Module: Programming & Software Development for Engineers

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Programming & Software Development for Engineers
Module Code	EEG1002 (ITS: EM108)
Faculty	Electronic Engineering	School	Engineering & Computing
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The aim of the module is to develop familiarity with basic concepts and techniques of software engineering and apply them in the context of engineering problem solving using computer programmes. The basic notions of programming as well as concepts of compiling/interpretation and debugging will be introduced. A selection of simple programs will be developed first and then more complex programming issues will be introduced along with more complex programmes. The Python language is employed.

Learning Outcomes

1. demonstrate basic and more advanced programming skills
2. apply good style in writing, improving, and modularizing programs using the Python language
3. make use of functions and various structures to store and process data
4. solve quickly, creatively and efficiently complex problems
5. write programmes, test and debug them.
6. apply programming techniques for designing and creating engineering applications

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Laboratory	36	No Description
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	65	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11861	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Gabriel Muntean	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Laboratory Portfolio	Regular assignments, including a mid-course invigilated assignment and a problem-based learning assignment.	50%	Other
Formal Examination	Students are required to design a solution to real-life problems, write code and test them.	50%	End-of-Semester

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

PART ONE

Introduction to programming. A minimal program. Interpretation. Execution. Debugging
Concept of identifiers. Keywords. Data: constants, and variables. Using variables. Data types: character strings, integers, rational numbers, logical values. Operators: Arithmetic, relational, logical, assignment. Operator precedence and associativity; parentheses. Expressions. I/O functions. Sequential evaluation. Programmes. The concept of flow of control. Sequential, conditional, and iterative statements. Python statements: assignment, if and match, for and while statements. Development Cycle: specification, algorithm design, coding, testing, debugging.

PART TWO

Functions. Functional Decomposition
Function definition and invocation. Parameters. Variable and parameter scope. Return value.

Strings. Basic data structures. Files. Modules
Engineering applications

Complex data structures: lists, sets, dictionaries, tuples
Create, add item, delete item, update data, search for items.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Leonard J. Ledger: 0, "Python Programming For Beginners", Independent Publishing, 2022, ISBN 979-8354411122,
Y. Daniel Liang: 0, "Introduction to Python Programming and Data Structures", Pearson Education, 2022, ISBN 978-1292424125,
Eric Matthes: 0, "Python Crash Course: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming", 3rd Edition, No Starch Press, 2023, ISBN 978-1718502703,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None