The Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering is a three semester program that includes 6 three semester credit-hour courses. The first semester you must take SE 6623 Software Engineering I. You must also take one other course, chosen from the following list.

SE 6623 Software Engineering I 3

SE 6633 Software Project Management 3

SE 6723 Software Engineering II 3

SE 6743 Object-Oriented Analysis and Design 3

SE 6883 Formal Methods in Software Engineering 3

CS 6153 Advanced Database Systems 3

SE 6683 Management Information Systems 3

SE 6643 Issues in Information Management 3

SE 6763 Software Metrics and Quality Management 3

SE 6343 User Interface Design and Implementation 3

CS 6323 Human Factors 3

CS 6353 Computer Graphics and Multimedia 3

Classes will be held on campus at Southern Polytechnic State University. Exact room numbers are listed in the Registration Bulletin.

Books for each course can be purchased in the campus bookstore. Cost varies with new books priced at approximately $45-$60 and used books at approximately $34-$45.

Registration fee payment information is located in the Registration Bulletin. Look on scale for 6 graduate credit hour fee totals.

To apply for admission to this program please complete and return the Graduate Certificate Application for Admission and other required documentation. Please note that each semester you will be registered for courses by the Computer Science Department.

Your application will be reviewed by the Graduate Certificate in Software Engineering Admissions Committee. You will be notified by the CS Department of you acceptance status by phone and a confirmation packet will be mailed to you. You will be expected to attend an orientation session at the beginning of the program. Specific time and location will be included in your confirmation packet.

Application Deadline: August 9, 2000

The Professional Certificate in Software Engineering will be open only to people who have a BS in CS or a related field and two years of software development experience.* Students will be admitted in a special status. Coursework completed in the certificate program will be entered on the student’s official transcript as regular academic coursework counting for graduate credit. Anyone choosing to work towards a graduate SE or CS degree at SPSU will be required to apply through the regular processes. Students wishing to transfer the credits to another school will be able to do so by having an official transcript sent. Each applicant will be required to sign a memorandum of understanding (see below) before being admitted to the certificate program.

* If you do nor meet the minimum qualifications noted for acceptance into this program, you may be admitted provisionally based on successful completion of proscribed transition courses.

Course Descriptions

SE 6343 User Interface Design and Implementation

Prerequisite: SE 6623

This practicum course covers the major frameworks, methods, and approaches to designing, engineering, implementing, and testing user interfaces. It covers user and usability requirements gathering, task analysis, user-interface design, coding of the user interface, and evaluation with respect to requirements and the users' tasks. Numerous illustrative design and coding projects are completed throughout the term.

SE 6623 Software Engineering I

Prerequisite: CS 5123 or the equivalent from undergraduate degree or work

Experience.

This course covers the initial phases of the software-development life cycle. Topics include planning, requirements analysis, requirements specification, and design. A number of techniques for performing analysis and design are explored and applied in a major project.

SE 6633 Software Project Management

Prerequisite: SE 6623

Focus on organizational and technical roles in software engineering. Emphasis on: models of software life cycle, software maturity framework, strategies of implementing software, software process assessment, project planning principles and tools, software configuration management, managing software quality and usability, leadership principles, and legal issues. A required team project combines technical and managerial techniques of software design and development.

SE 6643 Issues in Information Management

This course addresses current issues relating to computers, ethics, and social values. Topics include computer ethics, computer crime, abuse, social responsibility, risk analysis, computer law and cultural impact. Library and internet research components are included, and a major research paper is required.

SE 6683 Management Information Systems

A study of the use of computer and information management systems in the management of organizations. Includes formal characterization of management structures, identification of information needs, and integrated tools for providing MIS support. Major project included.

SE 6723 Software Engineering II

Prerequisite: SE 6623

This course covers the entire software development life-cycle. Emphasis is placed on advanced topics including prototyping, verification and validation, formal methods, and quality management. A major component is a group project that utilizes a Computer Assisted Software Engineering (CASE) tool to assist in the design, development, and implementation of a system.

SE 6743 Object-Oriented Analysis and Design

Prerequisite: SE 6623

This course explores the object-oriented software development process including analysis, design, and programming. Emphasis is on the object-oriented paradigm.

SE 6763 Software Metrics and Quality Management

Prerequisite: SE 6623

This course covers quality assessment, cost estimation, configuration management, software performance measures, proof of correctness, validation and verification, and management of the total quality environment for software development.

SE 6883 Formal Methods in Software Engineering

Prerequisite: SE 6623

A study of formal specification in the software development process including transformational development, structured algebraic specification, and model-based (particular, Z) specification.

CS 6153 Advanced Database Systems

Prerequisite: CS 5153 or the equivalent from undergraduate degree or work experience.

An advanced course in database systems emphasizing design issues and implementation tradeoffs. It covers the theory, algorithms, and methods that underlie distributed database management systems. Client-server architecture is discussed, and students use an application development tool such as PowerBuilder.

CS 6323 Human Factors

The psychological, social, and technical aspects of interaction between humans and computers. Includes usability considerations, cognitive and perceptual issues, human information processing, and software development techniques for producing appropriate systems. Major project included.

CS 6353 Computer Graphics and Multimedia

Prerequisite: CS 5123 and CS 5223 or the equivalent from undergraduate degree or work

experience. A study of the hardware and software of computer graphics and multimedia systems from the programmer’s perspective. Includes a survey of display and other media technologies, special architectures for support of graphics and multimedia systems, algorithms and data structures for manipulation of graphical and other media objects, and consideration of user interface design. Major project included.