Course Topics

The course will encompass a variety of concepts and topics, among them are the following:

Elicitation techniques to gather functional and non-functional system requirements.
Requirements analysis, focused on architecture.
System quality attributes and tactics.
Computer and Network architecture
Software architecture design patterns.
Software architecture design evaluation techniques.
Application program interface design.
Software architecture design specification.
Requirements engineering and software architecture design in agile projects.

Objectives

By the end of this course the successful student will be able to:

Apply the primary activities associated with requirements engineering and contrast differing approaches for performing those activities.
Distinguish the difference between a customer's statement of needs and a formal requirements specification document.
Identify system quality requirements that influence architecture design decisions.
Apply requirements engineering principles in the development of a requirements specification and a requirements management process for a specified application.
Understand software architecture descriptions and patterns and use these to design new software systems in response to key functional and quality requirements.
Create software architecture documentation that satisfies the needs of clients and developers.
Describe the need for a big picture view of software requirements and design.
Investigate different Technical scenarios and learn about the architectural implications
Analyse an n_tier system and measure it's behaviour and implications to architecture

Method of Instruction

The course is a combination of projects, daily lectures, and in-class or homework activities. There will be assigned readings from the textbook and other materials. There will be 2 interim exams and a comprehensive final exam.

Textbooks - Required

Software Architecture in Practice, 4^th Edition, by Len Bass, Paul Clements and Rick Kazman, Addison-Wesley, 2021, ISBN 13: 978-0136886099

Textbooks - Recommended

Software Requirements, 3^rd Edition, Karl Wiegers and Joy Beatty, Microsoft Press, 2013.
In-class materials and supplemental materials will be available on the course's myCourses site or on Wallace Library electronic books

Course Policies

Class Participation:

The participation grade evaluates attendance, in-class participation, and team participation. Attendance will periodically be taken, but you are expected to be present in all the class sessions. To receive full credit for in-class participation students must complete all quizzes and assignments on time, and contribute to the learning process in the classroom in a positive way.

Participate in class discussions. Stay off of your devices!! Demonstrate critical thinking by asking challenging questions, reflecting on and articulating your personal opinions, and critiquing the ideas of others. Initiate class discussion by offering and explaining your ideas and opinions, and providing relevant examples and anecdotes.

Project Participation:

Students are expected to actively contribute in team projects. Peer evaluations will be performed and an individual's grade can increase or decrease the overall project grade based on these evaluations and instructor observations. A grade of 'zero' may be assigned to a project deliverable for any student who is clearly not engaged with their project team.

Attendance:

Come to class. You have one unexcused absence (slept in, car won't start, etc.) with no consequences. After that you may be penalized for unexcused absences:

Also, you will miss credit for activities that took place during classes that you were absent.

Make up exams will only be granted for very good reasons (job interviews known in advance, documented sickness, family emergencies, etc.) Heavy workload in other (maybe to you more important) courses is typically not a very good reason.
Typically late submissions will result in a 10% deduction. Late submissions after 1 week will not be accepted, unless special arrangements are made. Any adjustments to this policy may be applied in individual assignments.
Excused absences include documented illness, family emergencies, job interviews, or school related activities such as participation in an athletic team event. Contact the instructor to determine if an absence can be excused.

Be professional:

Practice common courtesy toward your classmates, your instructor, and guest speakers.

ChatGPT/ AI Policy

Original Student work

All student work is required to be their own. While we encourage research and reuse, all submissions must be your own, original creation. Copying/ Plagiarism is NOT tolerated. This is standard policy. This applies to ALL work, be it code related or written/ essay style submission.

Use of GPT/ AI

Again, all work is required to be your original creation. In situations where use of online resources is prohibited, this includes prohibition of GPT/ AI. In situations where it is not prohibited (unless otherwise stated), you may use online search for reference, but the output you create must be your own. This includes situations where you may use GPT or other AI tools for searching and/ or reference, with the following provisos:

If you use GPT (ChatGPT or other, similar tools) you must also do the following:

Submit your prompts for GPT (as a separate file) as part of your work
Provide a confirming statement that GPT was used as reference only, and your work is original.

Zero on the assignment
Zero on a full project
“F” on the course
Reported as plagiarism to the University and subsequent disciplinary action at the Institution level

In short - just don't do it. It's not worth the consequences to cheat (and it's not ethical)!

Grading Breakdown

A final course grade is a combination of your grades on exams, quizzes, class activities and team projects.

Component	Percentage of Final Grade
Assignments/ Activities (see myCourses)	10%
Business Proposal and Arch Response Project	10%
Architecture and Evaluation Project (N-tier services)	30%
Exam 1	15%
Exam 2	15%
Final Exam	15%
Quizzes	5%

The numeric to letter grade conversion is as follows:

Letter Grade	Numeric Grade	GPA Points
A	93-100	4.000
A-	90-92	3.667
B+	87-89	3.333
B	83-86	3.000
B-	80-82	2.667
C+	77-79	2.333
C	73-76	2.000
C-	70-72	1.667
D	60-69	1.000
F	Below 60	0.000

Note: The individual project grades may be adjusted in either direction from the team grade based on the assessment of your contribution by the instructor and your colleagues on the team.

* Please be aware that the myCourses grade-book feature will be used to communicate “raw” grades to you, but is NOT used for calculating final grades.

document.write(document.title);

Course Description