Software Engineering Micro Specialization - Course and Syllabus
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Software Engineering Micro Specialization

Software Engineering Micro Specialization

The module focuses on advanced white-box testing techniques, specifically emphasizing Condition Testing, Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC), Path Testing, Dataflow Testing, and Mutation Testing. These techniques are crucial for ensuring thorough testing of complex software systems, especially in safety-critical environments. Each technique is designed to systematically enhance test case design and effectiveness, thereby improving the reliability and quality of software.

12 Chapters 80 hrs

Course Chapters

Chapter 1

Foundations of Software Engineering

The module delves into the foundational principles of software engineering, distinguishing software from hardware and programming through various intrinsic characteristics. It addresses the historical context of the software crisis, illustrates the importance of a structured software development process, and discusses the economic impact and societal implications of software. The ethical responsibilities of software engineers and crucial quality attributes are also highlighted, establishing a comprehensive framework for future learning in the field.

Chapter 2

Software Engineering - Life Cycle Models

The chapter provides a detailed examination of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) models, emphasizing their structured approach to software project management. It discusses the importance of universally intrinsic phases, such as requirements engineering, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance based on varying project contexts. The chapter also highlights the evolution from chaotic coding practices to structured methods, aiming to achieve predictability, risk management, stakeholder satisfaction, and quality assurance in software development processes.

Chapter 3

Evolutionary & Agile Software Development and Requirements Foundation

The module focuses on modern approaches to software development, particularly evolutionary models and Agile methodologies. It explores various frameworks including Prototyping, Spiral, Extreme Programming, and Scrum, emphasizing their principles, characteristics, and advantages over traditional models. The importance of effectively gathering and managing software requirements is also highlighted, detailing user and system requirements, as well as the critical role of the Software Requirements Specification document.

Chapter 4

Software Engineering - Requirements & Design Fundamentals

The course module comprehensively delves into Requirements Engineering and Software Design, focusing on understanding user needs and software architecture. It emphasizes the critical processes involved in eliciting, analyzing, managing requirements, and the role of design principles and patterns in creating maintainable and scalable software. Key topics include the importance of requirements, activities in the engineering process, and the process of translating requirements into functional and non-functional specifications.

Chapter 5

Software Design Principles and Structured Analysis

This module focuses on the fundamental principles of software design, emphasizing cohesion and coupling as essential attributes for quality and maintainability. It explores Structured Analysis and Structured Design (SASD) methodologies, highlighting the importance of Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) for modeling system processes and data flows. The chapter provides comprehensive frameworks for assessing module strength and interdependence, guiding effective software architecture creation.

Chapter 6

Software Engineering - Structured Analysis & Design Techniques

The chapter thoroughly explores Structured Analysis and Design methodologies, focusing on the creation and use of Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) and Structure Charts in software engineering. It emphasizes the sequential transformation of system requirements into organized software structures through these visual models, highlighting the importance of DFD Balancing and decomposition processes. Common modeling errors and best practices for effective design are addressed alongside practical examples for real-world application.

Chapter 7

Object-Oriented Analysis and Design - Core UML Diagrams

The course module transitions from traditional modeling techniques to the object-oriented paradigm, focusing on Use Case Modeling and Class Diagrams. Key UML concepts such as actors, use cases, relationships, and the essential details of class diagrams, inheritance, and associations are thoroughly explored. This groundwork is vital for understanding and applying UML in modern software applications.

Chapter 8

Software Engineering - Object-Oriented Design: Relationships, Interactions, and Process

The module focuses on the advanced aspects of Object-Oriented Design (OOD), covering important relationships between objects such as association, aggregation, composition, and dependency. It emphasizes the significance of dynamic modeling through Interaction Diagrams and illustrates the development of Sequence Diagrams to capture temporal interactions. The chapter culminates in understanding the structured OOD process integrating various UML diagrams to construct robust software architectures.

Chapter 9

Deep Dive into Design & Testing Essentials

The module delves into the critical aspects of software design and testing. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the domain in which a software operates for effective design through Domain Analysis, outlining key activities necessary for comprehending software requirements. Furthermore, it distinguishes between the concepts of verification and validation in software testing, while highlighting vital testing principles and types, ensuring software quality and effectiveness.

Chapter 10

Software Engineering - Unit Testing Techniques

Unit Testing serves as the foundational practice in software engineering, providing a systematic approach to verifying individual components in isolation. Emphasizing techniques like Equivalence Class Testing and Boundary Value Analysis, this module highlights the critical importance of early defect detection and robust unit test design. By combining different testing strategies, developers can enhance code quality and facilitate reliable software maintenance during refactoring processes.

Chapter 11

Advanced Test Design Techniques & Code-Level Testing

The module provides an overview of advanced software testing techniques, focusing on combinatorial testing approaches to efficiently manage complex testing scenarios. It covers strategies like Pairwise Testing, Decision Table Testing, and Cause-Effect Graphing, emphasizing their practical implications in discovering interaction bugs. Additionally, White-Box Testing techniques are discussed to evaluate the internal structure of code, enhancing overall test effectiveness.

Chapter 12

Software Engineering - Advanced White-Box Testing Techniques

The module focuses on advanced white-box testing techniques, specifically emphasizing Condition Testing, Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC), Path Testing, Dataflow Testing, and Mutation Testing. These techniques are crucial for ensuring thorough testing of complex software systems, especially in safety-critical environments. Each technique is designed to systematically enhance test case design and effectiveness, thereby improving the reliability and quality of software.