CQUniversity Unit Profile
COIT20258 Software Engineering
Software Engineering
All details in this unit profile for COIT20258 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

In this unit you will learn both theoretical and practical aspects of software engineering. The theory will focus on software processes, requirements engineering, system models and modelling, architectural design, object-oriented design, and software development methodology. The theoretical and practical aspects of software testing, and quality management including quality assurance, and quality control are also discussed. You will also be introduced to the principles of software evolution and configuration management. You will develop layered software application having presentation, application and data layers, addressing authentic software use, thus building solid foundation for software development.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisites: COIT20247 Database Design and Development, COIT20256 Data Structures and Algorithms, and COIT20248 Information Systems Analysis and Design. Anti-requisites: COIT20226 Software Design and Implementation.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2022

Brisbane
Melbourne
Online
Rockhampton
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 20%
2. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 35%
3. Project (applied)
Weighting: 45%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Unit Coordinator

Feedback

Too many topics make it hard to learn for students and difficult to assess the learning outcomes

Recommendation

Reduce the number of topics

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Develop models of the proposed multi-tiered software application as per the requirements identified following formal requirements engineering procedures
  2. Design system architecture and components using design patterns and object-oriented design
  3. Develop three-tiered software applications using agile and plan-driven methods
  4. Plan and conduct test-driven development, validation and verification testing
  5. Assess software quality measures and maintenance requirements of software applications
  6. Work independently and collaboratively in small teams.

Australian Computer Society (ACS) recognises the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA). SFIA is a widely used and consistent definition of ICT skills. SFIA is increasingly being used when developing job descriptions and role profiles. ACS members can use the tool MySFIA to build a skills profile at
https://www.acs.org.au/professionalrecognition/mysfia-b2c.html.
This unit contributes to the following workplace skills as defined by SFIA 7. The SFIA code is included:

  • Requirements Definition and management (REQM)
  • User experience analysis (UNAN)
  • User experience design (HCEV)
  • Software Design (SWDN)
  • System Integration and Build (SINT)
  • Programming/Software Development (PROG)
  • Data modelling and design (DTAN)
  • Database Design (DBDS)
  • Testing (TEST)
  • Quality assurance(QUAS)
  • Quality management (QUMG).

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Practical Assessment - 20%
2 - Practical Assessment - 35%
3 - Project (applied) - 45%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Practical Assessment - 20%
2 - Practical Assessment - 35%
3 - Project (applied) - 45%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Software Engineering

Edition: 10 (2018)
Authors: Ian Sommerville
Pearson Education
Edinburgh Gate Edinburgh Gate , Essex , England
ISBN: 978129209613-1
Binding: Paperback

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Zoom (both microphone and webcam capability)
  • MySql Database Server 8.0.22 available from https://downloads.mysql.com/archives/installer/
  • Scene Builder 18.0.0 from https://gluonhq.com/products/scene-builder/
  • JavaFx 18.0.1 available from https://gluonhq.com/products/javafx/
  • OpenJDK 18.0.1.1
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Farzad Sanati Unit Coordinator
f.sanati@cqu.edu.au
Salahuddin Azad Unit Coordinator
s.azad@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 11 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

Professional Software Development and Software Processes

Chapter

Chapters 1 and 2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 18 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

Agile Software Development and Requirements Engineering

Chapter

Chapters 3 and 4 (Sections 4.1 - 4.3).

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 25 Jul 2022

Module/Topic

Requirements Engineering and System Modeling

Chapter

Chapters 4 (Sections 4..4 - 4.6) and 5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 01 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Architectural Design and O-O Design

Chapter

Chapters 6 and 7 (section 7.1)

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 08 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Design, Implementation, and Programmatic Creation of Databases

Chapter

Chapter 7 and online materials

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 1 Due: Week 5 Friday (12 Aug 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 15 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Enjoy the break.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 22 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Software Testing

Chapter

Chapter 8

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 29 Aug 2022

Module/Topic

Quality Management

Chapter

Chapter 24

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 05 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Software Evolution

Chapter

Chapter 9

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 2 Due: Week 8 Friday (9 Sept 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 12 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Configuration Management

Chapter

Chapter 25

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 19 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Dependable Systems and Reliability Engineering

Chapter

Chapters 10 and 11

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 26 Sep 2022

Module/Topic

Software Reuse and Component Based Software Engineering

Chapter

Chapters 15 and 16

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 03 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Service-Oriented Software Engineering

Chapter

Chapter 18

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 3 Due: Week 12 Friday (7 Oct 2022) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 10 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Review all Chapters.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 17 Oct 2022

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Term Specific Information

Contact information for Dr Farzad Sanati: Email: f.sanati@cqu.edu.au; Office: Room 1.17, CQU Townsville Campus; P +61 7 4726 5386 | X 55386.

