COSC 410 - Fall 2024

Course Information

Catalog Description

A study of software engineering through a project-oriented approach. The emphasis is on the specification, organization, implementation, testing, and documentation of software. Students work in groups on various software projects.

Prerequisite: COSC 350 with a minimum grade of C.

Goals

  • Improve interpersonal communications skills and teamwork.
  • Gain understanding of the software development process.
  • Acquire experience turning user requirements into testable, verifiable software features.
  • Enhance ability to make estimates of software complexity.
  • Achieve familiarity with common software development tools.

Grades

Your grade in the course will be based on a combination of quizzes, assignments, a large project with multiple sprints, and exams.

Quizzes
Quizzes are small assessments of concepts.
Assignments
Assignments are short exercises that reinforce the core concepts.
Project
The project will be a large software design and implementation requiring multiple weeks of effort by a team applying Scrum agile principles.
Exams
Exams are timed assessments of conceptual understanding.
Artifact Points
Quizzes (6) 6
Assignments (4) 24
Project 50
    Sprint Reviews (4)     40
    Final Product     10
Practical Exam 11
Agile Process Exam 9
Total 100

The usual grading scale will be applied to the accumulated points: 93–100: A, 90–92: A-, 87–89: B+, 83–86: B, 80–82: B-, 77–79: C+, 73–76: C, 70–72: C-, 60–69: D, 0–59: F.

Policies

Attendance

You are expected to attend class meetings and come to class prepared. That includes having completed assigned readings, problem sets, and tutorials.

You are expected to dedicate your attention to what is going on in class and to participate fully in classroom activities, including discussions. No laptops or tablets are to be used in class unless being used for a classroom exercise. (Notes may be taken using a device if needed as an approved accommodation.)

Refer to the General Policy Regarding Attendance in the Wofford College Student Handbook. The policy makes you responsible for catching up on missed classes. If you must be absent for class, please email me in advance to let me know.

Make-up exams are not available. If you have a legitimate, excused absence during the midterm exam, then you must make it up during the final exam period.

Assignment Deadlines

Late assignments will not be accepted without a legitimate excuse. All assignments are expected to be submitted by the posted deadline.

Academic Integrity

The Honor Code requires faculty, staff, and students to maintain a high standard of individual honor and integrity. While I may specify some assignments as collaborative, work represented as your own must be your own. If you have any doubt about what is appropriate for a given assignment, you should contact me for clarification.

Accommodations

If you have a disability that requires assistance or accommodation, or if you have questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please contact Dean Beth Wallace by telephone at (864) 597-4371 or in person by visiting the Hugh R. Black Infirmary. You must arrange accommodations during the first week of classes.

Tentative Schedule

MWF Topic Textbook Deadline
Aug 28 Intro to Java
30 Java classes 1
Sep 4 Git, Gradle 2 A1, Q1 (2)
6 Unit testing 3 Q2 (3)
9 Unit testing 4 Q3 (4)
11 Scrum overview 7 A2
13 Acceptance testing, cucumber 8 Q4 (7,8)
16 GUI 10
18 GUI 11
20 Java interfaces and generics 14,19 A3, Q5 (10,14,19)
23 Java data structures 20
25 APIs 21
27 Software patterns 22 Q6 (20,21,22)
30 5,6 A4
Oct 2
4
7
9 Sprinting Begins
11
14
16
21
23 Sprint Review 1
25
28
30
Nov 1
4
6 Sprint Review 2
8
11
13
15
18
20 Sprint Review 3
22
Dec 2
4
6 Final Exam
Final Sprint Review

Note: This syllabus is subject to change with notice.