Academic Handbook Course Descriptors and Programme Specifications
LCSCI62106A Advances in Software Engineering Course Descriptor
| Course Code | LCSCI62106A | Discipline | Computing and Information Systems |
| UK Credit | 30 | US Credit | N/A |
| FHEQ Level | 6 | Date Approved | October 2023 |
| Core Attributes | |||
| Pre-Requisites | |||
| Co-Requisites | |||
Course Overview
This course covers advanced software engineering. Learners will explore all stages of the software development life cycle and a range of development techniques. Learners will analyse factors affecting product quality and approaches for controlling them throughout the development process. Learners will apply methodologies studied in this course to recommend software engineering solutions and manage and revise recommendations to respond to changing priorities and problems arising within software engineering projects, manage the software development lifecycle to inform best practices and lead improvements in the organisation.
This course will support learners to develop the knowledge and skills to identify and define routine and non-routine software engineering problems; explore a range of sustainable development approaches applied to software engineering such as green computing; analyse each stage of the software development cycle for example UML, unit testing, programming, debugging, frameworks and architectures. The course will also explore the factors that affect product quality and analyse the approaches used to control them throughout the development process. For example security, code quality, coding standards. It will support learners to apply the tools to create effective and secure software business architecture models and the Statistical, Diagnostic or Predictive tools to refine, adapt and evaluate software engineering project outcomes and lifecycle.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
| K1c | Evaluate the various roles, functions and activities related to software engineering within a business or organisation, with an in-depth knowledge and systematic understanding of how business invests in, and exploits, technology solutions for competitive advantage. |
| K2c | Critically reflect on the principles behind effective software project management, including planning, requirements gathering, cost-time analysis, resource constraints, regulations, scale-up and control change and deployment. |
| K3c | Evaluate how to use techniques for design, development, testing, correcting, deploying and documenting sustainable software systems. Specifically, be able to identify common vulnerabilities including unsecure coding and vulnerable systems. |
Subject Specific Skills
| S1c | Apply advanced design principles for the creation of solutions for software engineering problems and be able to critically evaluate the solution and the design approach |
| S2c | Apply in-depth knowledge and understanding to plan, evaluate, test and document software solutions, and use appropriate frameworks to manage solutions to maintain data quality, data security, intellectual property and data protection. |
| S3c | Apply sustainable development approaches to solve software engineering problems, apply the principles of evaluating cyber security threats and risks in software solutions and determine mitigation strategies and opportunities |
Transferable and Employability Skills
| T1ci | Demonstrate professional project management skills and a professional approach. |
| T1cii | Display an advanced level of technical proficiency in written English and competence in applying scholarly terminology, so as to be able to apply skills in critical evaluation, analysis and judgement effectively in a diverse range of contexts and present concisely. |
| T2ci | Support diversity and inclusion in work ensuring that software solutions are accessible. |
| T2cii | Effectively communicate to a range of stakeholders through a range of software development tools supporting effective teamwork. For example, configuration management, version control and release management |
| T3c | Exercise initiative and personal responsibility to analyse a problem specification and synthesis information to design a solution. |
Teaching and Learning
This course has a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) page with a syllabus and range of additional resources (e.g. readings, question prompts, tasks, assignment briefs, discussion boards) to orientate and engage students in their studies.
This is an e-learning course, taught throughout the year. This course can be offered as a standalone short course.
Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include:
- On-line learning
- On-line discussion groups
- On-line assessment
Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Learners are also expected to manage their self-directed learning and independent study in support of the course.
The course learning and teaching hours will be structured as follows:
- Off-the-job learning and teaching (12 days x 7 hours) = 84 hours
- On-the-job learning (24 days x 7 hours) = 168 hours (e.g. 2 days per week for 12 weeks)
- Independent study (4 hours per week) = 48 hours
Workplace assignments (see below) will be completed as part of on-the-job learning.
Indicative total learning hours for this course: 300
Assessment
Both formative and summative assessment are used as part of this course, with purely formative opportunities typically embedded within interactive teaching sessions, office hours, and/or the VLE.
Summative Assessments
| AE: | Assessment Activity | Weighting (%) | Duration | Length |
| 1 | Report | 40% | – | 2,500 words |
| 2 | Coding Assignment | 60% | – | Code with 2000 word explanation |
Feedback
Students will receive formative and summative feedback in a variety of ways, written (e.g. marked up on assignments, through email or the VLE) or oral (e.g. as part of interactive teaching sessions or in office hours).
Indicative Reading
Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative reading list provided below is for a general guide and part of the approval/modification process only.
- Stephens, R. (2023). Beginning software engineering (Second edition.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- Subramanian, C., Dutt, S., Seetharaman, C., & Geetha, B. G. (2016). Software engineering (1st edition). Pearson India Education Services.
- Statistical software engineering. (1996). National Academy Press.
- Tate, K. (2006). Sustainable software development : an agile perspective (1st edition). Addison Wesley.
- Leading Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. (2021). Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
- Quino, C. T. E. de, Robertson, R., & Robertson, R. (2018). Diversity and inclusion in the global workplace : aligning initiatives with strategic business goals (C. T. E. de Aquino & R. (Robert W. . Robertson, Eds.). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54993-4
Indicative Topics
Note: Comprehensive and current topics for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative topics provided below are used as a general guide and part of the approval/modification process only.
- Software Engineering
- Sustainable Development
- Software Development Lifecycle
Version History
| Title:LCSCI62106A Advances in Software Engineering Course Descriptor
Approved by: Academic Board Location: academic-handbook/digital-and-technology-solutions |
|||||
| Version number | Date approved | Date published | Owner | Proposed next review date | Modification (As per AQF4) & category number |
| 1.0 | October 2023 | October 2023 | Dr Alexandros Koliousis | October 2028 | |