Module: Practicum (Secure Software Engineering Practicum)

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Practicum (Secure Software Engineering Practicum)
Module Code	CSC1152 (ITS: CA694)
Faculty	Engineering & Computing	School	Computing
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	30

Description

In the final semester, from May to August, students work on a practicum or major project of a practical and research nature. Here, the students individually or in small teams develop prototype software systems to solve a real-world problem or analyse software engineering approaches in security and propose improvements. The projects, which may be sponsored by external clients or involve some of the students' or staff's own ideas, typically require feasibility studies followed by creation of a project plan, and development of a software application or a rigorous theoretical analysis. This also allows students to work on projects for external or funding organisations.

Learning Outcomes

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2. Develop their ability to carry out research
4. 8,9
5. 1
6. 1E37FC64-5C21-0001-BDE3-1DF7D78095B0
7. Investigate problems in the area of Software Security.
9. 9,11
10. 2
11. 1E37FC64-6CF3-0001-98CD-64C710251490
12. Apply improved project management skills.
14. 6,8,10
15. 3
16. 1E37FC64-7A95-0001-EC3E-1380DBD01574
17. Defend their work aurally and through presentation.
19. 7,10,11
20. 4
21. 1E37FC64-8721-0001-BBC7-1E7C9B70159D
22. Proceed to further research or work within industry.
24. 6,7,11
25. 5

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Independent Study	750	Students will carry out a research project and prepare a paper suitable for publication and defend the research with a viva voce presentation.
Total Workload: 750

Section Breakdown
CRN	11306	Part of Term	Semester 1, 2 & 3
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC2	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Mohammed Amine Togou	Module Teacher	Andrew Mccarren, Renaat Verbruggen

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Research Paper	Practicum Description There are no lectures although students will be helped by staff members in the formulation of their projects. Projects will be developed by students after their semester two exams are complete and they will be delivered in the form of a report in the first week of September. At that stage a defence of their work will take place.	100%	n/a

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

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None