Academic Handbook BSc (Hons) Applied Digital and Technology Solutions (online)

Software Engineering Course Descriptor

Last modified on March 13th, 2023 at 5:24 pm

Course Title	Software Engineering	Faculty	EDGE, Innovation Unit (London)
Course code	NCHNAL6121	Teaching Period	This course will typically be delivered over a 6-week period.
Credit points	15	Date approved	March 2021
FHEQ level	6
Compulsory/ Optional	Compulsory for Business Analyst Specialism
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None

Course Summary

This course covers the foundations of software engineering, including software development life cycle models (e.g., waterfall, spiral, agile); requirements analysis; user-centred design; software design principles and patterns; testing (functional testing, structural testing, testing strategies); code refactoring and debugging; software architecture and design; and integration and deployment.

Course Aims

Train learners in the design principles of software engineering.
Provide learners with the tools to engage with software project management.
Train learners to understand risk management, software testing, professional practice and documentation.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, learners will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

K1c	Have critical knowledge and understanding of the design principles behind software development and be able to describe and comment on the state-of-the art developments in the discipline.
K2c	Have a systematic understanding of the principles behind effective software project management, including planning, requirements gathering, cost-time analysis, resource constraints, regulations, scale-up, deployment, organisation goals and working in teams.
K3c	Critically understand the role of verification and validation in software engineering.

Subject Specific Skills

S1c	Apply effective design principles for the development of analytical algorithms and/or software systems and be able to critically evaluate a design approach.
S2c	Apply in-depth knowledge and understanding to plan, evaluate, test and document a software design.
S3c	Devise and sustain arguments to solve problems and apply professional project management techniques to plan a project, including people, cost, resources and risk management.

Transferable and Professional Skills

T1c	Demonstrate project management skills and a professional approach.
T2c	Effectively communicate to a range of stakeholders through professional documentation.
T3c	Exercise initiative and personal responsibility to analyse a problem specification and design a solution.
T3c	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.

Teaching and Learning

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

Course information and supplementary materials will be available on the College’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Students 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:

Learning and teaching (6 days x 8 hours) = 48 hours
Independent study = 102 hours

Indicative total learning hours for this course: 150 hours

Assignments (see below) will be completed as part of private study.

Assessment

Formative

Learners will be formatively assessed during the course by means of set assignments. These will not count towards the final degree but will provide learners with developmental feedback.

Summative

AE	Assessment Type	Weighting	Online submission	Duration	Length
1	Report (workplace case study)	60%	Yes	–	2,000 words +/- 10%, excluding data tables
2	Written Assignment	40%	Yes	–	1,500 words +/- 10%, excluding data tables

Feedback

Learners will receive formal feedback in a variety of ways: written (via email or VLE correspondence) and indirectly through online discussion groups. Learners will also attend a formal meeting with their Academic Mentor (and for apprentices, including their Line Manager). These bi- or tri-partite reviews will monitor and evaluate the learner’s progress.

Feedback is provided on summatively assessed assignments and through generic internal examiners’ reports, both of which are posted on the VLE.

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to learners; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only.

Books

Sommerville, I., (2010), Software Engineering, Wokingham: Addison-Wesley
Pezze, M., and Young, M., (2007), Software Testing and Analysis: Process, Principles and Techniques, Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley
Fairclough, J., (1996), Software engineering, London; New York : Prentice Hall

Journals

Learners are encouraged to consult relevant journals on software engineering.

Electronics Resources

Learners are encouraged to consult relevant electronic resources on software engineering.

Indicative Topics

Software design principles
Software project management
Software documentation

Title: NCHNAL6121 Software Engineering Course Descriptor Approved by: Academic Board Location: Academic Handbook/Programme Specifications and Handbooks/Mobility Courses
Version number	Date approved	Date published	Owner	Proposed next review date	Modification (As per AQF4) & category number
2.0	December 2022	March 2023	Scott Wildman	March 2026	Category 3: Change to Teaching and Learning Strategy; Change to English Proficiency Learning Outcome. Category 1: Corrections/clarifications to documents which do not change approved content or learning outcomes.
1.0	March 2021	March 2021	Scott Wildman	March 2026