Research Topics in Software Engineering

Postgraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The course covers advanced theoretical and technical issues of software engineering. It will focus on some selected topics, such as software requirements, software design, software construction, software testing and management, software configuration management, software engineering management, software engineering process, software engineering tools and methods, and software quality. Each seminar is focused around one major topic.

The students shall acquire advanced theoretical knowledge and technical competences about the topics covered in the course as well as some research methods that are relevant for these topics. After the course the students shall be able to perform research projects within related topics in software development and shall be able to take advantage of this knowledge in design, development and evaluation of complex systems.

Learning Outcomes

A student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

The candidate

  • knows central concepts and principles within selected software engineering topics.
  • knows current research within the selected software engineering topics.

Skills:

The candidate

  • can apply software engineering concepts and principles in a concrete software project working in teams, as well as how software tools and techniques that are currently used within the field of study.
  • can identify relevant research literature for the selected software engineering topics
  • can select a sensible set of tools and techniques to start a software project that involves a group of people.
  • can work in a software team of a realistic size using partly unfamiliar technology and tools and in using state-of-the-art technologies used in the IT industry today.

Semester of Instruction

Irregularly
Required Previous Knowledge
Bachelor's degree in Information Science or equivalent.
Recommended Previous Knowledge
INFO231, INFO233 or similar.
Teaching and learning methods
Seminar, assignments and presentations.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Compulsory participation: Attendance at 80 % of course sessions is compulsory.

Compulsory requirements are only valid the semester they are approved.

Forms of Assessment
  • Group software project, portfolio assessment (30%):

  • Development of the software (programming assignment).
  • Presentation of progress and results in class during and after the development.

    Assessment includes quality of the final software, as well as the development process, efforts, progress and learning of the groups.
  • Group term paper related to the software project (20%).
  • Oral exam, individual (50%).
  • The exam assignment will be given in the language of instruction in the course.
    The exam answer must be submitted in the same language as the exam assignment.

    Assessment Semester

    Assessment in teaching semester.

    Students with valid absence as defined in the UiB regulations ยง 5-5 can apply for an extended submission deadline to eksamen.infomedia@uib.no. The application must be submitted before the deadline for submission has expired.

    Course Evaluation
    All courses are evaluated according to UiB's system for quality assurance of education.