directly to your cell phone. For more information, visit https://www.wcupa.edu/wcualert. To report an emergency, call the Department of Public Safety at 610-436-3311.
Electronic Mail Policy
It is expected that faculty, staff, and students activate and maintain regular access to University provided e-mail accounts. Official university communications, including those from your instructor, will be sent through your university e-mail account. You are responsible for accessing that mail to be sure to obtain official University communications. Failure to access will not exempt individuals from the responsibilities associated with this course.
Resources for Student Success
Expectations for Student Success in Distance Education
An online course uses technology to provide you, the student, with greater flexibility
regarding when and where you learn. To be a successful online learner you must
capitalize on this increased flexibility by doing the following.
- Self-Motivation and Self-Discipline: Active participation in online activities is expected.
This means that you login to the course frequently, engage with the provided materials, and read
and respond to communications in a timely and thoughtful manner. Online courses require you to
take more responsibility for your learning.
- Planning and Organization: You will need disciplined work habits, effective time management
skills, and the ability to work both alone and collaboratively if you wish to be successful
in an online course. You should expect to devote 9 to 12 hours per week to this course.
You may find that you need to work harder than you would in a traditional lecture class.
- Communication Skills: In an online course communication takes place primarily through
the written word. You need strong English reading and writing skills to express your
thoughts. Online courses also expect you to proactively reach out to your instructor
for assistance when you need it. Finally, pay attention to communication guidelines
and be respectful of your fellow students when you communicate.
Minimum Student Technical Skills
You are expected to be competent in the use of computers, the World Wide Web, and commonly used software programs such as the Microsoft Office Suite of applications and Adobe PDF readers. In addition, you should be able to utilize a web-camera and microphone. You should have a basic understanding of how to use the common elements of the university learning management system.
Students without experience using the university’s learning management system (Desire2Learn) can contact the Student Help Desk to arrange instruction, can contact Distance Education Support, or can complete tutorials in Navigating Digital Learning.
Hours for support services may vary. Check their websites for times of operation.
- General Technical Support: Contact the WCU IT Helpdesk at 610-436-3350 or email helpdesk@wcupa.edu
- Distance Education Support: Contact The Office of Digital Learning & Innovation at 610-436-3373 or email distanceed@wcupa.edu
- Additional technical support information will be provided for tools as needed throughout the course.
Accessibility Policies, Privacy Policies, and Support Site Information:
This course uses a variety of tools. To access a tool’s accessibility and privacy policy, navigate to the Distance Education Accessibility and Privacy Policies website.
Student Academic and Support Services
Student academic and support services provided by the university can be found on the Ram’s Eye View Services website.
Library Resources for Distance Education Students
The West Chester University Library makes resources available to distance education students. Please review their Library Services for Distance Students website for specific information.
Course Topics and Schedules (subject to modification)
| Week | Date | Topic | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 01/20 | Introduction | - |
| - | - | Software Projects and Process Models | - |
| 2 | 01/27 | Team Formation and Planning | - |
| - | - | - | - |
| 3 | 02/03 | Understanding Requirements | - |
| - | - | Requirements Modeling: A Recommended Approach | - |
| 4 | 02/10 | Code Forges and Version Control | - |
| - | - | Code Review | - |
| 5 | 02/17 | Architecture Design: A Recommended Approach | - |
| - | - | Component-Level Design | - |
| 6 | 02/24 | User Experience Design | - |
| - | - | Pattern-Based Design | - |
| 7 | 03/03 | Quality Concepts | - |
| - | - | Reviews | - |
| 8 | 03/10 | SPRING BREAK | - |
| - | - | SPRING BREAK | - |
| 9 | 03/17 | Midterm presentation | - |
| - | - | Midterm presentation | - |
| 10 | 03/24 | Midterm presentation | - |
| - | - | Software Quality Assurance | - |
| 11 | 03/31 | Software Testing | - |
| - | - | Oman's Software Maintainability Index | - |
| 12 | 04/07 | Build Systems | - |
| - | - | Dependency Management | - |
| 13 | 04/14 | Delivery | - |
| - | - | Licenses and Legal Consideration | - |
| 14 | 04/21 | Professionalism | - |
| - | - | Team presentation | - |
| 15 | 04/28 | Team presentation | - |
| - | - | team presentation | - |
| 16 | 05/05 | Conclusion | - |