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COMP2281: SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 2
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Computer Science

Prerequisites

  • COMP1051 Computational Thinking AND (COMP1101 Programming (Black) OR COMP1111 Programming (Gold))

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To gain a detailed understanding of the phases of the software development lifecycle; appreciate the problems that are associated with each of the phases, and be able to identify best practice for their solution.
  • To understand the issues surrounding the project management activities required for the development of a significant piece of software within a team environment and gain an appreciation of the complexities and impact of legislation on the professional work environment.

Content

  • Software development practices: development models including Agile
  • Requirements discovery and analysis
  • Software Design
  • Software Testing
  • Human Computer Interaction
  • Software Quality and Process
  • Project Management
  • Legal and Social Issues

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • To have knowledge of current software development practices that is relevant and applicable to software development in industry
  • An appreciation of the challenges facing the software development industry in terms of the software development practices, processes and management
  • Have an understanding of basic project management theory and techniques
  • Be able to describe and analyse how each of the issues within software engineering interrelate
  • Have a detailed understanding of the important legal, ethical and moral issues relating to the building and use of computer applications

Subject-specific Skills:

  • An ability to describe and analyse the different core facets of software engineering and how they interrelate
  • An ability to critically analyse systems with regard to the principles of software engineering so that this analysis aids the production and maintenance of software applications
  • An ability to conduct self-study to further their knowledge in the integration of the topic areas
  • Have gained experience in planning, organising, managing and implementing a large scale software application as part of a team
  • Developed appraisal and evaluation skills through the use of peer and self-assessment and critical appraisal of others work

Key Skills:

  • An ability in technical writing, oral presentation and social interaction
  • An ability to apply methods and techniques to general software development
  • An ability to solve problems in a team environment

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lectures enable students to learn the principles and methodology as regards software engineering, and appreciate how these are applied
  • Practical classes to enable students to correctly develop their knowledge and methodological skills in practical scenarios
  • Coursework to assess the knowledge acquired and ability to use this knowledge to solve problems

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures402 per week1 hour40 
Practicals201 per week2 hours40Yes
Self Study and Project Work120 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: CourseworkComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Team Work66No
Individual Work34Yes

Formative Assessment

Formative feedback will be given during the coursework students undertake

More information

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