Assessment Tasks

1 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Assignment 1

Task Description

You will demonstrate your ability to analyse a given case study, apply the principles of requirement engineering by eliciting functional and non-functional requirements, and documenting system and user requirements specification. You will also choose appropriate modelling techniques to model the system and design the system architecture. You will use the topics learnt in Weeks 1-4 in this assignment. Complete details are in the Assignment 1 Specification document available on the Moodle unit website.


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (12 Aug 2022) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 7 Friday (2 Sept 2022)


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

  1. Analyse the given case study, identify system and user requirements
  2. Elicit functional and non-functional requirements following formal requirements engineering procedures
  3. Create a requirements specification document
  4. Apply modeling techniques to develop models of the system


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit only .doc or .docx files using the submission link available on the unit website.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Develop models of the proposed multi-tiered software application as per the requirements identified following formal requirements engineering procedures


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills

2 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Assignment 2

Task Description

You are required to follow the already completed system model and requirement specification to implement, debug, and test a software application having a three-layered architecture with a front-end graphical user interface (GUI), a middle layer implementing the business logic, and a back-end to persist the data. You will document the detailed design of the application. You will also be documenting a test plan to systematically test the developed application and a quality plan retrospectively prepared to demonstrate how you would have commenced the application development with a quality plan in place to deliver a system meeting the quality requirements. You will use the topics learnt in weeks 1-7 in this assignment. Complete details are in the Assignment 2 Specification document available on the Moodle unit website.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Friday (9 Sept 2022) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (23 Sept 2022)


Weighting
35%

Assessment Criteria

  1. Design a software application following the requirement specification developed in Assignment 1.
  2. Follow object-oriented design principles to design a three tiered software application.
  3. Document software application design and test plans.
  4. Implement a software application, consisting of presentation, application and data layers.
  5. Develop a retrospective quality plan that would have been created to deliver the application meeting quality requirements.
  6. Conduct test-driven development, and validation testing.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Design system architecture and components using design patterns and object-oriented design
  • Develop three-tiered software applications using agile and plan-driven methods
  • Plan and conduct test-driven development, validation and verification testing


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Self-management

3 Project (applied)

Assessment Title
Assignment 3

Task Description

This is a group assessment. In this assessment, you will work in a team of three or four members to develop a three-layered software application. You will demonstrate your ability to analyse a given case study, develop requirement specification and a quality plan to implement a three-layered software application. You will document both system and user requirements, system architecture, and a detailed design of the system. Your software application will have a front-end graphical user interface(GUI), a business logic layer, and a data persistence layer. You will follow both agile and plan-driven development to implement the software application. You will use test-driven development to build the system, assembling program components developed by team members using a version control system.

You can choose your team members to form a group, and you must inform your tutor of the members before the end of Week 3. Teams may include students from different locations (e.g. on-campus and online students). You will be required to regularly meet with your team (e.g. in class and/or online video meetings), apply collaboration tools (e.g., task tracking, issue management, version control), and report progress and issues to your tutor.

Complete details are in the Assignment 3 Specification document available on the Moodle unit website.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (7 Oct 2022) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Results will be published on the grade certification date.


Weighting
45%

Assessment Criteria

  1. Work as a small team collaborating in all aspects of software development.
  2. Analyse the given case study and identify system and user requirements.
  3. Document requirement specification containing functional and non-functional requirements.
  4. Develop a test plan and design documents.
  5. Create a quality plan to meet the software quality requirements.
  6. Implement a three tiered software application following agile and plan driven development.
  7. Use a version control system for system building integrating components developed by team members.
  8. Conduct tests and verification using software tools.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online Group

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Develop models of the proposed multi-tiered software application as per the requirements identified following formal requirements engineering procedures
  • Design system architecture and components using design patterns and object-oriented design
  • Develop three-tiered software applications using agile and plan-driven methods
  • Plan and conduct test-driven development, validation and verification testing
  • Assess software quality measures and maintenance requirements of software applications
  • Work independently and collaboratively in small teams.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?