Software Engineering

CS 410/510 - Spring 2026

Catalog description:

Prerequisite: C- or better in 6 credits of CS courses 400 level or higher.
An examination of the software development process from the initial requirement analysis to the operation and maintenance of the final system. The scope of the course includes the organization of software development projects, the verification and validation of systems, the problems of security and privacy, and the legal aspects of software development, including software protection and software liability.

Logistics

Instructor Dr. Stan Kurkovsky, Professor of Computer Science
Office MS 303-06
Phone (860) 832-2720
E-mail kurkovsky@ccsu.edu
Student office hours MW 1430-1600, TR 1200-1300, or by appointment, booking info
Class meetings MW 1630-1745 @ MS 323

Textbook and other things you will need

Course learning outcomes

Program educational objectives and student outcomes are supported by the following course learning outcomes achieved by students upon a successful completion of this course:

  1. Analyze a complex software problem and to apply principles of computer science to identify solutions (ABET SO-1);
  2. Design, implement, and evaluate a software solution to meet a given set of functional, non-functional, and domain requirements (ABET SO-2);
  3. Communicate technical information orally and in writing (ABET SO-3);
  4. Understand professional, ethical, and social responsibilities of a software engineering professional (ABET SO-4);
  5. Function effectively as a member or leader of a software development team (ABET SO-5);
  6. Apply computer science theory and software engineering fundamentals to produce software solutions (ABET SO-6).

Important: self-care

Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Your physical and mental well-being is the most important thing. It has always been (or should have been) so, even before the pandemic. Please email/message me to check in if I won’t see you or hear from you on a day we have class or an assignment is due.

Tentative schedule

Reference: S - Sommerville, Software Engineering, 10th edition

Week 1 (January 21-23): Inception

  • Topic: Introduction and course project overview
    Course project: Team formation

Week 2 (January 26-30): Inception

Week 3 (February 2-6): Inception

Week 4 (February 9-13): Intro to agile

Week 5 (February 16-20): Intro to agile

  • Presidents' Day - no class
  • Activity: Hands-on introduction to Scrum

Week 6 (February 23-27): Planning

Week 7 (March 2-6): Planning

  • Topic: System modeling
    Requirements engineering assignment: deliverable 1/3 is due
    Reading: S 5
  • Course project: Product backlog is due by 0900
    Activity: Product backlog review

Week 8 (March 9-13): Sprint 1

Week 9 (March 16-20)

  • Spring break

Week 10 (March 23-27): Sprint 1

Week 11 (March 30 - April 3): Sprint 2

Week 12 (April 6-10): Sprint 2

Week 13 (April 13-17): Sprint 3

Week 14 (April 20-24): Sprint 3

Week 15 (April 27 - May 1): Sprint 4

Week 16 (May 4-8): Sprint 4 & Release

Week of final exams

  • Final exam: Monday, May 11, 1730-1930

Midterm and final exams

Each test will focus on the most recent material. However, each test will very likely include some questions aimed at the material covered by the earlier test(s). Make-up tests may only be given if a student can provide a written proof of a serious reason for missing a test (such as illness or accident).

Course project

While working on the course project, students will use the knowledge and skills obtained in this course covering many if not all of the course topics. Working in teams, students will design, implement and document a software system to meet the requirements of an external customer.

Course project is described in detail in this document.

Academic conduct

All students are expected to demonstrate integrity in the completion of their coursework. Academic integrity means doing one's own work and giving proper credit to the work and ideas of others. It is the responsibility of each student to become familiar with what constitutes academic dishonesty and plagiarism and to avoid all forms of cheating and plagiarism. Students who engage in plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct will face academic and possibly disciplinary consequences. Academic sanctions can range from a reduced grade for the assignment to a failing grade for the course. From a disciplinary standpoint, an Academic Misconduct Report may be filed and a Faculty Hearing Board may impose sanctions such as probation, suspension or expulsion.

For further information on academic misconduct and its consequences, please consult the Student Code of Conduct and the Academic Misconduct Policy.

Attendance

All students are expected to attend class sessions regularly. However, recognizing individual differences, each student is responsible for his/her own attendance and for making-up any missed study or work. Limited assistance will be offered to those with plausible reasons for absences; unexcused absences will result in the student being totally responsible for the make-up process.

Students with disabilities

Central Connecticut State University provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act for students with documented disabilities on an individualized basis. If you are a student with a documented disability, and would like to request academic accommodations, you are encouraged to contact Student Disability Services (SDS) at 860-832-1952, or email disabilityservices@ccsu.edu. Please visit the SDS website to download an Intake form and documentation requirements. Once approved, SDS suggests that students discuss their approved accommodations with their professors, as well as any other additional medical emergency needs. Temporary impairments may also qualify for accommodations. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive and must be requested each semester.

Other statements

Here's a link to a document containing information about other policies and resources.

Grades and evaluation

Students will be evaluated regularly during the semester and should be aware of their progress continuously during the semester. The final course grade will be reported according to the stated University policy.

The final course grade will be calculated according to the following distribution of points:

Project 500
Requirements engineering assignment 200
Midterm exam 250
Final exam 250
Total 1200

Course letter grade will be determined as follows:

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F
94-100 90-93.99 87-89.99 84-86.99 80-83.99 77-79.99 74-76.99 70-73.99 67-69.99 64-66.99 60-63.99 0-59.99