Module:

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

No Banner module data is available

Module Title
Module Code	(ITS: CA339)
Faculty		School
NFQ level		Credit Rating

Description

This module aims to instruct the students in the theory and practice of planning, analysis, specification, design and testing of software systems.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify important historical and current literature addressing software engineering, software process, software methodologies, software quality and associated standards.
2. Evaluate the concepts embodied in the most prevalent software methodologies and models, including knowledge of their advantages and disadvantages, and when it may be appropriate to use each approach
3. Explain and construct quality-oriented software development processes and explain the principles behind SPI models / standards and their implementation in software development organization and select the most appropriate model / standard for a given situation.
4. Develop models to specify software systems, starting from an initial problem statement, and making use of a variety of specification techniques
5. Demonstrate a solid understanding of the available methods for specifying software systems, including of the synergy between formal and semi-formal approaches

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Course content, including supplementary material on key topics and associated tutorial material will be made available online using the DCU Loop e-learning system and other appropriate electronic means.
Independent Study	101	This comprises time for reading, reviewing given and other exercises, group interaction on project, project time and write-up and revision
Total Workload: 125

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Completion of online activity	Assessment of software artifact quality (requirement quality assessment)	33%	Week 6
Group project	Group activities including writing quality requirements, prototyping of software features, writing test cases.	33%	n/a
Loop Quiz	A general quiz on topics covered in the module, including multiple choice and/or descriptive questions.	34%	Week 12

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to SE
Introduction to software engineering process, principles and methods Software process, lifecycle and models.

Software process, lifecycle and models
Traditional (plan-based) approaches; Formal approaches; Agile approaches and methodologies; Standards and process reference models

Software lifecycle
Requirements engineering; Systems modelling; Architectural design; Software design, patterns and reuse; Software evolution, refactoring, maintenance and test

Dependable Software Construction
Dependability and reliability specification; Formal models and verification; Security guidelines and considerations

Software Management
Project management; Project planning; Software metrics and measurement; Software estimation and cost modelling; Risk management; Quality management; Configuration management; Process assessment and improvement; and Software quality and management standards

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Armando Fox, David Patterson: 2013, Engineering Software as a Service: An Agile Approach Using Cloud Computing, 2, ‎ 978-098488
Ian Sommerville: 2016, Software Engineering, Pearson Education,
Hans van Vliet: 0, Software Engineering: Principles and Practice,
Leszek Maciaszek and Bruc Lee Liong: 0, Practical Software Engineering: A Case-Study Approach,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

Website: IEEE, The Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK Guide), IEEE, http://www.computer.org/web/swebok