CS/SWE 421 - Introduction to Software Engineering - Fall 2007

Contact Info | Location |  Objective | Textbooks | Schedule (with slides) | Grading | Project


Contact Information(top)
Instructor: Dan Fleck
   Email:  dfleck (at) gmu.edu
   Phone: 703-993-4198
   AOL IM: danpf1

   Office: ST-II 405
   Office Hours: Tues 12:30-1:20, Wed 3:30-4:30, or anytime by appointment

TA: Brian Ziman
   Email: bziman (at) gmu.edu
   Office Hours: Tues 3-5pm, Wed 5-7pm
   Office: ST-II 365
   URL: http://mason.gmu.edu/~bziman/

Class Location(top)

   SWE 421 - 001 - 76577 - 1:30-2:45 - Tues/Thurs - Innovation Hall 134
   CS    421 - 001 - 72535 -  1:30-2:45 - Tues/Thurs - Innovation Hall 134

   SWE 421 - 002 - 76578 - 7:20-10:00 - Wed - Enterprise Hall 276
   CS    421 - 002 - 72536 - 7:20-10:00 - Wed - Enterprise Hall 276

Course Objective(top)
CS 421 gives an introduction to principles and techniques used in software engineering. The course will cover integration of concepts of management, methodologies/processes, and metrics.  It will present and discuss selected software engineering methods, documentation, and tools. CS 421 will introduce object-oriented requirements analysis and modeling, as well as design engineering. CS 421 will have a software engineering project that requires student to participate in working teams where students organize, manage, and practice a software engineering project. CS 421 includes Writing Intensive (WI) activities that, together with those of CS 306, meet the GMU WI Requirements in the BS CS Program (http://wac.gmu.edu). The

Textbooks (top)

1. Roger Pressman, Software Engineering, 6th Edition, McGraw Hall, 2005.

NOTE: it is preferred that you NOT use the paperback international version since the order and numbering of homework problems is different from the regular edition.

2. Grady Booch, James Rumbaugh, and Ivar Jacobson, The Unified Modeling Language Users Guide, 2nd Edition, Pearson, 2005.

Tools(top)

   ...and of course word processing and presentation software will be used.

Grading Policy (top)

Project (paper and presentation)30%Due December 3, 2007
3-5 page current topic paper10%Due at the final (12/12 or 12/13)
Homework and Class Participation10%
Midterm Exam20%
Final Exam30%Section 001 - Thurs 12/13 - 1:30-4:15
Section 002 - Wed 12/12 - 7:30 - 10:15


GRADE APPEAL POLICY:
If you feel you deserve a better grade on an assignment, you can appeal your grade in writing. Written grade appeals will only be accepted within 7 days of you receivng the grade. The appeal should clearly explain why you feel you deserve a higher grade. I will never lower your grade due to an appeal, but I may or may not raise your grade depending on your justification.

HONOR CODE STATEMENT:
As with all GMU courses, this course is governed by the GMU Honor Code. In this course, all assignments, exams, and project submissions carry with them an implicit statement that it is the sole work of the author, unless joint work is explicitly authorized. Help may be obtained from the instructor or other students to understand the description of the problem and any technology, but the solution, particularly the design portion, must be the student's own work. If joint work is authorized, all contributing students must be listed on the submission. Any deviation from this is considered an Honor Code violation, and as a minimum, will result in failure of the submission and as a maximum, failure of the class.

PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism is stealing the work of others and presenting it as your own. This includes written papers, but also computer programs, presentations, etc... anything that was not created by you should be referenced. When in doubt, add a reference. If you have any questions about whether you can or cannot use something you've found ask your professor or TA. If another student let you copy their work you are BOTH guilty. Any plagiarism violations will be sent to the Honor Committee. If you are found guilty of plagiarism twice in your university career you will be expelled. This is a very serious offense! More information about plagiarism is on the writing center website and at plagiarism.org. If you feel the need to do this for any reason, come talk to your professor and we'll work out a better plan. There is ALWAYS a better plan than plagiarising!

This class will use automated tools to detect plagiarism (including written materials and source code).

DISABILITY STATEMENT:
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 703.993.2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through that office.

Project Description (top)
The project description is here.